ALBION COLLEGE
ALBION, MICHIGAN
The College
Albion College offers the powerful combination of a traditional liberal arts curriculum coupled with a strong professional focus. Liberal Arts at Work aptly characterizes Albion's commitment to preparing students for admission into top graduate schools and their first career assignments in business, medicine, law, teaching, the arts, and many other areas. All students have an opportunity to enhance their education through value-added programming in one or more academic institutes, including the Gerald R. Ford Institute for Public Service, the Carl A. Gerstacker Liberal Arts Program in Professional Management, the Pre-Med/Allied Health Institute, the Honors Institute, the Fritz Shurmur Education Institute, and the Institute for the Study of the Environment.
Albion is a national leader for the percentage of students involved in undergraduate research. It is ranked seventh in Yahoo! Internet Life's Most Wired Colleges in the U.S.A., and first among colleges and universities in Michigan. In addition, 52 percent of Albion's alumni regularly support the College, the highest percentage among schools in Michigan and among the top twenty in the nation. Albion is among the top eighty-five private, liberal arts colleges for the number of alumni who are corporate executives, including top executives and CEOs of Newsweek, the Lahey Clinic (MA), PricewaterhouseCoopers, Dow Chemical, the NCAA, Avon, and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Albion's 2004 graduate school placement was 98 percent for law, 96 percent for dental, and 94 percent for medical schools, including Harvard, Michigan, Columbia, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin.
Albion's 2004 fall enrollment was 1,867 students. Approximately 87 percent of Albion's students are from Michigan; the rest come from twenty-eight states and nineteen countries. Albion is a residential college and campus life is important for every student. Campus lecturers and other recent performers and speakers include James Earl Jones, Salman Rushdie, Kurt Vonnegut, Duke University basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, Gloria Steinem, Three Doors Down, Shawn Colvin, and various federal and state legislators. The Kellogg Center, completed in 1996, provides space for concerts and dances, meeting rooms and offices for student organizations, the College bookstore, and a snack bar. The College also offers the full-service, 350-acre Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center, featuring indoor and outdoor arenas, boarding in College stables, and riding trails. The more than 100 student organizations include clubs in academic departments, student publications, a campus radio station, religious fellowship groups, the Black Student Alliance, intercollegiate and intramural athletics, and national fraternities and sororities.
Ninety-six percent of students live on campus. Residence halls, located within walking distance of other campus buildings, are coed, with separate sections for men and women. A comprehensive student services program includes a career development office that assists students in exploring career options and arranges on-campus interviews with employers and graduate schools. More than 40 percent of Albion graduates go directly to graduate or professional school each year; virtually everyone seeking immediate employment has found a position within six months of graduation. Within five years of graduation, more than 75 percent of Albion alumni have enrolled for graduate work.
Location
A 1-hour drive west of Detroit and a 3-hour drive east of Chicago, the College is located on I-94 in the small city of Albion (population 10,000). Eight other colleges and universities, including Michigan State and the University of Michigan, are located within an hour's drive. The 225-acre main campus is a few blocks from the downtown business section. The 350-acre equestrian center is a mile from campus. Students and faculty members are very involved in community activities and regional volunteer efforts and internships.
Majors and Degrees
Albion College awards the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. Majors include American studies, anthropology and sociology, art, art history, athletic training, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, economics and management, English, French, geological sciences, German, history, human services, international studies, mathematics, music, philosophy, physical education, physics, political science, psychology, public policy, religious studies, Spanish, and speech communication and theater. Individually designed majors, created with faculty approval, are also offered. Students may be certified in secondary education and for grades K12 in art, music, and physical education.
Preprofessional programs include business management, dentistry, law, medicine, the ministry, and veterinary medicine. Combined three-year preprofessional programs, involving three years of study at Albion and additional work at other institutions, are available in engineering, health services and nursing, natural resources management, and public policy. Students in these programs are awarded the bachelor's degree from Albion after completing one additional year of study at the participating institutions.
Academic Programs
Albion expects its students to gain a broad knowledge in the arts and sciences while also developing an area of specialization. To graduate with the Bachelor of Arts degree, students must complete 32 units (128 semester hours); to earn the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, art majors must complete 34 units (136 semester hours). All students must pass a writing examination.
To introduce students to important areas of knowledge, Albion has a core curriculum requirement for study in the natural sciences and mathematics, the social sciences, the humanities, interdisciplinary studies, and the fine arts, together with additional studies in environmental science, ethnic studies, neuroscience, and prelaw. The core curriculum and the requirements for a major total about one half to two thirds of a student's program at Albion. The remainder can be used for electives, to complete a second major, or for a six- to eight-course sequence in business management, computer science, human services, mass communication, public service, or women's studies. Independent study and on-the-job internships for academic credit are also available. College credit can be obtained through Advanced Placement exams, College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests, or Albion departmental exams.
Off-Campus Programs
Albion College, together with other leading educational institutions, offers off-campus study in Australia, China, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, and several African countries. Semester-long programs are available in the United States through the Washington (D.C.) Center for Learning Alternatives, the New York City Arts Program, the Philadelphia Center, the Chicago Urban Life Center, the Newberry Library Program in the Humanities (Chicago), and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Tennessee). All arrangements are supervised by the Director of Off-Campus Programs.
Academic Facilities
Kresge Hall, a $45-million science and research complex, opened in spring 2005, while adjoining science facilities, Putman and Pelenske Halls, will be completely refurbished and opened in spring 2006. Ferguson Hall, opened in 2003, features 24-hour computer labs and one-stop student administrative services. In the Stockwell/Mudd Libraries, researchers are helped by an online catalog of the College's book and periodical collections and by access to national databases in many different academic areas. Other prominent campus facilities include the Herrick Center for Speech and Theatre and the 144-acre Whitehouse Nature Center, used for both science instruction and recreation. The Dow Recreation and Wellness Center offers a 1/9-mile indoor track, canoe and kayak livery, multipurpose court space, indoor tennis courts, a swimming pool, weight-training facilities for physical education courses, intramural sports, individual conditioning, and wellness programs. Albion students also have access to Digital Equipment Corporation VAX 4000-200 computers and to the Internet through PCs located throughout the campus and in individual rooms. More than 500 microcomputers are available for various research activities. Albion is a leader in Michigan for wireless networking across campus, digital imaging and digital video editing capabilities, and satellite downlink services and is a member of the Internet2 group, the fastest computing and transmission system in the nation, restricted to use by the higher education and nonprofit community.
Costs
Costs for the 200506 academic year are $24,012 for tuition, $6928 for room and board, and $284 for the student activity fee. Laboratory fees and music lessons are additional, as are personal expenses and travel. Costs are the same for both in-state and out-of-state students.
Financial Aid
Every student admitted to Albion College receives financial assistance if need is determined from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Families should file the FAFSA as soon as possible after January1 so that the College receives the analysis from the federal government by February15. For each student, Albion builds a financial aid package using federal grants and loans and College aid funds. Many Michigan residents are eligible for state scholarships and grants of more than $2000 that are reserved for people attending private colleges and universities in the state. More than 50 percent of Albion students also have jobs on campus. Students must apply for admission and be accepted before a financial aid package is prepared. Students with strong academic records are also eligible for academic scholarships. These range from $9000 to full tuition. The scholarship application deadline is February1. Students with special talent in art, music, and theater may qualify for scholarships in these areas of up to $4000.
Faculty
Ninety-two percent of Albion's faculty members hold the doctorate or terminal degree in their field. There are 131 full-time faculty members. Courses and laboratories are taught by regular faculty members and not by graduate teaching assistants. The average class size is 19. First- and second-year courses have average enrollments of 24 students, with the exception of special First Year Experience courses, which limit enrollment to 16 students. Upper-level courses average 15 students.
Albion's faculty members are dedicated to teaching at a liberal arts college. Faculty members know their students personally and are available outside class hours for discussion and counseling. They are also active scholars and researchers, as shown by the grants that they receive from the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and many other sources.
Student Government
An elected Student Senate oversees the operation of campus organizations and disburses student activity fee funds to these groups. The Board of Trustees invites Student Senate members to sit on its committees for academic and student affairs, institutional advancement, and buildings and grounds. Student representatives also sit on the faculty's Educational Policies Committee, which reviews the College curriculum.
Admission Requirements
Albion is a selective national liberal arts college, and admission is mainly based on the applicant's academic record in high school with special attention to the college-preparatory courses completed. Standard test scores from either the ACT or SAT are also an important factor, as are personal qualifications and accomplishments outside the classroom. The College seeks a diverse enrollment without regard to race, religion, or national origin. In 2004, entering freshmen had an average GPA of 3.6, with an average ACT score of 26 and SAT score of 1160. Prospective freshmen can take either the SAT or ACT. These exams are not required of transfer students who have earned at least a semester of college credit. Candidates for admission are expected to be graduates of an accredited high school or preparatory school and have at least 15 acceptable credit units. Applicants should have a strong background in English, mathematics, and the laboratory and social sciences. Homeschooled applicants are reviewed on an individual basis and need to complete either the SAT or ACT. International applicants are welcome and must have a minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based test or 270 on the computer-based test and submit a Statement of Personal Finances form to show adequate financial resources beyond any Albion College scholarship that may be offered. An interview may be required. Arrangements for a personal campus visit should be made in advance in writing, by phone, or by e-mail.
Application and Information
Applications for admission are accepted at any time, but most students apply after September1 of their senior year in high school. Before a decision is made, applicants must submit an application form and $20 application fee (there is no fee for Web applications), high school transcripts, test score results, and recommendations. Students should submit all m5aterials by April1. Albion is also a member of the Common Application and accepts applications completed on its Web site. Students who wish to receive an admission decision before Albion's regular decision candidates may apply under the early action program.
Applications need to be completed by December1, and notification of an admission decision is mailed prior to January1. Students do not have to make a final commitment to Albion until May1, when the $300 enrollment deposit is required to reserve a place in the class. The deposit may be refunded if the admissions office receives a written request before May1. Students who apply after December1 are considered for regular decision. Notification of an admission decision is made on a regular basis beginning February1. All applicants are encouraged to submit their application for admission prior to March1, as students who apply after this date are considered for admission on a space-available basis. For further information, students should contact:
