A D i f f e r e n t W a y o f T h i n k i n g

2 0 0 2 – 0 3 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Something going on behind the eyes…

It’s a look you often see at Albright.Something that says there is a processgoing on inside, synapses are firing.Connecting the dots. Exploring ideasand perspectives. Making connections.Considering the possibilities. Arrivingat new conclusions…

12002–03 Annual Report

… A D i f f e r e n t W a y o f T h i n k i n g

2 Albright College

Annual reports are designed toprovide a picture of theCollege’s accomplishments

during the past year and I am happyto share with you that this past yearhas been another record-breaker. Infall 2002, we greeted the College’s“Sesquicentennial Class,” the class of2006. It was the largest freshmanclass in Albright’s history with 453freshmen. As I write this, the incom-ing class of 2007 will surpass thisrecord. Our application rate alsocontinues to break all records.

But while facts and figures pro-vide part of the picture, they do notalways show the whole of what wehave accomplished. During this pastyear, the College adopted a newtagline as part of our marketingefforts, “A different way of thinking.”In choosing this phrase to representus, we felt it expressed somethingdistinctive and important about theessence of Albright.

But what is “a different way ofthinking?” I believe it speaks to theinstrinsic character of this institutionand its people — how we approachwhat we do. For the institution that isAlbright, thinking differently impliesa commitment to individuals thatexceeds the norm. It implies a will-ingness to be flexible, and a readi-ness to reach out to others. It meanswe do not just teach our students, butwe also learn from them.

Thinking differently means acommitment to substance that goesbeyond curricular content andensures that students understand themultiple issues and perspectives thatsurround learning. It means weforge active connections betweentopics, ideas and disciplines by pro-viding forums for dialogue, in anenvironment that fosters growth -intellectual, spiritual, interpersonaland human.

For our faculty, thinking differ-ently describes their conscious effortto step beyond disciplinary bound-aries. Albright’s faculty are excep-tional in this regard, not only avoid-ing isolation and turfism, but reach-ing entire new levels of collegialityand collaboration.

And while the faculty of mostsmall liberal arts colleges take right-ful pride in having close connectionswith students, to think differentlymeans to take those relationshipseven further, into intensive collabo-ration and partnership. With half ofour students combining fields oflearning, our faculty are tirelessadvisors to help them make wisechoices about creating dual or triplemajors. To do this effectively, profes-sors must know students, believe intheir dreams and recognize their tal-ents so they can make solid decisionsabout both a meaningful educationand a meaningful future.

For our students, of course, ourjob is to inculcate that different wayof viewing the world, of learning, ofsynthesizing information into broadknowledge and even wisdom. But Ithink there is a different way ofthinking inherent in the very char-acter of our student body. As you willsee from the profiles that appear onthe following pages, our students area diverse and interesting group, cre-ative and energetic to an amazingdegree. They take on leadershiproles, take risks and pull rabbits outof hats (literally, in some cases! Seepage 10.) They not only take on thechallenge of combining academicareas, they also combine diverse ele-ments into challenging and fulfillinglives on campus.

In this report, I am pleased tointroduce you to just a few of the stu-dents and faculty who embody our“different way of thinking.” Theyhave felt the direct impact of thegenerous support of our manyfriends and alumni included in ourHonor Roll of Donors. On behalf ofeveryone at Albright College, ourheartfelt gratitude for your supportof our mission, our vision and theindividuals who make up AlbrightCollege.

Henry A. Zimon, Ph.D.President

32002–03 Annual Report

Shannon Kline ’03“Communication is an essential role for a physician.”

Major: Biochemistry — Pre-Med

n Summa cum laude. Marcus Green Pre-Professional Award, Paul M. Leininger ChemistryAward, Who’s Who in American Colleges andUniversities, Shirk Scholar, Collaborative researchwith Professor Frieda Texter on links between protein structures and cancer

n Softball pitcher, broke the record for careerstrikeouts. 2003 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District II College Division Team

n “I took an acting class as a way of getting outof the strict sciences. We started communicatingthrough facial expressions. A physician has toknow how to communicate with people in a waythat is understandable.”

n The future: becoming a physician – early acceptance into medical school at Penn StateHershey Medical Center

By the Numbers

n The class of 2006, Albright’s “Sesquicentennial Class,” enter-ing in fall 2002, numbered 453 students. This was the College’slargest class until the new Class of 2007 arrived with 457 stu-dents. In addition, 40 transfer students entered Albright in fall2003, double the number from 2002.

n Nearly half of all Albright students have dual, combinedconcentrations or interdisciplinary majors.

n Last year Albright students had 200 different combinationsof majors.

n Albright students are from 20 states and 26 countries.

n Acceptance rate is 58%.

n Applications increased 21.7%, a new record.

n Average GPA of applicants is 3.25.

n Diversity at Albright is outstanding compared to other small,liberal arts colleges and increased from 15.5% in ’99-01 to20.9% in 2002-03.

n Albright was named a member of The Annapolis Group, aselective organization of leading liberal arts colleges, who workcooperatively to promote understanding of the value of a liberalarts education.Named to The Best Mid-Atlantic

Colleges by The Princeton Review.

4 Albright College

Life on Campus

n 128 Experience Events

n 24 concerts

n 5 theatre productions

n 4 Freedman Gallery exhibitions

n 37 films

n 2 film festivals

n 21 public lectures

n 24 workshops and special presentations

n Hispanic Heritage Month celebration

Sally Wojcik ’04“My two majors are related but different. Literature makes me a better performer, thinking of things outside my sphere.”

Major: English and Theatre

n Honor Society, Dean’s list, all six semesters.Ambassador, Admission Office; Tutor, WritingCenter; Assistant Preparator, Freedman Gallery

n Vice president, president, Domino Players;performed in six shows, assistant directedtwo, stage managed two

n Future plans: Graduate school in theatre,then teaching theatre

52002–03 Annual Report

Thato Reed ’06“Always go forward in life but don’t forget

where you come from.”

Major: Psychology and Sociology (Child and Family Studies)

n Came to the US from Botswana with his family in 1999

n Freshman Leadership Award 2003, Julia Award 2003

n Founder of African Diaspora, member of the Gospel Ensemble,member of AC2, works in the Housing Office, assistant manager ofthe Rec Room

n Future Plans: While attending an inner city high school, Thatostarted the “Sankofa Tribe,” a peer conflict resolution program. Thesankofa is a bird from Ghana that symbolizes going forward whilenever forgetting where you come from. Thato’s goal is to earn amaster’s and Ph.D. and to be a school counselor in an urban highschool. He loves poetry, dance, acting. “I want to use all my gifts tohelp young people.”

Life on Campus

n Albright Computer Training andConsulting Services offered 600 differentcourses and served more than 1,300students and 179 corporations andbusinesses, in addition to its consultingservices. A current focus is on clients whoare changing careers.

n The Albright Conferences Office drew20,000 visitors to Albright’s campus forsummer athletics and band camps, adulteducational and religious conferences,weddings and other one-day events.

6 Albright College

Accelerated DegreeProgramsBy the Numbers

n Number of Students Enrolled inAccelerated Degree Completion: 518 (7% growthfrom ’02 to ’03)

n Number of Students Enrolled inAccelerated Degree Start: 50

n DCP/DSP Programs through CorporateExtension: Pfizer, Inc.- Lititz, PA; Exelon, LimerickGenerating Station; High Concrete, Denver, PA

n Faculty: 65

n Locations: 9 (Reading, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Blue Bell and Pottstown, Allentown and Bethlehem.)

n Two-year partners: 7

Angel Figueroa ’05“People born in Reading sometimes say they want the city to bewhat it once was. But the community is shifting, change isinevitable. I say I want Reading to be what it can be. Reading canbe the gem for this state, for this country.”

Major: Business AdministrationAccelerated Degree Completion Program, Reading

n Member of City Council, Reading, Pa. representing District 1.The first Hispanic city councilman in the City of Reading, heserves as a consultant to the Reading Weed and Seed Program,and led projects such as Rock the Vote USA and theRedevelopment of the PA Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Healso serves on the boards of the Pennsylvania Statewide LatinoCoalition and the Hispanic Center.

n Vice President of Resource Development for I-LEAD (Institutefor Leadership, Education, Advancement and Development),where he trains local leaders in four course modules that willhelp to improve the local quality of life - Effective Dialogue,Creative Leadership, Public Systems, Private Systems.

72002–03 Annual Report

Stephanie Funk ’03“I finally found a home, which is Albright.”

Master’s Program in EducationPost-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification

n Employment: HR specialist, Reading Plastic Fabricators

n B.S., Organizational Behavior/Applied Psychology, AlbrightCollege ’03 (Accelerated Degree Completion)

n Mother of Hayley, age 3

n Future Plans: teaching certificate, master’s degree, teachinghistory in high school, principal’s certificate. In order to beginteaching sooner, she is completing her secondary educationcertification at the beginning of her master’s program. Sheplans to do her student teaching in the spring of 2004.

Graduate Programin EducationBy the Numbers

n M.A. or M.S. in Education

n Post-baccalaureate teachercertification established fall 2002

n Grew from 15 students in twocourses in fall 2002 to 78 studentsand 10 courses in fall 2003

8 Albright College

n Kathy Ozment, chair of theModern Foreign Languagesand Literatures Departmentand Betsy Kiddy, assistantprofessor of history anddirector of the Johnson Centerfor Latin American andCaribbean Studies, won a$120,000 grant from the U.S.Department of Education tointegrate teaching about LatinAmerica into a broader rangeof disciplines in the College.The project will also more fullyintegrate the Caribbean intothe interdisciplinary LatinAmerican Studies Program.Nine faculty traveled to Mexicoand the Dominican Republic tolay the groundwork for newcourses incorporating a LatinAmerican focus into sociology,music, art, political science,psychology, economics,women’s studies, businessand philosophy.

Shared Project:Latin American and Caribbean Studies and Modern Foreign Languages

In 2002-03, Albright’s 101 full-time facultyproduced:

n 3 books, 18 articles, 13 exhibitions andperformances, 93 papers/scholarlypresentations, 6 grants

n Albright students and faculty workingtogether on collaborative research published10 articles and papers on their research

Albright Facultyat Work

Faculty

92002–03 Annual Report

n David Osgood, assistant professor of biology

n Michael Welsh, assistant professor of political science

n Steven Mech, assistant professor of biology

n Barton Thompson, assistant professor of anthropology

Environmental Areas of Concentration

n The interdisciplinary environmental studies curriculum was redesigned and broadened last year.

n The environmental areas of concentration now include: environmental science, environmentalchemistry and environmental studies – politics, anthropology and psychology of the environment,ecological history, environmental economics and philosophical ethics applied to the natural world.

10 Albright College

Information TechnologyNew Campus InformationSystem Goes Live

n The new $2 million campus information system,SCT’s POWERCampus, went live for the Registrar andthe Controller’s Offices during the summer of 2003. Thenew system is integrating the College’s data systems,including students, (allowing online registration andgrades) admission, finance, human resources andcampus master calendar.

Tom Shawver ’06“I have this thing about being in

the spotlight.”

Major: Computer Science and Music

n Dean’s List. Magician. 1999 National Champion of Magic; magicbytom.com

n Knew 15 computer languages by the time he came to Albright. Composesmusic. Working on innovative, proprietary software ideas that combine com-puters and music.

n Future Plans: Running his own company

RenovationsStudent Lounges Renovated

n Student lounges in both Walton and Crowell ResidenceHalls were completely renovated last spring.

112002–03 Annual Report

Philanthropy

n Giving to Albright in the year ended May 31, 2003 was$2,668,965 (plus $120,670 of in-kind gifts). This is the secondlargest gift total in the College’s history. Making gifts to theCollege were 3,210 (25%) alumni, as well as 565 parents andalmost 400 friends of Albright.

n President’s Council members contribute $1,000 or moreannually to the College. This year, 261 members of the President’sCouncil comprised just 6.2% of all individual donors to Albright,but gave $1,348,000 or 82% of all non-bequest dollars.

Financial Management

Spaces and PlacesAlbright Receives $200,000 fromCommonwealth for Science Center

n The College received a $200,000 grant from the Commonwealth ofPennsylvania, funding secured by State Senator Michael A. O’Pake in the2002-2003 state budget to support development and finalization of designconcepts for a planned new Science Center for Albright. The facility isenvisioned to be not only a state-of-the-art facility for teaching and learningscience, but also an innovative physical space that optimizes interdisciplinaryopportunities between the disciplines and fosters collaboration among bothfaculty and students. The project is still in its early phases, with no target datefor groundbreaking since funds must be raised for construction.

Revenues

n Student Tuition and Fees $ 36,105,721 71%n Endowment & Trust Income

Used in Operations 1,443,404 3%n Gifts & Grants 1,945,389 4%n Sales & Services of

Auxiliary Enterprises 10,466,395 21%n Other 693,381 1%

Total Revenues $ 50,651,290

Expenditures

n Instruction $ 10,988,091 22%n Library 858,285 2%n Student Services 2,036,511 4%n Administration 1,028,283 2%n General Institutional 11,944,202 24%n Operations & Maintenance 2,429,699 5%n Student Aid 13,229,302 26%n Debt Service 1,767,637 3%n Auxiliary Services 5,932,720 12%

Total Expenditures $ 50,214,730Surplus $ 439,560 *

RenovationsTennis Court Renovations Completed

n Albright’s tennis courts were completely renovatedthanks to the 75th Anniversary reunion gift of Alpha PiOmega. They were renamed the Alpha Pi Omega TennisCourts. The courts have new substructures, as well asnew paving, fences and windscreens. Lighting andspectator seating will be added.

* Excess of revenues over expenditures from unrestricted operatingactivities before depreciation. Depreciation and nonoperating revenue,gains and other support are reflected in the consolidated auditedfinancial statements of the college.

Copies of the audited financial statements are available upon requestto the Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance.