Lea College

Lea College was a private liberal arts college that operated from 1966 to 1973 in Albert Lea, Minnesota. It was one of several Midwestern colleges established with the support of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, following the "Parsons Plan" academic model. Planning for Lea began in 1964, initially under the name Mid-Continent College, which was changed to Lea College in 1965 after a contest. The college's campus included an 800-acre site on Lake Chapeau, a new dormitory named Christopherson Hall, and older buildings like the former Hotel Albert downtown.

The "Parsons Plan" emphasized innovative teaching methods, recruitment of diverse students, and attracted unconventional learners, including those seeking draft deferments during the Vietnam War. However, Lea's fortunes were closely tied to Parsons College, which faced difficulties in the late 1960s. These challenges, combined with funding issues, high student turnover, and accreditation problems, led to the closure of all "Parsons Plan" colleges by the mid-1970s. Lea College closed in 1973; while some campus buildings were demolished, others, like the former Lea College Fieldhouse, now serve as the Albert Lea City Arena.