ALVERNIA COLLEGE
Reading, Pennsylvania
The College
Alvernia College is a Catholic liberal arts college with a total enrollment of 2,311 men and women that stresses the development of the whole personacademically, emotionally, and spiritually. With a student-faculty ratio of 16:1, Alvernia offers a personalized environment where the faculty members know and care about each student. Located on a beautiful 80-acre campus on the outskirts of Reading, Alvernia offers a setting conducive to learning and is conveniently accessible. It is chartered by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and sponsored by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters.
Alvernia participates in a full range of intercollegiate sports, including baseball, basketball, cross-country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. The College is a member of the NCAA Division III, the ECAC, and the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference.
Student organizations include the American Chemistry Society, Athletic Association, Campus Ministry, Chorale, Foreign Language Club, Intercultural Club, Journalism Club, Math Club, Phi Beta Lambda, Science Club, Sigma Tau Delta, and Student Government Association. Formal and informal dances, formal and buffet dinners, informal club socials, picnics, parties, coffeehouses, and student entertainment all provide occasions for social development and friendly relationships. Resident students live in a coed dorm that has spacious rooms and several student lounges or in town houses for upperclassmen. A student center, used by both resident and commuting students, provides excellent study and recreational facilities. A campus center and a residence hall opened in fall 1999, and an additional residence hall opened in fall 2001.
Alvernia College's student body consists of people of all ages and walks of life. Alvernia offers both a traditional course schedule and a year-round continuing education program designed to give working adults the opportunity to earn a degree in fewer than four years. In addition, courses are offered on Saturday, in the summer, and in the evening under the traditional semester schedule. Alvernia College also offers five-year programs leading to the Master in Education, the Master in Business Administration, the Master of Arts in liberal studies, and the Master of Occupational Therapy. Alvernia offers a Master of Social Work through Marywood College.
Location
Alvernia College is located 3 miles from the center of the city of Reading, in the scenic Blue Mountain area of eastern Pennsylvania. Its campus overlooks Angelica Lake, noted for its rustic beauty. The College has easy access to the metropolitan areas of New York, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg, where students can take advantage of the cultural, historical, and educational attractions these cities have to offer.
Majors and Degrees
Alvernia College offers the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Associate in Science degrees. Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science candidates can major in the following baccalaureate degree areas: accounting, addiction studies, athletic training, biochemistry, biology, biology/medical technology, chemistry, chemistry/medical technology, communication, computer information systems, criminal justice administration, education (early childhood, elementary, special, and secondary, with major areas in biology, chemistry, English, general science, mathematics, and social studies), English, forensic science, general science, history, liberal studies, management, mathematics, nursing, occupational therapy, philosophy/theology, political science, psychology, social work, and sports management. Students can take double majors in areas that are closely related.
Academic Programs
The academic program is designed to help students to think logically and critically, to comprehend accurately, and to communicate effectively. The College concentrates on the personal development of its students by fostering academic integrity, social responsibility, and moral values. The educational program is based on a commitment to develop the whole person into a responsible individual. Therefore, students not only are required to demonstrate proficiency in those skills demanded by their chosen professional concentration but also are expected to take advantage of the opportunity to grow intellectually and spiritually and to be responsible to themselves and to society.
Alvernia offers an honors program designed to prepare students for graduate school. The course focuses on a current topic for study and discussion. During their junior year, students choose a topic for their thesis, which they present and defend.
To earn a bachelor's degree, students must complete a minimum of 124 credits, with 54 credits in the liberal arts, 40 in the major, and 30 in electives, although these requirements may vary according to the major program. Students must earn 68 credits in nursing to be awarded the Associate in Science degree.
Academic Facilities
Alvernia opened a library facility in 1991 that can hold more than 100,000 volumes, including reference works, books for general circulation, and bound periodicals. The library currently subscribes to 850 periodicals covering all areas of study taught at the College, and more than 1,440 volumes of back issues are in the microfilm collection. The library also houses the Audio-Visual Center, which has 23,000 pieces of audiovisual material, including more than 4,750 music records and scores. The science building houses several modern laboratories for science majors and research facilities for psychology majors. Alvernia also has an art studio.
Costs
For 200506, the basic tuition fee is $17,500; room and board are $7300.
Financial Aid
More than 85 percent of the students attending Alvernia receive some type of financial aid. The types of aid most commonly received are Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency grants for Pennsylvania residents, Federal Pell Grants, and numerous scholarships from private sources, as well as grants and scholarships from the College itself. This aid is awarded on the basis of academic performance and financial need. The deadline for application for Alvernia College aid is April 1. In addition, Alvernia participates in the federally funded Federal Work-Study Program. Student loans are also available.
Faculty
The faculty consists of 59 full-time and 125 part-time adjunct members, each dedicated to teaching and serving the needs of every student. The faculty is as diversified as the many fields of interest that its members represent. For example, the criminal justice administration program and the addiction studies program employ adjunct faculty members who possess expertise in their professional areas in addition to excellent educational credentials. The use of such faculty members is intended to enhance the theoretical portions of professional training with practical professional knowledge.
Student Government
The Student Government strives to promote responsible student action and to serve as a link between students, administration, and faculty. It is composed of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and chief justice elected by the student body and is augmented by 2 representatives from each class.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements normally include a high school diploma with 16 Carnegie units in the following subjects: English, 4 units; mathematics, 2 units; science, 2 units; social studies, 2 units; and modern languages, 2 units. The remaining units may be made up of academic electives. The College is willing to consider good students whose preparation does not include all of these subjects. Nursing students must fulfill the admission requirements established by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nurse Examiners. The State High School Equivalency Diploma is generally recognized as fulfilling the minimum entrance requirements. Applicants to the freshman class are required to take the SAT I; the ACT is also acceptable. Outstanding candidates are considered for entrance to Alvernia at the end of their junior year of high school on the basis of requests made by the candidate and the high school. With the approval of their school officials, students may also be admitted to certain courses during their senior year in high school, simultaneously earning credit toward the high school diploma and a college degree.
Application and Information
Applicants should submit an application for admission and enclose the nonrefundable $25 processing fee. The application form may be obtained from the Admissions Office or from the Web site listed below. Applicants should have an official copy of their high school record sent to the Admissions Office, along with the official results of the SAT I or ACT.
A personal interview, while not required, is often desirable for the prospective student. All interested students and their families are invited to visit the College for a tour of the campus and a personal interview with a member of the Admissions Office staff. It is advisable to make an appointment by mail or phone at least one week in advance. The College reserves the right to request an interview if certain aspects of an application need clarification.
Because the College has a rolling admission policy, an applicant is notified of acceptance by the director of admissions shortly after the necessary credentials are on file and8 have been reviewed, generally within one month of the time an application has been completed. To reserve a place in the freshman class, all students must make a $300 deposit by May 1. This deposit is credited to the student's account for the first semester but is not refunded if the student fails to attend the College. All full-time students are required to return a medical history/health form to the health center. Residents need to submit this form before moving into the residence hall. Transfer students should have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale and should be aware that only grades of C or better are eligible for credit transfer. Alvernia accepts a maximum of 75 transfer credits; at least 45 credits that are required for graduation must be earned at Alvernia and must satisfy all graduation requirements. A detailed analysis of credits to be transferred is done only after students have been accepted by the College. For more information or to schedule a visit, students should contact:
