b) New College

Harvard University, originally founded as New College in 1636, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Its establishment was a reflection of the early Puritan settlers’ emphasis on education and preparing clergy. Renamed Harvard College in 1639 after its first benefactor, John Harvard, the college played a significant role in educating the colonial elite. Harvard’s early curriculum was heavily influenced by European models and focused on classical studies, theology, and philosophy. The evolution of Harvard from New College into a prestigious university mirrors the broader educational and cultural development in colonial and early America.