Connecticut College (Conn College or Conn) is a private liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut. The college was founded in 1911 in response to Wesleyan University closing its doors to women. The campus is located on the Thames River, overlooking the Long Island Sound on the highest point in New London. It is a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), and is considered to be among the group of colleges called the "Little Ivies." Forbes ranked Connecticut College 83 in its America's Best Colleges list in 2010 and U.S. News and World Report ranked the school in its top fifty liberal arts colleges in 2010. Known for its interdisciplinary academic centers, Connecticut College is in the midst of a major fundraising and building campaign. Over the past several years the college has renovated many of its older dormitories, completed numerous classroom renovations, and constructed a new fitness center. The college is in the final planning stages of a new life science and computer science center, an international commons, and is continuing to renovate the remainder of its older dormitories and classroom spaces.