Mount Aloysius College

The College

Mount Aloysius College is a private, comprehensive, Catholic liberal arts college sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. The College welcomes people of all faith traditions. Established in 1853, Mount Aloysius College offers both undergraduate and graduate education. Since the founding of the College, nearly 16,000 students have become proud Mount Aloysius alumni. The College is committed to providing small class sizes, and students benefit from accessible faculty and staff. Mount Aloysius students come mostly from throughout Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic Region. There are over 2,500 students enrolled (unduplicated headcount). Mount Aloysius College is one of 18 Mercy Colleges nationwide. Students are encouraged to synthesize faith with learning, to develop competence with compassion, to apply their talents and gifts to the service of others, and to assume leadership in their community. Student activities play a distinctive role in personal growth. At Mount Aloysius College, there are approximately 100 organized clubs, groups, honor societies, and an intramural sports program. Activities include a student newspaper, residence hall associations, student government, cheerleading, dance team, scholarship-funded theater and choir programs, and a student activities planning board. Mount Aloysius fun includes social events, intramural sports, athletic events, comedians, live music, theater, educational events, campus forums, and awesome guest lectures. Mount Aloysius College is a member of NCAA Division III. Athletic programs involve both women and men and include basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, and tennis. Men's baseball and women's bowling, softball, and volleyball are also offered. Athletes benefit from the Ray S. and Louise S. Walker Athletic Field Complex, which includes a softball field, one of the finest soccer fields in the area, and the Calandra-Smith baseball complex. Recently the Mountie Stables were opened to the College and to the community. The Stables add dugouts, lockers, showers, storage, and concession facilities to the school's athletic infrastructure. Opened in autumn 2013, the new Athletic Convocation and Wellness Center is a spectacular 87,400-square-foot multipurpose facility on the western edge of the beautiful and expansive 193-acre campus. This facility takes Mount Aloysius athletics to a new level and adds a welcomed special events venue to the southern Allegheny Mountains. The Center houses a main gymnasium and events venue with seating for over 2,500, home and visitor locker rooms, and trainer facilities. There is also a full-size auxiliary gymnasium. Athletic offices, Institutional Advancement, Student Affairs, Business faculty offices, and fully integrated smart classrooms and conferencing facilities are also located in the building. On the ground floor, a new state-of-the-art wellness center offers both cardio and resistance training in a spacious, modern environment. In spring 2014, an anonymous donor memorialized the late Sr. Virginia Bertschi, RSM by repurposing the former Health amd Fitness Center. The new Bertschi Center and Technology Commons - with open architecture, vivid colors, and glass walls offering great views of the campus and surrounding mountains - is an additional social, technology, and special events venue that serves both commuter and resident students. The main campus building is a picturesque structure dating to 1897. It houses the admissions, financial aid, security, health, and academic offices, along with the Office of the President, classrooms, the region's premiere nursing simulation center, and the Wolf-Kuhn Art Gallery. Cosgrave Center is the hub of campus life. The building contains the dining hall, snack bar, bookstore, child-care center (part of the elementary education/early childhood program at the College), lounges, recreational rooms, student affairs offices, and meeting rooms. Ihmsen Halls are key housing facilities for residential students. Misciagna Residence is a state-of-the-art residence hall, providing 25 suites and private bathrooms. McAuley Hall features both double and single rooms and a large multipurpose room and study lounges on all three floors. Alumni Hall is a historic, multipurpose facility used for College drama, musicals, lectures, and performing arts events. The College operates 12 months per year and opens its facilities to the Southern Allegheny community. The College is 100 percent wireless, and smart classrooms are located throughout the campus. Mount Aloysius is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. All nursing and health studies programs are fully accredited by their professional accrediting bodies, including the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, the Commission on Accreditation for Programs of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, the American Association of Medical Assistants, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Programs of Surgical Technology. In addition to its undergraduate programs - both associate and bachelor's degrees - Mount Aloysius offers master's degree programs in business administration, behavioral specialist consulting, community counseling, and psychology.

Location

Mount Aloysius College is located in the scenic Southern Allegheny Mountains of west-central Pennsylvania, in the small town of Cresson, which is adjacent to US Route 22. The Cresson area has warm, beautiful summers; brisk, breathtaking autumns; invigorating, snowy winters; and cool, blooming springs. Facilities in the area are available for outdoor activities, including biking, golfing, swimming, horseback riding, waterskiing and water activities, hiking, spelunking, picnicking, and amusement and water parks. The college's setting is rural, with 2 midsized cities, Altoona and Johnstown, within a very short distance. Pittsburgh, a thriving urban center ripe with cultural, sports and entertainment venues is only 90 minutes west.

Majors and Degrees

Mount Aloysius College awards bachelor's and associate degrees in the arts, sciences, and health studies fields in both career-oriented and traditional liberal arts programs. Baccalaureate degrees are available in accounting, behavioral and social science, biology and general science, business administration, which includes a 5th-year MBA option, computer science, criminology, elementary/early childhood education and secondary education (with certifications), English, general science, history/political science, humanities, information technology, math/science, medical imaging, nursing (RN-BSN program), nursing (2+2), occupational therapy (3-2), physical therapy (4-2), physician assistant studies (3-2), prelaw, psychology, sign language/interpreter education, and undecided/exploratory. Associate degrees are offered in applied technology, business administration, criminology, early childhood studies, general studies, legal studies, liberal arts, medical assistant studies, nursing, nursing (LPN to RN), physical therapist assistant studies, pre-nursing, radiography/medical imaging, sign language/deaf studies, and surgical technology.

Academic Programs

Whether preparing students for careers upon graduation or for graduate school, Mount Aloysius recognizes the importance of a broad and liberal education. Thus, in addition to receiving solid preparation for their chosen careers, all students at the college receive a foundation in the arts, sciences, and humanities through an outstanding core curriculum. Strong emphasis is placed on the specialized courses within each program of study, and many academic programs combine classroom experience with internships and related training at area clinical sites, agencies, and institutions. In addition to its regular academic programs, Mount Aloysius offers independent and directed study with a commitment to service, which is a key ingredient in a Mercy education. The college has an excellent honors program and academic services area. The academic calendar has 2 traditional semesters and 2 or 3 optional summer sessions.

Off-Campus Programs

An important feature of many academic programs is off-campus training. The majority of the college's programs of study require credit-yielding practicums, through which students work and receive training at local and regional hospitals, public and private schools, or health or human service agencies. Students in all health programs participate in required on-the-job training during their time at the college.

Academic Facilities

In 1995, Mount Aloysius College opened both a new library and a new era, signifying greater access to information for the college community. This state-of-the-art facility is the campus hub for technology and studying. With a Buhl Electronic Classroom and more than 80,000 print and nonprint titles, the library is an impressive, 31,000-square-foot facility with ample seating space, 4 group-study rooms, a reading lounge, a law library and classroom, an unparalleled 18,000-volume ecumenical collection that was donated by Pastor Gerald Myers, and additional room for future expansion. This facility is completely automated, with an online catalog and access to remote libraries and the World Wide Web at more than 30 public workstations. Also located in the library is the Information Technology Center, home to 15 multimedia computer workstations and some of the latest offerings in educational software. Pierce Hall serves as the science center on campus and is a state-of-the-art, 31,000-square-foot facility that was completed in 1997 and houses all science laboratories, health science centers, and offices of faculty members in the health studies programs. Academic Hall is an impressive facility that is home to the College Honors Program. It also has classrooms, labs, seminar rooms, faculty offices, and electronic rooms. The college is proud of its bridge to the past and its progress in providing twenty-first-century buildings.

Costs

Annual tuition and fees for the 2016-17 academic year for full-time students is $20,710, and room and board is $9500.

Financial Aid

Mount Aloysius recognizes the expense involved in acquiring a liberal arts education and encourages all students to apply for all available aid. Through the Office of Financial Aid, the college assists students in applying for state and federal grants, loans, work-study awards, and college merit scholarships and grants. The college awards academic monies based on GPA and SAT or ACT scores; these awards are renewable over a 4-year period and range from $2000 to $12,000 per year. Mount Aloysius College participates in all federal and state programs; 94% of the college's students receive some form of financial aid. "US News & World Report" has ranked Mount Aloysius College as one of the best-priced private liberal arts colleges in the US.

Faculty

The Mount Aloysius faculty consists of approximately 60 full-time members, whose primary responsibilities are teaching and advising students. Most full-time faculty members hold advanced or terminal degrees and are expected to maintain close instructional ties with students. Many professors hold national professional certificates in such disciplines as criminology, education, law, and nursing. The Mount Aloysius student-faculty member ratio of 12:1 allows close contact between students and faculty members, providing personal attention in a highly structured environment -- a key ingredient in the college's academic philosophy.

Student Government

The Student Government Association (SGA) represents students on all issues that concern the college. The SGA appoints student representatives to all student-oriented college committees. The college encourages active student participation in the general governance structure and in other matters concerning the development and implementation of policies on residential student life.

Admission Requirements

The college enrolls a freshman class of approximately 350 students, which amounts to a total class of 550 students with transfer and adult learning students. Admission is selective and is based on academic promise, as indicated by a student's secondary school performance and activities, standardized test scores, and special experience and talents. Applicants are required to have, or expect to earn, diplomas from approved secondary schools or, in lieu of those, GED diplomas. Submission of official transcripts and SAT or ACT scores is required. In addition to the general admission requirements, specific admission requirements exist for the health programs; students should visit the college's web site (http://www.mtaloy.edu) for further information. Prospective students are highly encouraged to visit the scenic 193-acre campus. The college is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on select Saturdays.

Application and Information

To apply for admission to Mount Aloysius College, candidates are encouraged to submit their applications and $30 application fees to the Office of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions. In addition, students may apply online. For further information, students should contact: Office of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions Mount Aloysius College 7373 Admiral Peary Highway Cresson, Pennsylvania 16630 United States Phone: 814-886-6383 Fax: 814-886-6441