Albion College

History

On March 23, 1835, Methodist settlers in Spring Arbor Township obtained a charter for a new seminary from the Michigan Territorial Legislature. Construction began in 1837 outside Spring Arbor but the Panic of 1837 ended the project. A petition to move the seminary to Albion was approved by the legislature in 1839.

Sixty acres (243,000 m2) of land were donated by Jesse Crowell to the renamed "Wesleyan Seminary", and construction began in 1841. The first classes were held in 1843 in the local Methodist Church. In 1844, classes began in the newly constructed Central Building, rebuilt as the present Robinson Hall in 1907.

The "Albion Female Collegiate Institute", founded in 1850, merged in 1857 under the name "The Wesleyan Seminary and Female College at Albion"; the merger was finalized in 1861, under the name "Albion College". The legislature authorized the college to confer full four-year college degrees upon both men and women that same year.

Academics

(4,983 out of 6,864) (468 out of 4,983) (among 19% of FTFs) (among 5% of FTFs)

Albion offers bachelor's degrees in business, the humanities, fine arts, natural sciences, and social sciences. It provides study-abroad programs in Europe, Latin America, Israel, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Albion is perhaps best known for its equestrian center, the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center, and its biology and physical education programs.

The 144 acre Whitehouse Nature Center at Albion works with public schools and the community. It features six miles of trails, 400 plant species, almost 170 bird species, 25 acres of oak-hickory and flood-plain forest, a tall-grass prairie and spring in the Adele D. Whitehouse Wildflower Garden, an arboretum of Michigan trees and shrubs, 34 acres of farmland and research projects, and an interpretative building.

Albion College Astronomical Observatory was built in 1883-84 with encouragement from Samuel Dickie, later the college president.

Since 1990 one student went on to be a Rhodes Scholar, three were Goldwater Scholars, four Truman Scholars and seventeen Fulbright Scholars.

Astronomical observatory

Albion College is home to the Prentiss M. Brown Honors Center & Astronomical Observatory, named after Prentiss M. Brown, a U.S. Senator and a U.S. Representative who graduated from Albion College in 1911. The observatory is recognized as a Michigan State Historical Site and is used for both educational purposes and public viewing events, allowing students and community members to observe celestial objects such as planets, stars, and solar events.

One of the notable features of the observatory is the 8.25" Alvan Clark Telescope, which dates back to the late 19th century. Alvan Clark & Sons were renowned telescope makers and the presence of this telescope adds historical and educational value to the observatory. According to "Old Albion", a college history published in 1909, Alvan Clark himself crafted the Albion telescope, marking it as the last telescope he made before his death. Although this claim remains unverified, Clark's health was declining in the early 1880s and the extent of his work in the years leading up to his death in 1887 is not well-documented.

Demographics

As of 2021 Fall enrollment, the student body was 53% female and 47% male. 73% of students were Michigan residents, 26% from out-of-state, and 1% from foreign countries. Ninety-eight percent of students are enrolled full-time. The ethnic composition of the student body was as follows:

• White (55%)
• Black/African American (17%)
• Hispanic/Latino (12%)
• Race/Ethnicity Unknown (9%)
• Two or more Races (3%)
• Asian (2%)
• Non-resident Alien (2%)

Prior to the 2010s the enrollment was heavily white and non-low income. The numbers of black and Hispanic students increased, along with those of first-time university students and lower income students, due to a drive to increase and diversify enrollment. Between 2013 and 2020, Albion increased its minority enrollment from 18% to 41%, and 48% of the incoming class in 2020 identified as persons of color.

Tuition and financial aid

The total cost of attending Albion full time as of 2022 was $67,310. Albion offers financial aid of some form to 100% of its students. The average financial aid package as of December 2022 was $53,714 per student.

Greek life

Albion College is home to six social fraternities and as many sororities. All are members of the North American Interfraternity Conference and all comprise Albion College's InterFraternity Council (IFC). The song "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" was written in 1911 by Byron D. Stokes (Albion, 1913) and F. Dudleigh Vernor (Albion, 1914), and first performed by Harry Clifford (Albion, 1911) while undergraduates at Albion College.

Professional and honorary fraternities

Albion College is also home to fifteen honorary, professional, service, and special interest fraternities, including Phi Beta Kappa, established as the Michigan Beta chapter in 1940.

Athletics

thumb|100px|Albion Britons logo Albion athletics teams are nicknamed the Britons. The college is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). Albion has overall won 173 men's MIAA titles (tied for 2nd overall), as well as 26 women's MIAA titles (5th overall).

Albion football won the NCAA Division III national championship in 1994.

The esports team started in the 2021-2022 academic year.

Notable alumni and faculty

Main article: List of Albion College people

References

References

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2. "Introducing Dr. Wayne Webster, 18th President of Albion College".
3. "Albion College Overview". Albion Evening Recorder.
4. "Albion College Common Data Set 2021-2022". Albion College.
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7. (2019). "Whitehouse Nature Center". Albion College.
8. "Michigan Historical Markers – The Observatory". Historical Marker Data Base.
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10. "Prentiss M. Brown". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
11. "Albion College Astronomical Observatory". Michigan State Historic Sites.
12. "Public Observing". Albion College.
13. (2014). "Albion College Celebrates 130 Years with an Alvan Clark Telescope".
14. (1996). "Alvan Clark and Sons: Artists in Optics". Willmann-Bell, Inc..
15. Jesse, David. (2021-02-11). "Michigan's small liberal arts colleges are in fight for survival". [[Detroit Free Press]].
16. Mallon, Elaine. (March 28, 2021). "Two Michigan private colleges excel at boosting minority enrollment". The Detroit News.
17. Dodge, Samuel. (June 26, 2022). "Unity After Months of Tension Goal of First Woman to Chair Albion College Board of Trustees". MLive.com.
18. Dodge, Samuel. (December 23, 2022). "Michigan College Advertising New Statewide Scholarship to Lower Overall Tuition". MLive.com.
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20. "Michigan Historical Markers – Birthplace of Famed Song". Historical Marker Data Base.
21. (November 12, 1940). "Phi Beta Kappa Founds Chapter". Michigan Daily.
22. "MIAA Record Book 2021–2022".
23. (2019). "Football Championship History". NCAA.
24. Bakker, Hayden. (March 8, 2021). "College Introduces Esports Team".