History of the Hamilton Holt School

Officially founded in 1960, the Rollins evening studies division has roots in the 1950s when a mathematics professor implemented adult education courses for returning World War II veterans. Back then the School of Continuing Studies was characterized as "the College that cares," and faculty vowed to provide responsive, individualized education while meeting a community need for higher education for adults.

History professor Jack Lane, now retired, recalls that about half of the students he taught in the 1960s were World War II veterans. Like today, the academic programs were offered in evening classes. Students obtained the bachelor of general studies degree with a concentration in humanities, social studies, business administration and economics, math and science, or teacher preparation.

In 1987 the School of Continuing Education was renamed the Hamilton Holt School in honor of Rollins' renowned eighth president, Hamilton Holt, who served as president from 1925 to 1949.

"Because of the quality, character, and importance of its educational program, the trustees named the Hamilton Holt School to carry forward the College's long-standing commitment to lifelong learning. Hamilton Holt is the towering figure in the history of the College, shaping its student-centered style of education and its reputation for academic excellence and educational innovation," said President Emeritus Thaddeus Seymour who was president of Rollins at the time of the renaming.

"It was Hamilton Holt who established Rollins as an institution of national significance, and I am proud that his high standards and educational vision are carried on by the school which bears his name."

Today the Holt School has 11 majors leading to the bachelor of arts and five master's degree programs in mental health counseling, education or teaching, human resources, liberal studies, communication and technology. Holt students range in age from 17 to 72 and about 63 percent of the 1,113 undergraduates enrolled this fall are female. There are about 330 graduate students at the Holt School and 12,827 living alumni.

"The Holt School continues to thrive as an academic community dedicated to excellence and proud of its legacy as a leader in the liberal arts. Our many successful alumni continue to build on their Rollins education by pursuing meaningful lives and productive careers," said Sharon Carrier, dean of the Hamilton Holt School. "We look forward to continuing to provide Central Florida residents with the high-quality education for which Rollins is known nationally."

A Summary of Historical Highlights:

1960: The Institute of General Studies was founded with campuses in Winter Park and at Patrick Air Force Base to serve returning World War II veterans seeking continuing education classes.

1961: Rollins added a graduate program, the Master of Arts in Teaching, which then became part of the evening studies division in the 1990s.

1965: The Institute was renamed the Central Florida School for Continuing Studies.

1967: Summer camps for children began.

1973: The School was renamed the School of Continuing Education (SCE) and students could obtain the bachelor of arts, a bachelor of science, or a bachelor of general studies degree.

1974: The SCE began offering a two-year associate of arts degree with concentrations in business administration, economics, humanities, math or science, criminal justice, and social studies.

1977: Rollins began to offer a Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling and by 1981 the focus turned toward mental health counseling. This program also became part of the evening studies division in the 1990s.

1980: Under the direction of former president Thaddeus Seymour, radical changes were made to SCE programs. These included strengthening academics and increasing the number of Rollins full-time faculty in the program, creating majors/minors, eliminating criminal justice from the curriculum, and creating a separate division for noncredit programs.

1982: The evening studies division was renamed the Division of Continuing Education.

1985: Undergraduate degree programs in organizational behavior and organizational communication were added to the curriculum.

1986: A board of advisors was created for the Division of Continuing Education.

1987: The School of Continuing Education was renamed the Hamilton Holt School after Rollins' eighth president, Hamilton Holt. The Master of Liberal Studies Degree Program was introduced the same year.

1994: The Master of Human Resources degree was introduced.

1998: The Master of Arts in Corporate Communication & Technology was introduced.