Albright College

Albright College is a private liberal arts college located in Reading, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It was founded in 1856, making it a historic institution with a long history of providing education. As of fall 2023, the college had around 1,652 students, offering a variety of programs and courses for those interested in pursuing higher education. The college is known for its focus on providing a well-rounded education through the liberal arts, encouraging students to explore different subjects and develop critical thinking skills.

History

Albright College started in 1856 as "Union Seminary." Over time, it grew by joining together with other schools, including Albright Collegiate Institute and Schuylkill College. The college moved to its current spot at the base of Mount Penn in Reading, Pennsylvania.

The school is named after Jacob Albright, a preacher who started a church group called the Evangelical Association. The number of students at Albright has gone down in recent years, which has made money a challenge for the college. The school has had to make some tough choices to manage its finances.

Academics

Albright College encourages students to combine different areas of study so they can graduate on time. The college offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, as well as Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees in education. There are also online and faster degree programs available.

Albright provides many classic and career-focused programs. It started one of the first undergraduate psychobiology programs in the 1960s. The college’s liberal arts courses let students design their own education, and many students study two or three subjects together.

The theatre program has won many awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Albright’s Domino Players Company has performed at the Region II KCACTF Festival many times. The college’s productions have been named the best college shows of their years, earning many national awards.

The Albright Creative Research Experience (ACRE) lets undergraduate students do research or creative projects during special breaks. Students work closely with teachers on projects in any subject, from science to the humanities.

Rankings

In 2017, Albright College was named one of the “Best Northeastern” schools by The Princeton Review for the fourteenth year in a row. For 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked the college tied at #146 among National Liberal Arts Colleges and #31 for helping students from different economic backgrounds succeed. In 2018, U.S. News ranked Albright 33rd for campus diversity and 27th for economic diversity among liberal arts schools. The Economist magazine listed Albright among the top 50 American colleges for giving good value in 2015.

Athletics

Albright College's sports teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III as part of the Middle Atlantic Conferences.

Charles "Pop" Kelchner started the men's basketball team in 1900 and served as the athletic director for 21 years. He was also involved in Major League Baseball for many years. The college named its baseball field Kelchner Field in 1952, with Branch Rickey giving the speech and Connie Mack attending.

Several well-known coaches have led Albright's football team, including Doggie Julian, Biggie Munn, and William "Lone Star" Dietz. In 1948, Albright played in the first intercollegiate football game between a school from an Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and a school with mostly white students.

The Philadelphia Eagles held their preseason training camps at Albright from 1968 to 1972.

Wilbur G. Renken served as athletic director and basketball coach for 38 seasons. He was president of the United States Olympic Basketball Team Selection Committee for the 1976 Olympic Games and led the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 1979–1980.

WXAC

Albright College has a campus radio station called WXAC 91.3 FM. It is run by students. The station was first called WALC, but its name was changed to WXAC on March 8, 1965. Before that, WALC was used by the Alcoa Steamship Lines.

Notable alumni

Albright College has many successful graduates who have made their mark in different fields. Some well-known alumni include Haps Benfer, who coached football, basketball, and baseball, and John Fetterman, who is currently a United States Senator. Others like Doris Freedman helped develop public art, and Casey Lawrence plays baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays in Major League Baseball. Many alumni have become leaders in politics, education, and other important areas.