[8][9] Elizabeth C. Wright and other Wesleyan alumnae convinced others to found this new college, espousing the increasing desire among women for higher education.

Their initial endowment came from financial assistance from the city of New London and its residents, along with a number of wealthy benefactors.

Their son Frank sold a large part of the land to the trustees to found Connecticut College.

The protests focused on allegations of bullying and actions related to diversity and equity, most notably a decision to hold a college fundraiser at the Everglades Club, a social club and venue that has longstanding accusations of discrimination against black and Jewish people.

Students occupied the administrative building, Fanning Hall, for ten days, senior staff publicly resigned, and faculty voted no confidence in her.

On March 24, 2023, after negotiation with faculty, the board of trustees, and ad-hoc student groups, Bergeron announced that she would resign at the end of the Spring 2023 semester, one year before her contract was to expire.

The South Campus contains residence halls along the west side of Tempel Green, across from several academic buildings.

It is also home to The Linda Lear Center for Special Collections and Archives, and to the Charles Chu Asian Art Reading Room.

[21] The Lear Center has more than fifty book, manuscript, and art collections including research archives devoted to Rachel Carson, Eugene O'Neill, and Beatrix Potter.

[29] Harkness Chapel was designed by architect James Gamble Rogers, exhibiting his colonial Georgian style, with twelve stained glass windows by G. Owen Bonawit.

The building is used for denominational religious services, as well as for ceremonies, concerts and recitals, weddings, and other public functions.

[30] The Lyman Allyn Art Museum is also located on campus, and while some classes are taught there, it is not part of the College itself.

[33] Connecticut College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education; it has been so continuously by NECHE or its predecessor since December 1932.

Starting with the class of 2020, students at Connecticut College participate in a new interdisciplinary general education curriculum called Connections.

Of the students in the entering class who submitted SAT scores, the middle 50% range was 680–740 for evidence-based reading, and 660–730 for Math.

The honor code underpins all academic and social interactions at the college and creates a palpable spirit of trust and cooperation between students and faculty.

[57] The Student Activities Council (SAC) runs events including club fairs, school dances, concerts, and off-campus excursions.

The twelve men's sports include basketball, cross country, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, squash, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and water polo.

The fifteen women's sports consist of basketball, cross country, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, sailing, soccer, squash, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and water polo.

[66] The team advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament, but lost in the second round to Montclair State University in extra time.

[68] On January 21, 2021, Connecticut College goalkeeper AJ Marcucci was selected 67th overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by New York Red Bulls.

Connecticut College graduates of note include Bloomberg Businessweek senior national correspondent Joshua Green, AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, New York Times best-selling authors Sloane Crosley, Hannah Tinti and David Grann, Academy Award-winning actress Estelle Parsons, fashion designer Peter Som, National Baseball Hall of Fame director Jeff Idelson, philanthropist Nan Kempner, Beyond Meat founder Ethan Brown, Senior Federal District Judge Kimba Wood and American Olympic rower Anita DeFrantz.