General

No doubt about it, Homecoming 2020 was different. But on the growing list of virtual events that turn out to be pretty enjoyable, it was a clear success.

Albion College is one of only two colleges in Michigan, public or private, that saw enrollment gains this fall. An October 31 story in the Detroit Free Press by higher education reporter David Jesse notes that Albion experienced a 15% increase in its fall first-year class and a 2% overall enrollment increase.

Albion College is ranked among the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the United States in the 2021 Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings. “Albion is providing the quality liberal arts education that is so vital in a changing world,” said Dr. Hernan Bucheli, vice president of enrollment and strategic initiatives.

With more than a decade of experience in the areas of experiential learning, local-to-global partnerships and student development, Gretchen Mielke has been named the new executive director of The Philadelphia Center. The residential student internship program has been affiliated with the Great Lakes Colleges Association for more than 50 years; Albion College has been the Center’s facilitator since 2017.

In another step toward providing students an opportunity to thrive in a liberal arts environment, Albion College has been awarded a five-year, nationally competitive U.S. Department of Education/TRIO Student Support Services grant totaling more than $1.3 million. In that time period, the grant—which aligns directly with Albion’s shared commitment to purpose, belonging and action—will support 140 students annually who are from low-income or first-generation backgrounds or have disabilities.

The 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings features Albion College as one of the 50 Most Innovative national liberal arts colleges. Albion earned its rank based on a methodology that focuses on innovations made in such areas as curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology and facilities. The publication also recognized Albion for its First-Year Experience and its efforts in the area of social mobility.

Albion College President Dr. Mathew Johnson has joined more than 160 college presidents and chancellors in committing to full student voter registration and participation in all elections through the nonpartisan ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “We are committed to working with campus stakeholders to increase electoral participation in 2020 and beyond,” Dr. Johnson said.

Albion College’s commitment to public purpose has been recognized in the 2020 rankings published this week by Washington Monthly. Among liberal arts colleges, the magazine places Albion at No. 2 in Michigan, No. 24 in the Midwest and among the top liberal arts colleges nationally.

Finding strength in numbers and spirit, the students of Albion College’s Class of 2024 were ready for the first day of classes earlier this week. Approximately 540 students, nearly 500 of them first-years, comprise one of Albion’s largest cohorts of entering students in recent history.

With its combination of quality education, size and affordability gaining more attention, Albion College ranked 38th nationally among small colleges—and No. 1 in Michigan—in Money’s Best Colleges for 2020, an in-depth report and listing published this week.