Penn State Berks
Penn State Berks is a commonwealth campus of Pennsylvania State University located in Spring Township in Berks County, Pennsylvania.[1]
 A front view of the Franco Administrative Building | |
| Type | Public satellite campus |
|---|---|
| Established | 1958 (joined Penn State) |
Parent institution | Pennsylvania State University |
| Chancellor | Dr. Todd Migliaccio (Interim) |
| President | Neeli Bendapudi |
Academic staff | 206 full-time and adjunct |
| Students | 2,130 (as of 2021) |
| Location | , , U.S. |
| Campus | Suburban 258 acres |
| Colors | Navy Blue and White |
| Affiliations | United East Conference (NCAA Division III) |
| Mascot | Nittany Lion |
| Website | berks.psu.edu/ |
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History
First known as Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute, Penn State Berks became part of the Penn State system in 1958. The Berks campus has experienced many changes since then. WPI occupied the original Sacred Heart Church building on Hill Road, where the McDonald's Restaurant now stands, from 1930 to 1958. Its facilities were offered to Penn State to establish Penn State Wyomissing Center. It moved to its present Spring Township location in 1972. Dormitories were first added in 1990 with additional dorms in 2001, which made Berks a commuter as well as a residential campus.[2]
Student enrollment at Penn State Berks has increased steadily since 1972, when approximately 500 students attended. Today, there are an estimated 2,800 students enrolled. The campus currently has 15 buildings on 241 acres (1 km²) of land. There are 100 full-time and 70 part-time faculty members.[3]
While being a commonwealth campus of the state land-grant university, since 1997 it has offered baccalaureate degrees independently from The Pennsylvania State University University Park campus in partnership with a neighboring campus under the title of Berks and Lehigh Valley College. Under a university-ordered reconstruction, Penn State Berks and Penn State Lehigh Valley were split in 2005. Penn State Berks became a stand-alone college in the Penn State system and Penn State Lehigh Valley became a part of the University College system.
Student life
Penn State Berks has over 50 active clubs.[4] All student organizations are overseen by the Student Government Association, which requires that all clubs complete 24 hours of community service per semester in return for providing funds.
Housing on campus
| The Woods | The Village |
|---|---|
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Facilities
Penn State Berks features a large library, modern laboratories, and computer facilities. Recreational areas include basketball courts, outdoor sand and grass volleyball courts, baseball & softball fields, and an artificial turf soccer pitch.
Penn State Berks is home to the Beaver Athletics and Wellness Center. The Center was renovated in 2022 and includes a performance gymnasium, auxiliary gymnasium, dance studio, workout gym, and classrooms. The Center also features an exercise physiology laboratory and a biomechanics laboratory operated by the Department of Kinesiology.
Athletics
Penn State–Berks, known athletically as the Nittany Lions, compete at the NCAA Division III level; which is also a member of the United East Conference.
Penn State–Berks fields 12 varsity sports:
Club Sports
Penn State–Berks also fields a number of competitive club sports that have no affiliation with the NCAA or United East.
Club programs include:
References
- Penn State Berks lists its address as Reading, however it is outside the city limits in the Greater Reading Area. Its location is more precisely stated as in Spring Township. "Our History: The Penn State Berks Campus". Archived from the original on 2009-10-29. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
- "History of Penn State Berks". Archived from the original on 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2006-10-01.
- Penn State Berks - Quick Facts
- Penn State Berks - Student Life