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About Locke College: Our History and Goals

Along with Thomas Sydenham, a leading English medical figure in the late 1600s, Locke College was most inspired by its namesake, John Locke. Founded in 1700, Locke College is an elite portion of Oxford University, from which Jonh Locke graduated in 1656. Upon his graduation and several years working at Oxford, Locke became fascinated with experience as a source of knowledge. This is what we strive to practice at the College: unique learning experiences that lead to self-discovery and knowledge. Situated on one hundred acres of English countryside, Locke College is the perfect place to think critically, understand deeply, and experience freely.

Our Mission

Here at Locke College, we strive for excellence, but most of all, for the utmost protection and betterment of our student population. Optimistic attitudes, an understanding of the moral virtues of right and wrong, and the ability to make judgments for oneself are the hallmarks of a Locke education. Students have the right to make their education exactly what they want it to be, and glean much from their efforts and discipline. We firmly believe that labor creates property - in this case, the property associated with an unparalleled education. Your work here will determine the value of your education and how it will serve you beyond graduation (385)

Personal Property at the College: Our Advice to You

Every student at Locke College has the right to property by his own hand. Labor creates property; the work you do here is rightfully yours, and the efforts you put into your education will result in property (an undergraduate degree!). Even Locke, however, limits the overall right to property – do not bring with you to college more than what you can be responsible for.

The College's philosophy on property extends to intellectual property. Your ideas, work and grades belong solely to you. Sharing information or cheating is looked down upon severely and could be cause for dismissal. While it is true that all the "earth and inferior creatures be common to all men," every student at the College is entitled to their property of their own person, which includes their schoolwork. Failure to comply with this philosophy will be grounds for review by the Executive Board and appropriate consequences. (394-397)

Financial Aid at the College

According to Locke, money is “some lasting thing that men might keep without spoiling, and that, by mutual consent, men would take in exchange for the truly useful but perishable supports of life” (386). The Admissions Office at the College believes that money is certainly something that can be exchanged for a “support of life” like an education. We are need-blind; this means that when you submit an application, financial aid requests are not submitted until after a decision has been made. Money is only valuable due to the consent of men, whereas labor makes in great part the measure (397). The opportunity to attend this university will not be based on something qualified by the consent of the general public – we look for the best and brightest students regardless of financial status.

Travel Abroad at Locke College

Locke College is proud to announce new study abroad programs!

France: Students studying in our Political Science major can experience the history of political institutions and dissect the problems of absolute monarchy while seeing the sites of Paris and Montpellier, where John Locke lived and worked himself. This is a semester-long program for College students in their junior or senior year.

Holland: For underclassmen looking to find their inner spirit of freedom now that they are on a college campus, four weeks in Holland between holiday vacation (after first semester exams) and second semester is a new and exciting program at the College. After fleeing France for Holland in 1683, our founder John Locke often looked back on his time in Holland with great nostalgia. The spirit of freedom and the "manliness" he saw there made him envious of this country that had become the center of political and religious refugees in Europe. Take a tour of the sites and visit Locke's home.

Student Life at the College

Within Locke College, students form groups out of interest and the advantages presented by joining a majority. These organizations, over 300 of which are featured at the College, are established and maintained by the Lockean theory of fiduciary trust. This means that the legislative branch of every organization, student government or interest group is the supreme power and motivating factor. However, both club members and leaders have an interest in the success of their organization, such that a trust/trustee relationship is created. Here at Locke College, we strive for everyone's rights to a supreme education through the ideals of optimism, well-intentioned human nature and a devotion to excellence.

Student Government and Administrative Teams at the College are responsible for:
- preserving College and personal property
- protecting the freedom and uncontrolled enjoyment of all rights given by the law of nature
- abstaining from arbitrary governance
- promulgating the rules and expectations set forth by the College
- making laws for and of themselves, without transferring this power to any other hands
- ensuring the welfare of the College student body and faculty (Ebenstein, 403)