Academics

Since 1967, The Philadelphia Center has provided thousands of college students with a compelling semester of off-campus study—highlighted by a significant and meaningful internship experience with a top-flight employer—in one of the country’s largest, most diverse and most historic cities. Launched by the Great Lakes Colleges Association, the Center remains firmly rooted with the GLCA and its member colleges. This semester, a new chapter of that partnership has begun, as Albion College is now the official administrator of the program.

The theme was “Meaning” but the keyword was “opportunity” for Albion’s first BRITx Talks event, held October 20 as part of Homecoming 2017 festivities. A rebellious student, a failed partnership, a lucrative-but-unfulfilling job, and a career-changing discovery made on an exercise bike—each gave the alumni presenters an unlikely opportunity to clarify the values and passions that have led to success.

It’s a long way from the Chicago neighborhood of Bronzeville to the pastoral equestrian setting of Albion College. But for Alicia Espinoza, ’20, it was a trip worth making. Intrigued though unfamiliar with the sport, the Noble Charter Network graduate is now a member of Albion’s equestrian team, and it has become a valuable part of her college experience.

For the Michigan natives and longtime New Englanders, the intention is broad yet straightforward: The Murray and Jean Penzotti Swindell Student Impact Scholarship will support bright students with financial need, support President Mauri Ditzler’s vision of growth for both the College and the Albion community, and help make Albion College well known nationally as a top-notch liberal arts school.

Diversity, inclusion, free speech and respect were the topics of discussion at a September 28 campus-wide forum where students were challenged “to be open-minded and be willing to change your own mind.” In Goodrich Chapel, a faculty panel answered student-submitted questions amid the backdrop of recent events on campus.

The 25-block Harrington Neighborhood, located on and around Cass Street just west of the Albion College campus approaching downtown, is featured in the September/October edition of The Review, a publication produced by the Michigan Municipal League. The project, which launched in early 2016 following a $1 million gift from Michael and Judy Harrington, ’85 ’86, is starting to make a notable impact as faculty and staff renovate existing homes, construct new houses and become an even closer part of the Albion community.

After more than two years of work and planning and some $400,000 in generous grants, the City of Albion and Albion College will celebrate a new 1.2-mile biking and walking College-Community Trail with a ribbon cutting and grand opening Saturday, September 16, at 3 p.m. at Victory Park near the bandshell.

In a campus-wide email, Albion College President Mauri Ditzler remarked on today’s news pertaining to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) federal immigration policy.

A recent significant grant from the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, based in Midland, Mich., will thoroughly enhance the day-to-day experience of Albion College student-athletes and coaches for many years to come. The $500,000 awarded by the Foundation earlier this summer will go toward a complete update of the weight room in the Dow Recreation and Wellness Center as well as a wall-to-wall renovation of four locker rooms serving eight different teams.

The enrollment growth of the past two years continues in 2017 for Albion College, which welcomed nearly 570 new students at today’s Matriculation ceremony, 130 more than a year ago. Along with 525 first-year students, the College expects an additional 44 transfer students, an increase of more than 25 percent over last year, when classes begin on Monday, August 21.