Welcome to Simpson College

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Welcome to Simpson College!

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Welcome to Simpson College, a private, liberal arts college located in Indianola, Iowa, 15 minutes south of Des Moines. We streive to cultivate a diverse community of learners to lead lives of meaning and purpose dedicated to our core values: Access, Belonging, Citizenship, Discovery, Intergrity and Justice. College hall, the oldest building on campus, houses admissions, operations and financial aid. As the college kicks off the new year each fall, the freshman class walks through the red brick gates in front of the building start their Simpson Experince. In Late Spring, the senior class ceremoniously marches through the same gates, symbolizing a full circle journey on graduation day.

Pedestrian Plaza

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Simpson College is home to about 1,200 traditional undergraduate students and hundreds of faculty and staff members. We are dedicated to creating a healthy and diverse community where every individual is valued and embraced. With 25 varsity sports teams & 75+ Intramurals, 50+ student groups, community service opportunities, Greek Life, Campus Ministries, you'll find one (or more) that match your personal interests. Maybe you will even start your own! Simpson is a place your will find your friends, but most of all, discover yourself. From dedicated resources and support systems to student-led organizations and events, Simpson College provides a welcoming and culturally rich place to live and learn.

Kent Campus Center

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Kent Campus Center is the hub of Simpson. Equipped with lots of lounge and meeting rooms, you will find multiple dining areas, including Tyler's Grill, Sub Connection, our very own Starbuck's named Millie's, and more. These dining options are open later than the large campus dining hall. First floor also contains the mailroom, Intramural office and the Simpson Spirit Shop for all your Simpson Storm merchandise-Roll STORM! Kent also contains Principal Black Box Theatre. The theatre has a large HD projection system, 3 PA systems and is available to campus groups to use for a variety of programs, including concerts, comedians, lazer tag, lectures, movies, bingo and so much more!

Carver Science Hall

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Welcome to the campus's largest lecture hall, Jordan Lecture Hall. Newly renovated with 360 microphone amplification and video recording capacities, Jordan embraces collaborative teaching and learning. When classes are not in place, Jordan may be home to guest speakers, public forums, and more. Located within the George Washington Carver Science Center, you can find students interested in any STEM fields. Carver's atrium is a popular place for students to study. Labs within Carver include physics, biology, chemistry, a human cadaver lab, and a greenhouse. Carver is also home to DJ The Giraffe, a gift from the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines.

Cowles Fieldhouse

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Cowles Fieldhouse is a multi-purpose athletic and Exercise Science & Health Education facility that can accommodate 3000 spectators. It includes indoor batting cages, and four college length basketball courts. It serves as home to Simpson Storm Basketball, Volleyball, Wrestling and Gymnastics. Cowles also connects to Carse Hall and Hopper Gymnasium. Carse Hall houses the Athletic Department, conference rooms, additional classrooms and labortories for Exercise Science and Training. Many coaches offices are also located in this suite. Hopper Gymnasium is the men and women's wrestling practice area and is as an official USA Wrestling Regional Training Center! This renovated college gymnasium is also used for campus organizations and intramurals.

Steven Johnson Fitness Center

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Simpson College is an NCAA Division III institution with 60% of the student body participating in a collegiate sport. At the heart of campus you will find the Steven Johnson Fitness Center-a state of the art, two -tiered expanded fitness center that overlooks Bill Buxton Stadium and is encased by a glass wall. This 10,000 square foot recreational & workout space contains the lower level Strength & Conditioning Center. This center has 50+ weight machines, cardio equipment & power lifting platforms, a speed and agility turf surface, and is available to all student athletes as well as the Simpson Community. The upper level contains the Fitness & Excerise Center and the Aerobic & Dance Studio.

Residence Life

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Living in a residence hall provides rewarding opportunities to meet all kinds of new people from a variety of backgrounds. It puts you in the heart of campus activity with close access to classes and a chance to live and learn on campus. At Simpson, you will create friendships, hang out with roommates and even indulge in leadership opportunities all within your dorm. With all the hard work you do all day, we know it's important for your residence hall to be a relaxing and comforting environment for you to come back to. Our residence life will be your home away from home!

Amy Robertson Music Center

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Amy Robertson Music Center is a multi- million dollar facility used by Band, Choir, Orchestra, Opera, Musical Theatre and more. The center contains faculty offices, 22 individual practice rooms and instrumental music facilities including: Lekberg Recital Hall, which seats 250 people and is used for student and faculty recitals as well as small-group presentations. Salsbury Hall of Music featuring a choral rehearsal room, listening library, teaching studios and a large classroom. Duncan Hall, a beautiful recital and intimate room that features black and white tiled floors, mirrored walls, a spiral staircase and brass chandelier. Madsen Hall, a stately room used for music classes and known for it's stained glass.

Dunn Plaza

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Simpson College provides a welcoming and culturally rich place to live and learn, from dedicated resources and support systems to student-led organizations and events. You'll meet and engage with people of all backgrounds. Living in a residence hall provides rewarding opportunities to make friends with classmates who bring a diversity of experiences and interests. Wherever you choose to live on campus, you'll be part of an inclusive, welcoming community with the important amenities and support you need to feel safe and secure 24/7. In fact, everything you do will be just a short walk from your room at Simpson College!

Dunn Library

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Our $10.5 million renovation to Dunn Library in 2023 makes it THE place for academic resources, study spaces and support services that guarantee you have a seamless learning experience. The first floor houses The Center for Academic Resources (CARs), TRiO Student Support Services, the Teacher Education Department, and the Curriculum Lab. The second floor includes the Research Assistance Center, Library Services desk, and physical collections such as books, journals, scores; e-books, e-journals and many e-resources are available through the library's website. Dunn also features group study rooms, individual carrels, and other collaborative spaces. The third floor includes quiet collaborative spaces and the Walt Research Library and Simpson College Archives.

Blank Performing Arts Center

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Blank Performing Arts Center houses Simpson College's Theatre Arts Department and is home to the Des Moines Metro Opera. Located in Blank are the Barnum Studio Theatre and the Pote Theatre. The Barnum Studio is an intimate 125-seat flexible black-box space on the lower level. The Pote Theatre is an expansive 500 seat performance setting where the Des Moines Metro Opera performs its summer season, the theatre department produces four performances a year, and many other events occur including band and orchestra productions, comedians and lectures. It contains state-of-the-art lighting & sound and includes a stage & costume shop.

Buxton Stadium

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The centerpiece of Simpson's campus is Bill Buxton Stadium which seats 5,000 fans. The stadium features a video board with full surround sound and state-of-the-art playing surfaces. It is home to the Simpson Storm football, soccer and track and field teams. The track and turf inside the stadium are unlike any other in the Midwest. The football field sports a FieldTurf Revolution playing surface. It is designed to be the highest performing, most innovative turf in the industry and the only one in the midwest! An eight-lane track surrounds the stadium. The synthetic track is a full-pour, 10 millimeter Benyon Sports Surface designed for high-level of control and energy return.

Student Development

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The second floor of the Kent Campus Center is home to: Campus Activities Board or (CAB): All programs run by CAB are 100% planned by students. Favorites include Stand Around & Yell like Hell! Career Development: A team dedicated towards landing students internships for academic credit, real work experience & professional mentorship, and jobs after graduation. Student Health Services: A student's one stop for meeting all health needs. The Counseling Office: Services are confidential & free. Multicultural and International Student Affairs: Welcoming and incorporating student programs to engage our community with ideas, growth, responsibility, respect, understanding & appreciation. Hubbell Hall: Campus's biggest event center & Student Development Offices: A department dedicated to all student's needs.

Smith Chapel

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The Simpson College Campus Ministry believes that everyone should be made to feel welcome. We have 28+ religions & spiritual identities that are represented on our campus. Simpson embraces and values the participation of all races, nationalities, sexual and affectional orientations, gender identities, mental & physical health & abilities, systems of belief and theological identities Smith Chapel supports the mission of Simpson College as a church-related institute of higher education that nurtures those values which foster personal worth and individuality within a creative, diverse & just community. This building houses the main sanctuary chapel, chaplain's office, Holy Grounds coffee shop, meditation room, classrooms, meeting space and the music department's listening library.

Buxton Park

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Buxton Park is nestled in the northeast corner of Simpson College. Its formal gardens, ornamental 3-tiered fountain, wind sculptures, public art, butterfly garden, and gazebo offer a spectacular setting to take a break on a bench near the ornamental fountain — finish that homework assignment around the butterfuly gardern, or take a few photos by the quaint gazebo. Buxton Park is home to many morning Yoga sessions, walking groups and more! This beautifully manicured park is the host to the Indianola Summer Art Festival where you can wander the park and shop an eclectic mix of works from artists near and far — fiber, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, wood and more!

Downtown Indianola

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Indianola is located 14 miles south of downtown Des Moines, with a population of just over 18,000. Indianola is home to the National Balloon Classic, a nine-day hot air balloon festival, the Des Moines Metro Opera and of course, Simpson College! At the heart of Indianola is the Square. Visitors to this unique and historic town center will find various restaurants and businesses to fulfill your every need. Enjoy weekly farmer's markets, the annual Oktoberfest, Summer Nights Live & Home for the Holidays events, and the prestige honor of becoming a Main Street: Iowa community.

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Welcome to Simpson College