Parsons College

Parsons College

Parsons College seal
Motto	Est Modus In Rebus
Type	Private liberal arts
Established	1875, closed in 1973
President	Millard G. Roberts, 1955–67
Location	Fairfield , Iowa , United States
Campus	Rural 272 acres (110.1 ha)
Colors	Rose, Green and White
Nickname	Wildcats
Affiliations	North Central Association
Website	Parsons College alumni web site

Parsons College was a private liberal arts college located in Fairfield, Iowa. The school was named for its wealthy benefactor, Lewis B. Parsons Sr., and was founded in 1875 with one building and 34 students. Over the years new buildings were constructed as enrollment expanded. The school lost its accreditation in 1948 but regained it two years later. In 1955 the school appointed Millard G. Roberts as its president and this began a period of rapid expansion with the student population rising as high as 5,000 by 1966. There was a turning point, however, in 1966 when Life magazine published an article criticizing the college and its president. In the spring of 1967, the school lost its accreditation and Roberts was asked to resign as president. Although they regained their accreditation in the spring of 1970, enrollment had quickly declined and the college floundered with $14 million in debt and closed under bankruptcy in 1973.