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to 2006-2008 Graduate & Doctoral Catalog Index
Table of Contents
Mission
Statement
Core
Franciscan Values
General
Objectives
Federal
Policies
Main
Campus and Satellite Site Directory
Off-site
Location Programs
Admissions
Graduate
Program Academic Policies
Registration
Financial
Information
Tuition
and Billing
Financial
Aid
Satisfactory
Academic Progress
Withdrawal
Policies
Student
Services
Graduate
and
Certification Programs
Master
of Arts
- Program
in Community Counseling
- Program
in Liberal Studies
Master
of Business Adminstration
Master
of Education
School
Health (M.Ed.) & School Nurse Certification
Principal
Certification Programs
Teaching
Certification Curriculum
Master
of Science in Occupational Therapy
Doctor
of Philosophy
Graduate
Program Course Descriptions
Administration,
Trustees, and Graduate Faculty
Alvernia is a Catholic coeducational college sponsored by the Bernardine Sisters of St. Francis. Its purpose is to provide affordable quality education that combines liberal arts with career and professional opportunities. The goal is to prepare learners for personal achievement, for social responsibility, for moral integrity, and for spiritual fullness.
True to the Judeo-Christian tradition, to the Catholic faith, and to the Franciscan heritage, Alvernia College seeks to foster a community of faith, reverence for the dignity of all life, commitment to peace and justice, and devotion to service — particularly to the materially and spiritually disadvantaged.
Fundamental
to Alvernia’s commitment to education are the values of collegiality,
humility, and service. All members of
the Alvernia community are in a collegial partnership, with the talents of
each considered to be essential to the success
of the total learning environment. All members of the Alvernia community are
expected to be authentic witnesses to
the Gospel by the example of their lives in their teaching and service.
In accordance with the principles of the Roman Catholic Church, the Alvernia experience seeks to assist learners in the development of their academic knowledge and professional competence, in discovering personal meaning through service to others, in forging a system of values worthy of free men and women, and in developing a mature spirituality and prayerful life-style. Thus the Alvernia College learning environment strives to join charity with knowledge so its students may enrich their relationship to God and to their fellow human beings.
The mission statements of the Bernardine Congregation and Alvernia College are the sources of the five core values of the Franciscan tradition — service, humility, peacemaking, contemplation, and collegiality. To call these values “ traditional” to the Catholic, Franciscan view of the world does not imply that they are merely “old” or without relevance to contemporary society. On the contrary, these basic values have continued, throughout the centuries, to inform a way of life, a view of the world, and a definition of men’s and women’s relationship to their Creator that is perhaps more relevant in today’s world than ever before.
These values are, then, very much alive at Alvernia. Together they form the foundation for decision-making, for program development, and for our relationships with each other in the pursuit of our personal, communal, and educational goals. They are what make an education at Alvernia College unique. As members of the Alvernia College community, each of us, no matter our role, willingly proclaims common ownership of these core values.
Alvernia College is founded on the Judeo-Christian commitment to the harmonious development of the whole person. The student’s development into a responsible person is the basic reason for the existence of the College. The Alvernia College environment, therefore, is designed to provide students with the opportunity:
Nondiscrimination Policy
Alvernia College complies with all applicable federal, state, and local nondiscrimination laws in the administration of its educational programs and services and in its employment relationships. We are committed to equality. Continued and responsible growth of our College results from enhancing and utilizing the abilities of all individuals to the fullest extent practicable within the framework of our environment. All employment decisions advance the principal of equal employment opportunity. In addition, personnel activities such as recruitment, interviewing, selection, promotion, training, benefits, transfers, layoffs, demotion and discipline are administered according to good business practices, the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, Executive Orders concerning equal employment opportunity, and Equal Opportunity Commission regulations and guidelines, all of which require that all persons have equal employment opportunities and strictly prohibit discriminatory and harassment practices.
The Human Resources Office is charged with the responsibility to maintain
the necessary programs, records, and reports
to comply with all government regulations, and with the goals and objectives
of the equal employment opportunity
program. Any employee or applicant of this college who feels that he or she
has been discriminated against in employment
or recruiting should contact the Human Resources Office to pursue the proper
discrimination complaint procedure.
Harassment Policy
Alvernia College strives to maintain an environment where all employees and students are free from harassment. The College will not tolerate harassment of any type. No employee or student will be discriminated or retaliated against for bringing alleged issues of harassment to the attention of the College, and employees and students are encouraged to do so. The College has a committee that will examine EEO issues should they arise.
The participation of women and minorities in management by employment and
promotion will continue to be emphasized
so that they may be given the opportunity to contribute to the success of
the College. All employees of Alvernia College
will continue to approach this responsibility with the sensitivity and human
concern they have demonstrated in the
past.
The contents of this catalog are provided for the information of the student. It is accurate at the time of printing, but is subject to change from time to time as deemed appropriate by the College in order to fulfill its role and mission or to accommodate to circumstances beyond its control. Changes may be implemented without prior notice and without obligation and, unless specified otherwise, are effective when made. Feedback, additions, and corrections should be directed to the:
Graduate and Continuing Studies Office
610-796-8495
400 Saint Bernardine Street
Reading, PA 19607
1-888-ALVERNIA
610-796-8228
610-796-8367 (fax)
www.alvernia.edu
Graduate Center Office Hours:
Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday by appointment
Graduate Programs Offered on Alvernia’s
Main Campus:
2650 Woodglen Road
Pottsville, PA 17901
570-628-4011
570-628-3317 (fax)
Office Hours:
Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Friday by appointment
Saturday by appointment
Graduate Programs Offered at the Schuylkill
Center and/or in the Schuylkill County Area:
1355 West Cheltenham Avenue
Melrose Park, PA 19027
215-635-4734
215-635-4590 (fax)
Office Hours:
Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Graduate Programs Offered at the Philadelphia
Center:
Alvernia College designs programs to meet the needs of businesses, schools,
and non-profit organizations. Programs have
been developed for collegiate credit and for Act 48 credit at various off-site
locations. Off-site locations have included
Schuylkill Community Education Council, Caron Foundation, Godiva Chocolatier,
Reading Hospital and Medical
Center, Lowe’s Distribution Center, Service Access Management, and various
school districts in Berks, Montgomery,
Lehigh, and Lancaster counties. For more information on how Alvernia College
can design individualized programs for
business, please contact the Director of Business Outreach Programs at 610-796-8410.
For information on designing
programs for schools, please contact the Director of Education Outreach Programs
at 610-796-8312.