Alvernia University is a private

Private school

Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...

 university

University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

 located in Reading

Reading, Pennsylvania

Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...

, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

. Once known as a college, Alvernia gained University status in 2008.

Academics

Alvernia University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and offers more than 600 courses and 50 majors and minors in nearly every field including pre-professional programs in medicine, dentistry, law and veterinary medicine. Undergraduate degrees are Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Social Work.

Graduate degrees are Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, Master of Arts in Community Counseling, Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.

There is also a two-year program that leads to the Associate of Science degree and evening programs that include non-degree tracks.

Faculty

Among Alvernia professors, almost two-thirds hold the highest degree in their field. The student-to faculty ratio is 14:1. Most classes are 20 students or fewer.

Student Activities

More than 50 student groups, including intramural and intercollegiate sports, academic clubs, honor societies, student government, and faith-based, arts, environmental, and service clubs.

Athletics

NCAA Division III, member of the Commonwealth Conference of the Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation and member of Eastern College Athletic Conference, 8 men’s and 10 women’s intercollegiate sports.

Financial Aid

About 99% of undergraduates receive some type of financial aid, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study

Library

Library holdings are 100,000 print, audiovisual, and computer materials; approximately 900 periodicals and 400 current subscriptions. The Library supports Polish-American and Italian-American cultural centers.

University

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has granted university status to Alvernia College in Reading. The school is now known as Alvernia University. The announcement was made late morning on September 25, 2008 during a ceremony attended by students, faculty, and staff. "University status reflects what we have already become due to the extraordinary growth and progress of recent years," said Dr. Thomas F. Flynn, president of Alvernia University.