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Villanova University Profile

Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania

The Basics

Founded in 1842, Villanova University is a large private Catholic institution located in the Philadelphia suburb of Delaware Valley. The school itself is actually situated geographically within the residential community of Radnor Township. The footprint of the site is split into 3 large facilities, one being the freshman campus south of Lancaster Avenue, the second being upper classmen housing just northwest of Springmill Road, and finally the main campus in the middle. Villanova is unique because it has a large suburban school feel to it, while still being in striking distance to the city. The university also has a large footprint of approximately 254 acres of park like property within the suburb of Philadelphia. The physical layout observes numerous historic buildings shared by students, and local residents. The campus itself has approximately 64 buildings including lecture, residential, research, and dining facilities.

The overall physical layout of the campus is typical of a college setting with wide sidewalks, grass field meeting places, and park like benches. The pedestrian flow of traffic within the facility was centered between the Connelly Center (student center), Vasey Hall (performing arts theater), and Kennedy Hall. This area of the campus is like a pedestrian mall with several main student facilities in close proximity to each other. These areas also have several grassy areas in which I observed students sitting on the grass, and on wood benches during my campus tour.

The university buildings and open spaces were very 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. Villanova students, faculty, and employees enjoy a community, within a community lifestyle in regard to on, and off campus activities and resources. Villanova also provides student housing on campus for all 4 years despite it’s growth, and national appeal.

The published demographic information for the university describes a culturally diverse student population with students from all across the world. Villanova University has developed a large campus facility to offer students a Liberal Arts and Science, and Business Administration educational format to enhance it’s commitment to different types of career endeavors.

The University is home to approximately 3139 male, and 3254 female full time students, and 353 male, and 341 female part time students. The university also has a large graduate school population with 1228 male, and 1061 female students enrolled at the school. The average age of a freshman is 18 years old. 33% of students are from Pennsylvania. Others are from 45 states, and 33 foreign countries. Students on campus provide a diverse multi-cultural religious makeup including 77% Catholic, 14% Protestant religious affiliation. 79% of students are white, 6% Asian Americans, 4% are Black, 5% are Hispanic, and 6% are the race is unknown.

Published Academic Standards for Admission Programs

Villanova University has a large educational system that offer Liberal Arts, and Business Administration Graduate, and under graduate 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.

Villanova University guarantees on campus housing for all four years thru a lottery system. 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 developing housing resources for upper classman through it’s capital improvement initiatives. Information about housing can be found on the quick links page of this document.

Off Campus Housing

Villanova University has been described as a large private university within an affluent residential community. The reason I have mentioned the overall community is to re-assert the point that Villanova’s network of facilities has encapsulated it’s real estate holdings within the area. The campus footprint allows almost every student to have housing within walking distance to the campus. The issue of off campus housing has a different feel to it compared to other university off campus housing demands. The demand for housing, especially off campus housing is usually a tough issue for institutions attempting to keep students within the general geographical area. Information about available resources can be found on the quick links page.

Campus Life

Villanova University is a multi-cultural campus environment that provides students with an outstanding 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 Delaware Valley/ Main Line only adds to the universities international status because the community has multi-cultural roots as well. Villanova also addresses the issue of ecology in a positive way. The physical environment is clean and well maintained and the economic conditions are favorable to students and local residents due to the available services in walking distance to the school.

The emotional climate of the entire community is positive because students are involved with local community groups. An observation of this very positive emotional climate can be found by looking at the endless student flyers posted throughout the campus on walls, doors, windows, and light poles. These flyers describe upcoming activities and they invite all students to enjoy the clubs, performing arts, and public discussions on world events. Villanova’s students went as far as hanging banners outside residence halls to invite students to attend social events on campus, which was very cool. I also observed the universities Greek organizations presence on campus with students collecting donations for several local charities outside the student center during my visit.

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. Villanova has done a great 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 272 academic clubs, student organizations, and over 15 intramural sports activities. Villanova also has 14 national fraternities for men, and 11 national sororities for women.

Campus life at Villanova can be considered very active due to several notable student venues including the Connelly Center that has a movie theater within the building, and the student recreational center called the Pavilion. The university also has a student run performing arts venue within Vasey Hall. 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.

Villanova University also has several global education centers in the area for students to learn, and gather information about studying abroad. Students can also enjoy big campus sports events on several fields around campus including the school’s stadium on the eastern edge of the school footprint. Villanova currently participates in 10 NCAA Division I Varsity Sports for Men, and 12 for women including Big East Basketball.

Public Transportation

Campus transportation resources for Villanova’s students are available through the Wildcat 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 university community. Villa nova students also have a (SEPTA) station along the R-5 Thorndale Line to take them into the city.

The school’s van service provides reliable transportation to students who don’t, or can’t have vehicles on campus. The university 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. Foreign, and out of state students might opt to take a bus or train to their destination because they don’t want to risk getting lost on local roads.

Local weather

Weather is also an issue to consider for students preparing for a college experience. Villanova enjoys all four seasons of weather including rain and 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 university can be identified by the northeast weather patterns. Student parking within close proximity to university buildings and student services help reduce the exposure literally and figuratively.

Community Profile

Radnor Township has been described as a quiet suburban town that feels like a small city with all the college students, and local residents enjoying the Montgomery County Pennsylvania landscape. The township has also been described as a family centered residential community within striking distance to Philadelphia. Radnor also has an intellectual side due to its historical neighborhood architecture and close physical relationship with several local universities. The township is favorable to students and local residents because it offers a local pedestrian walkway on Lancaster Avenue, which links local residents to a large number of restaurants and local shops within the western edge of town. City Line & Lancaster Avenues are the main thoroughfares that travel north & west connecting several local towns to the university.

The community has a small city feel to it when you are walking to neighborhood eateries on the western edge of town. Residents and students enjoy several social destinations when walking east and west on Lancaster Avenue including downtown Radnor that offers coffee shops, bars, restaurants, and the Wynnwood shopping center, which is located a couple of blocks away. The walk from Villanova’s main gate to the above-mentioned meeting places is approximately 15 minutes from the campus. Students who walk off the campus and make a left turn to the eastern edge of Lancaster Avenue will mostly find suburban living except for the Villanova R-5 Train Station for (SEPTA), which provides public transportation to the City of Philadelphia.

The township itself is located within the northeastern area of the state, which makes it convenient to several suburban communities and highway networks. SEPTA provides local rail service in the area with the R-5 Thorndale Line. This rail corridor links to the 30th Street Station which is a main link to several different commuter trains and the northeast corridor. The 30th Street Station also links to Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, and the Philadelphia International Airport via the R-1 line. Radnor also has several main roadways that connect the community to major state highways including Route 1, 76, 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 Radnor Township describe a multi-cultural community within a total population of 30,878 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Villanova University has a strong relationship with this diverse community. An example of this commitment can be observed through the university’s community services handbook that describes educational programs, health care programs and services, legal programs and services to local residents who may require community help.

A Census Bureau community survey highlights several characteristics to describe the population including: 14,384 residents are male, 16,494 are female. 90% of residents are white, 3% are African American, 2% is Hispanic or Latino, and 3% are Asian. The median age of population is 28 years old. 80% of residents are 18 years old or over, 64% are over 21, and 13% of township residents is over the age of 65. The issue of housing in Radnor is also interesting. 96.4% of all housing units within the township are occupied. 37% of housing units are renter-occupied, while 63% of units are owner-occupied. Only 3.6% of total available housing was vacant.

Villanova Quick Links

Restaurants on the Main Line (Lancaster Avenue) in Suburban Philadelphia

Below is a sample list of local restaurants on the Main Line (Lancaster Avenue) in Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Rosemont, Wynnewood, and Ardmore Pennsylvania. These restaurants are in close proximity to several suburban Philadelphia schools including, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Villanova, and St. Joe’s. National restaurant chains & shopping resources can be found on Route 78, 476, and 22. Complete information about hotels, restaurants, shopping, museums, and general tourism activities can be found in the document “ Everything Philadelphia” on the Your College Profile web site.

Bryn Mawr/ Haverford Restaurants

Ardmore Restaurants

Wynnewood Restaurants

Rosemont Restaurants

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