FAQ's - Alvernia's Quest for University Status

Alvernia’s Quest for University Status - Project Background
Alvernia has been preparing for this important step since Fall of 2006 when university status emerged as a centerpiece of our new strategic plan. In January of 2007, President Tom Flynn announced to the campus community that a university task force would prepare and submit a formal application to the Pennsylvania State Department of Education under the direction of Provost Shirley Williams. Alvernia submitted an application requesting a change of status in July of 2007, and, as a result, is hosting a University Site Team from the State Department of Education from April 27 to April 30, 2008. During their visit the Site Team will meet with faculty, administrators, and staff representing all areas of the institution to thoroughly evaluate Alvernia’s readiness to formally change status to a university.

In the state of Pennsylvania, becoming a university entails a great deal more than a name change. The process is complex and very similar to a Middle States Accreditation and involves a great deal of documentation preceding the visit and a self-evaluative component during the visit. In addition, making the application for university status does not mean a change in status will automatically be conferred.  Following the site visit, Alvernia will receive an on-site exit report before the team’s departure. Formal results of the site visit will be forwarded by the team chair by the end of May. Alvernia must then respond to the state’s evaluation by June 30. A successful application must be published in a state bulletin for a period of one month, most likely from July 15 to August 15, 2008. From there the application goes to the Secretary of the Department of Education for signature. Once authorized by signature, Alvernia will have officially obtained university status.

1. What is the difference between a “college” and a “university?”
2. Why is Alvernia considering this change?
3. How would this change affect…
4. Will Alvernia change its name if it obtains university status?
5. Would Alvernia cost more if it was a “university?”
6. Would the Web site and e-mail addresses change?
7. What kind of precedent is there for colleges to change their designation to “university?”
8. If the change were approved, when would it go into effect?


1. What is the difference between a “college” and a “university?”

There is no single, universally accepted definition for “college” or “university.” Some schools which are smaller and less complex than Alvernia call themselves universities while some larger, more complex schools remained colleges.

Within academia, “universities” are traditionally perceived as institutions of higher learning that offer a breadth of academic programs across multiple disciplines and strong graduate programs that often include terminal degrees, such as the Ph.D.

Internationally, “colleges” are thought of as institutions similar to high schools in America, or post-secondary schools that only teach one discipline. “Universities” are institutes of higher education that teach a variety of disciplines.

After careful analysis of state documents, Alvernia believes the College fits the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s definition of a university, and has requested a change in status.

2. Why is Alvernia considering this change?

Alvernia has undergone dramatic transformation in the last ten years with total enrollment across divisions increasing 134% (from 1,198 in 1997 to 2,800 in 2007.) Before 1999, Alvernia had no graduate students enrolled in any program. Now the number of graduate and evening undergraduate students numbers roughly 1,400, which is the same size enrollment of the traditional undergraduate day program. Therefore, “university” may more accurately describe the rich educational experience and complex mix of programs and students: undergraduate, evening undergraduate, , graduate and Seniors College, pursuing associate, baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees and certifications and life long enrichment.

Our transformation also includes the addition of several outstanding new facilities to our physical plant including the O’Pake Science Center and the purchase and renovation of the Upland Center, which demonstrates a significant commitment to graduate education and lifelong learning.

Last year, based on their independent assessment, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching moved Alvernia from the Comprehensive College classification to a University -- Master’s I classification, which means that Alvernia now competes in the public’s perception with schools like Villanova University, St. Joseph’s University, the University of Scranton, and St. Bonaventure University.

The trend for proprietary schools and two-year schools to seek collegiate status and the international perception of the college were seen as important external influences in the decision to pursue university status. The explosive growth of graduate education and the new Ph.D. program factor considerably in a change to university status as does our existing commitment to off-campus sites and delivery systems. External image and related marketing issues were other key factors for consideration. University status would enhance the recruitment of faculty and students, also impacting the overall external image and reputation. In addition, alumni have said they believe university status will increase the value of their degree in the eyes of employers and graduate schools.

It positions us for our future, where we are headed based on our mission— to foster lifelong learners and to be more inclusive—educating people of diverse backgrounds, responding to the needs of recent high school graduates, working adults, established professionals, and senior citizens.

3. How would this change affect…

Academic life of the institution?

As part of the strategic planning process, the Alvernia community has already committed itself to creating and sustaining excellent academic programs driven by an outstanding faculty, skilled in teaching and dedicated to service to the institution.

Strategic goals related to academic quality align with the kinds of goals an institution seeking university status would set and include the following: to improve quality by creating interdisciplinary signatures and targeting resources to strengthen particular programs such as the creative and fine arts; to prepare students for lives in the global community by stressing an integrated learning experience; to improve the quality of the faculty through a systematic plan of recruitment, support, and evaluation; and to bolster student achievement by improving the entering student profile as well as the demonstrated outcomes of an Alvernia education.

The Alvernia experience?
We are committed to maintaining the personalized experience our students enjoy now as part of their Alvernia education. It is not our intention to grow as rapidly in the next ten years as we have in the last ten years. In fact, both the strategic and campus master plans call for modest growth (roughly 15%) in the undergraduate population for the next ten years. We plan to remain a student-centered, supportive institution where faculty do the teaching.

The school’s mission and policies?
The Alvernia mission, which hails back to the values and vision of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters who founded Alvernia in 1958, has been the bedrock upon which the remarkable progress of the institution has been based. We think it is critical that as a university, the mission of the school would remain the same: to be a rigorous, caring, and inclusive learning community.

Admission requirements?
Alvernia’s admission requirements would remain the same, one of the reasons being, that we already operate like a university to some extent. Because of the range and size of our professional programs, we currently require varying admission requirements from program to program, across all divisions of the institution.

Organizational structure?
Many universities have a structure that is made up of a number of “colleges” or “schools” under the “university” umbrella. A change to university would result in renaming the divisions to become a School of Graduate and Adult Education, the College of Professional Programs, and the College of Arts and Sciences.  Deans are already in place for this structure as are chairs for the departments in the divisions.

4. Will Alvernia change its name if it obtains university status?

As stated in the application prepared for the State Department of Education, the official name Alvernia College would change to Alvernia University.

5. Would Alvernia cost more if it was a “university?”

No. The change in name would not require any increase in tuition outside of the moderate price increases that have characterized Alvernia in the past. Internally, department budgets would not be noticeably affected, as changes would be implemented in phases.

6. Would the Web site and e-mail addresses change?

No, they would not. The Web site would remain at www.alvernia.edu, and the e-mail address would remain (firstname.lastname)@alvernia.edu.

7. What kind of precedent is there for colleges to change their designation to “university?”

There is a good deal of precedent. According to an article in The Washington Post, in the past 10 years 161 colleges have changed to university status. These include institutions such as Elon, Quinnipiac, Fairfield, Southern New Hampshire, Rider, and Salisbury Universities.

Many venerable higher education institutions have changed from college to university status at critical points in their evolution. Wake Forest changed from college to university status in 1967.

Closer to home, Immaculata, Arcadia, Holy Family, and Chatham are all Pennsylvania institutions who recently obtained university status.

8. If the change were approved, when would it go into effect?

It is conceivable that Alvernia would announce its change in status in the Fall semester of 2008.