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Albright College Profile

Reading, Pennsylvania

The Basics

Founded in 1856, Albright College is a small private liberal arts & sciences institution located in Reading Pennsylvania. The school itself is situated geographically in the suburban neighborhood of Hampden Heights within the City of Reading. The footprint of the site is split into 2 facilities, one being the main campus on the eastern edge of the site, and the second being the massive sports facility on the western edge. 13th Street separates both sides of the campus with Rockland, and Union Streets maintaining the north and south borders. Albright College is unique because it has a small private school feel to it, while still being big enough to support several large sports facilities. The school is relatively large geographically for a private institution but it feels smaller than the observed landscape.

The college has a relatively large footprint of approximately 118 acres of property within a short driving distance to the City of Reading. The physical layout observes several historic buildings shared by students, and local residents. The campus itself has approximately 36 buildings including lecture, residential, research, and dining facilities. Albright also has a sports pavilion on the western edge of campus that houses several fitness centers and team facilities. The overall campus map is typical for a university setting with wide sidewalks, grass field meeting places, and park like benches. The pedestrian flow of traffic within the facility was centered around the Gingrich Library, and the Campus Center during my daytime visit.

Students were also observed on 13th Street, and Bern Street walking toward several facilities including the Bollman Fitness Center, and the residence halls on the northern side of campus. My tour guide told me that students enjoy several areas of the campus including the green areas outside the Science, and Masters Halls during comfortable weather days because they can run around Science Field and still study with the help of small blackboards. The Center for the Arts also becomes a notable outside meeting place within the campus with students enjoying the landscape in all weather conditions. These areas of the campus get busy at all hours of the day when school is in session according to my student guide.

The campus buildings and open spaces were clean and well maintained during my observations. These open spaces allow students the ability to interact with each other in a non-educational manner due to the high number of observed meeting places on campus. Albright students, faculty, and employees enjoy a community, within a community lifestyle in regard to on, and off campus activities and resources. The college also provides several critical student resources including student housing on campus for all 4 years, which helps students connect with each other throughout the year.

The published demographic information for the college describes a culturally diverse student population with students from all across the world. Albright College has developed a large campus community to offer students a Liberal Arts and Science, and Engineering educational format to enhance it’s commitment to different types of career endeavors.

Albright College: The college is home to relatively small campus population of approximately 662 male, and 961 female full, and 235 male, and 307 female part-time students. The school has 23 male, and 55 female students enrolled in graduate school programs. The average age of a freshman is 18 years old. 63% of students are from Pennsylvania. Others are from 26 states, and 28 foreign countries. Students on campus provide a diverse multi-cultural makeup including 76% of students are white, 2% Asian Americans, 8% are Black, 5% are Hispanic, and 9% the race is unknown.

Published Academic Standards for Admission Programs

Albright has a large educational system for a small private school, which offers Liberal Arts, and Sciences, and Engineering programs. Below is a specific list of under graduate admission requirements.

Student Housing

The purpose of student housing is to provide safe and reasonable accommodations for students living away from home. The issue of housing and dormitory life is a critical element of overall campus life because students spend a large amount of time in their rooms. Student housing units historically come in 3 different styles including traditional corridor, suite, and apartment style units.

Albright guarantees on campus housing for all four years of campus life. Students who have filed their intent to reside on campus by the stated deadline and who have continuously registered as full time students receive housing. The school has started upgrading housing resources for all students through it’s capital improvement initiatives. Albright also has a unique way of providing housing for students. The college doesn’t have freshman dorms; it has upper classmen living on the floors above, and below so new students can learn, what they need to learn about the school in a more relaxed fashion. Information about housing can be found on the quick links page of this document.

Off Campus Housing: Albright has been described as a small private college within a small residential community. The reason I have mentioned the overall community is to re-assert the point that Albright’s network of facilities has encapsulated it’s real estate holdings within the suburban Reading area of Hampden Heights. The campus footprint allows every student to have housing within walking distance to college facilities. The issue of off campus housing has a different feel to it compared to other college housing demands. The college itself has 69% of it’s student population living on campus which helps reduce the need, or demand for off campus housing. Students who want off campus housing can find information about available resources on the quick links page.

Campus Life

Albright College is a multi-cultural campus environment that provides students with a relaxed social, and educational atmosphere. The admissions demographics paint a picture of a very diverse community with students from all over the world. The local community of Reading only adds to the college’s international status because the community has multi-cultural roots as well. The Albright campus has also been going through a growth period with new campus facilities for students, administrators, educators, and local residents to enjoy. The college is in the process of upgrading it’s academic facilities including a total renovation of Merner-Pfeiffer’s Hall of Science that highlights the schools commitment to higher education now, and in the future.

The emotional climate of the campus community is positive because students are involved with local community, and campus groups. An observation of this positive emotional climate can be found by looking at the student flyers posted within several common areas of the school. These flyers describe upcoming activities and they invite all students to enjoy the clubs, performing arts, and public discussions on world events. Albright students went as far as hanging banners inside the student, and fitness centers to invite students to attend social events on campus, which was very nice to see.

This issue of school culture and emotional attachment is also a very important part of campus life because everyone wants to have a connection and emotional fit to their new school and community. Albright has done a good job developing positive social systems with it’s students by providing a series of coordinated programs including workshops and seminars for freshman students. This type of process provides a foundation for learning and personal growth providing over 70 academic clubs, student organizations, and 7 intramural sports activities for men, and women. Albright also has a Greek presence on campus with 28% of male students belonging to 3 national fraternities, and 32% of female students involved with 3 national sororities.

Campus life at Albright can be considered very active due to several notable student venues including the numerous sports venues and fitness centers. The college also has a student run performing arts venue within the Center for Performing Arts. These on campus facilities allows students to enjoy more than academic excellence, it gives them the opportunity to experience school sports, fraternities, performing arts, history, cultural events, restaurants, and local museums.

Finally, Albright has several global education centers on campus for students to learn, and gather information about volunteering in the community, studying abroad, and applying for externships in corporate America, which a lot of students do according to my student guide. Students can also enjoy big campus sports events on several fields around campus including the school’s stadium in the middle of the school map. Albright students enjoy watching, and participating in 11 NCAA Division III Varsity Sports for Men, and 11 for women within the highly competitive Centennial Conference.

Public Transportation: Campus transportation resources for Albright’s students are available through the college’s shuttle system, which provides van service for daily classes, student activities, and links to local shopping and restaurants. This service is crucial to students who don’t have cars because it provides transportation services to the entire college community. The school’s van service provides reliable transportation to students who don’t, or can’t have vehicles on campus. The college also has a very large number of out of state students who don’t know the streets and highways very well. Knowing the area is key because students who come from local states may know the area better and may be able to walk or drive to local destinations.

Community Profile

Reading Pennsylvania has been described as a small city that was built around it’s Railroad Company and beautiful Pennsylvania Dutch countryside. The city also has a long industrial history due to it’s relationship geographically to Allentown and Lancaster Pennsylvania. Reading has also been described as a family centered residential community within driving distance to these, and several other cities including Harrisburg, and Philadelphia. Reading also has an intellectual side due to its historical neighborhood architecture and close physical relationship to Albright College. This suburban neighborhood is favorable to students and local residents because it offers local pedestrian walkways along 13th Street, which links students, and local residents to several restaurants and local shops on Route 222 within the city.

The Hampden Heights community has a small city feel to it when you are walking to neighborhood eateries on the southern edge of town. Residents and students also enjoy several social destinations when driving to downtown Reading including local eateries featuring hometown style food. You won’t find that many national food, and consumer chains in the area. If you want these types of services you have to get back on Route 222 & 78 and drive through the Pennsylvania Dutch countryside where you will find national restaurant and hotel chains.

The City of Reading itself is located within the center of the state, which makes it convenient to several suburban communities and highway networks. Amtrak provides regional rail service along the Keystone Line which links to several large cities within the northwestern corridor. Reading also has several main roadways that connect the community to major state highways including Route 222, 78 and 476 that links to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and Interstate 95. Shopping, restaurants, and hotel chains can be found within these major transportation networks after a short drive from the campus. Appendix #1 on the back page of this profile lists several of observed resources in close proximity to the school.

The following demographics for the town of Reading Pennsylvania describe a multi-cultural community within a total population of 81,183 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Albright College has strong relationship with the city because they share community services including public safety, and cultural resources. An example of this commitment can be observed through the college’s community services handbook that describes educational, and health care programs and services.

A Census Bureau community survey highlights several characteristics to describe the population including: 48% residents are male, 52% are female. 59% of residents are white, 12% are African American, 27% is Hispanic or Latino, and 2% are Asian. The median age of population is 30.6 years old. 70% of residents are 18 years old or over, 65 % are over 21, and 12% of city residents is over the age of 65. The issue of housing in Reading is also interesting. 88% of all housing units within the city are occupied. 49% of housing units are renter-occupied, while 51% of units are owner-occupied. 12% of total available housing was vacant.

Local weather

Weather is also an issue to consider for students preparing for a college experience. Reading enjoys all four seasons of weather including a large amount of snow. Northeast weather patterns sometimes allow for temperatures to drop below 32 degrees for a considerable amount of time during the winter. Pennsylvania also gets it’s share of rain during the spring and summer months as well. A strong indicator of pedestrian traffic around the college can be identified by the northeast weather patterns. Student parking within close proximity to buildings and student shuttle services help reduce the exposure literally and figuratively.

Albright College Quick Links Page

Reading Pennsylvania Area Hotel Quick Links Page

Country Inn & Suites
405 North Park Road
Reading P.A. 19610
Hampton Inn Reading
1800 Paper Mill Road
Reading P.A. 19610
Homeland Suites Hotel
2801 Paper Mill Road
Reading P.A. 19610
The Inn at Reading
1040 Park Road
Reading P.A. 19610
Crowne Plaza Reading
1741 Paper Mill Road
Reading P.A. 19610
Days Inn Reading
Paper Mill Road
Reading P.A. 19610
Wyndam Hotel Reading
100 North Fifth Street
Reading P.A. 19610

Below is a sample list of local restaurants in Reading P.A. National restaurant chains & shopping resources can be found on Route 12 & 222. A complete list of local restaurants in Reading Pennsylvania can be found at: www.foodio54.com

Shopping, entertainment, historical, and general tourist information, about the City, of Reading Pennsylvania can be found at: www.readingberkspa.com

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