CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) -- When Radcliffe College opened its doors to women in 1879, it did so out of necessity: nearby Harvard University was only for men.
It wasn't until 1943 -- with Harvard's undergraduates off fighting in World War II -- that Radcliffe's women were first allowed to take classes at Harvard.Thirty-four years later, Radcliffe ceased to be an independent undergraduate institution. Though it still admitted female students, they studied at Harvard.
Now, its mission fulfilled, Radcliffe plans to close its doors forever -- fully merging with Harvard and ending its role as a separate college after 120 years.
The former women's college will become the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, which will offer graduate students instruction on women, gender and society.
That puts Radcliffe in the same league as Harvard's business, law, divinity and education graduate schools, with one major exception: Radcliffe will not grant degrees.