Overview
In Chester, Pennsylvania, Just Outside Philadelphia, Widener University Offers Experiential and Service Learning
Widener University's main campus is located in Chester, Pennsylvania, about 14 miles south of Philadelphia. Widener emphasizes real-world learning and makes the most of Chester and the surrounding area as an extended classroom and laboratory. With three - Chester, Exton, and Wilmington - of its four campuses located in the Philadelphia region, Widener serves as an educational and cultural resource for the Philadelphia metropolitan region.
The university's campuses in Chester, Exton, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware, serve some 6,500 students from many states and numerous countries. The mix of cultures and nationalities is rich and varied, making life at Widener, even outside the classroom, an educational experience. This is especially true with Philadelphia and its own ethnic melting pot just a short drive from that region's campuses, where neighborhoods, parks, social clubs, and restaurants are able to make almost anyone, of any nationality, feel right at home.
Widener University takes great pride in its Presidential Service Corps (PSC), a unique scholarship program for selected first-year students who are eligible for leadership awards of $5000 per year. PSC members are motivated students who have demonstrated their leadership skills, have met with success in intellectual and academic pursuits, and have exhibited a passion for making positive contributions to society through their service and volunteerism. Members of PSC participate in local, national, and international community service projects that, for example, focus on literacy issues, mentoring, and nutrition/anti-hunger initiatives. They also participate in regular training through a developmentally-targeted, experiential learning curriculum that helps broaden their skills in a variety of settings.
Widener University Offers Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering, and Hospitality Management Programs
Widener University is a metropolitan private university that connects its curricula to social issues through various kinds of civic engagement. The key components of the Widener experience are dynamic teaching, active scholarship, experiential and service learning, and personal attention. As a comprehensive doctorate-granting university, Widener offers programs leading to associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees in the liberal arts and sciences and various professional areas, including business administration, engineering, hospitality management, and human services.
Widener's undergraduate programs have strong reputations. The diversity, depth, and breadth of the College of Arts and Sciences programs rival those of much larger universities. All classes are taught by faculty members who have a Ph.D. or master's in the field. The School of Business Administration is highly regarded, too, with accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business - AACSB. Being accredited by AACSB puts Widener in the top third of all college business schools in both the U.S. and Europe. The School of Engineering offers state-of-the-art undergraduate programs in civil, chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering and puts the Widener philosophy of personalized instruction and mentorship into action by maintaining a student-faculty ratio of 12:1. With small classes and close faculty interaction, students work with faculty members to cultivate research partnerships with local, regional, and national companies as well as government agencies. The School of Hospitality Management was named one of the Top 20 out of 200 programs of its kind in the nation, making it a top school for leaders in the hospitality industry.
Student Life at Widener Is Enriched by the Scores of Student Organizations Focused on Art, Music, Sports, and Culture
Enlightened educators know that students need time to relax and socialize outside the classroom. Widener University offers than eighty clubs and student organizations that provide a range of activities, projects, and events to improve student life. A balance between academic rigor and personal character development ensures that Widener University graduates are competent professionals with strength of mind as well as character.
Widener University proudly contributes to its community through such programs as Alternative Spring Break, which involves students with families that are in need. Many different activities and opportunities are available among the scores of student organizations, from hosting a radio show on the school station, WDNR-FM, to auditioning for a Theatre Widener play. There are also numerous student organizations centered on common interests like hiking, biking, and kayaking (Outdoor Adventure Club); singing (Widener Gospel Choir); and music (Joining All Musicians, JAM).
At Widener, students need never be bored. In addition to student government, honor societies, and academic organizations, like the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), there are half a dozen student media organizations (radio, newspaper, yearbook, etc.) and more than thirty "programming and interest" organizations. These are quite varied, ranging from the Asian Student Association to the Young Republicans. True diversity in student life reigns at Widener University. Members of the Widener community know that it is up to each of them to learn all they can, support and encourage one another, and help those who need it - and enjoy life while doing it. They believe student life should be as fun as it is rewarding.
