Alvernia University

Alvernia University is a private, Catholic Franciscan institution located at 400 St Bernardine St in Reading, Pennsylvania, on a residential campus in the southern part of the city. The university traces its origins to the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, who established the school in 1958 as a college for the preparation of teaching sisters before opening enrollment more broadly to lay students. It gained university status in 2008 and now awards associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees across the liberal arts, sciences, health professions and professional studies. The main number for general inquiries, admissions transfers and campus departments is +1 610-796-8200.

The guiding phrase associated with the institution, to learn, to love, to serve, reflects a Franciscan educational tradition that pairs classroom study with service work, reflection and civic involvement. That emphasis shapes much of campus life, from service learning requirements built into coursework to student organizations that partner with neighborhood groups, nonprofits and schools across Berks County.

Academic Programs

Alvernia organizes its academic work into colleges and schools covering health sciences, business, humanities and social sciences, education and the natural sciences. Undergraduate offerings span a wide range of fields, and the university is particularly associated in the region with preparation for health care and public service careers. Common areas of study include:

• Nursing, including traditional and accelerated pathways, plus graduate nursing options
• Occupational therapy and physical therapy, offered at the doctoral level
• Athletic training, exercise science, healthcare science and public health
• Criminal justice, forensic science, psychology and social work
• Business administration, accounting, finance, marketing, management and sport management
• Education programs leading to Pennsylvania certification, including early childhood, secondary and special education
• Biology, chemistry, environmental science, mathematics and computer information systems
• English, communication, history, political science, philosophy and theology

Graduate study includes master's programs in business administration, education, clinical counseling psychology, leadership, nursing and criminal justice, along with doctoral programs in fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing practice and leadership. Course delivery varies by program, with traditional daytime classes, evening and accelerated formats for working adults, and hybrid or online components in several graduate and degree completion tracks.

Class sizes at Alvernia are generally small, and faculty office hours, advising and tutoring are organized around direct contact between students and instructors. Many professors in the professional programs bring practitioner backgrounds from hospitals, law enforcement, clinics, schools and businesses in the region, and internships, clinical placements and field experiences are standard components of those majors.

The Campus

The main campus occupies a landscaped residential setting of lawns, mature trees and walkways, with academic buildings, residence halls, athletic facilities and the Holy Family Convent complex sharing the grounds. Francis Hall, with its distinctive architecture and chapel, anchors the historic core of the campus, while newer construction has added classroom, laboratory and student life space over time.

Key facilities include science and health science teaching laboratories, simulation spaces used by nursing and allied health students, a library with study rooms and research support, a dining hall and campus cafe, and an indoor recreation and athletics complex used for fitness, intramurals and varsity competition. An environmental and nature education space on campus houses live animal and ecology displays that are used in coursework and in outreach activities with younger students and community visitors. The campus sits adjacent to Angelica Park, a public green space with trails, ponds and bridges that many students and neighbors use for walking and running.

Residence options range from traditional halls to apartment style housing for upper level students. Campus ministry, counseling, career development, disability services and tutoring are housed in student support offices, and the chapel schedule includes regular liturgies open to the campus community.

Athletics and Student Life

Alvernia competes in NCAA Division III as the Golden Wolves, fielding men's and women's teams in sports including basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, volleyball, cross country, track and field, tennis, golf, swimming and ice hockey, among others. Intramural and club sports, fitness classes and open recreation hours extend athletic participation to students who are not on varsity rosters.

Outside of athletics, students take part in academic honor societies, professional clubs tied to majors, performing arts, student government, campus media and service organizations. Community engagement is a consistent thread, with volunteer projects, service trips and partnerships that connect students to organizations throughout Reading and the surrounding county.

Presence Beyond the Main Campus

Alvernia has expanded its footprint beyond St Bernardine Street. The university operates a downtown Reading location on Penn Street, part of an initiative to place academic programs, student housing and business incubation space in the city center. That facility is associated with the university's entrepreneurship and economic development work, which supports student internships alongside local startups and small businesses. The university also maintains instructional sites serving students in Schuylkill County and the Philadelphia area, primarily for adult and graduate learners.

Visiting and Practical Information

The campus is reached from Route 222 and Interstate 176 by way of local roads through south Reading, with parking lots distributed around the perimeter of the grounds. Both the main entrance areas and parking facilities are wheelchair accessible. Prospective students and families can arrange tours and information sessions through the admissions office, and the campus regularly hosts open house events, athletic contests, lectures, performances and community programs that are open to visitors.

Because Alvernia is a Catholic institution rooted in the Franciscan tradition, religious symbols, chapel services and values based coursework are part of the campus environment, though students of all faiths and backgrounds enroll. Those weighing their options can contact the admissions office by phone at +1 610-796-8200 to discuss program availability, transfer credit, financial aid, housing and scheduling for adult and graduate study.