History
Delaware Valley College was founded in 1896 by Joseph Krauskopf, an activist rabbi who was a tireless advocate for social justice. He was a man of many causes, a humanist with a national and international reputation who was dedicated to improving the opportunities of the less fortunate.
His idea for a new school had its roots in that mission.
Born in Prussia, Rabbi Krauskopf came to America at age 14, was educated and ordained here and at age 29 settled in Philadelphia to head the Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel. Around this time he came to believe that one solution to urban squalor was to get people out of the cities and back to the land. Krauskopf was particularly interested in the Jews of Russia and intended to start a school of agriculture there.
In the summer of 1894 he went abroad to speak with the czar but was denied an audience. Instead, he met with famed author Leo Tolstoy, who told him his idea would not succeed amidst the deep-seated anti-Semitism of Russia. Tolstoy advised him to return to America and “lead the tens of thousands from your congested cities to your idle, fertile lands …” Kraukopf’s intention was to do just that. Using money he earned from lectures, along with donations, he purchased a 118-acre farm in Bucks County and constructed a single building to house classrooms, dormitories and other school functions. With this modest start the National Farm School came into being. It was the precursor to Delaware Valley College. Enrollment was open to all and students attended for free.
There were two teachers and 10 students the first year. Academics were combined with work experience, and the students helped run the farm and grow their own food. This marriage of the theoretical and the practical survives today at DelVal in the form of internships and other experiential learning.
In 1945, the school was reorganized to strengthen its academic programs. It went through a series of name changes as it grew in stature and sophistication. Beginning in the post-war years, Dr. James Work, a graduate of the class of 1913, guided the school. Under his leadership as president new programs were added, including those in Food Industry, Biology, Chemistry and Business Administration.
In 1969 the college became co-ed.
Today, Delaware Valley College sits on 570 acres and is a four-year, multi-disciplinary college with almost 2000 full-time under graduate students. It offers 25 majors and specializes in Life Sciences such as Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Environmental Science and Conservation and Wildlife Management. It has an Equine Program, Zoo Science and Small Animal Science.
Its many non-science offerings include Business Administration, Counseling Psychology, Media and Communications, English Literature, Secondary Education and Criminal Justice Administration.
On the graduate level, it currently offers an MBA and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership but has recently had Counseling Psychology and Policy Students approved to offer in another year or so. For the non-traditional student, there is a wide range of Continuing Education courses at night and on the weekends. Classes can be taken at a number of locations as well as online. DelVal offers the Teacher Intern Certification Program for people with a bachelor's degree who want to move into teaching.
Under the leadership of Dr. Joseph S. Brosnan, who became president in 2007, the college is involved in the implementation of an ambitious strategic plan. The plan is expected to transform the institution and prepare it for the future. As part of that plan, DelVal will increase its academic offerings and seek university status.
Dr. Brosnan has taken an active role in fundraising and in 2010 secured a $30 million gift from the Warwick Foundation. The gift was the largest in college history and included cash and 398 acres of land in Jamison, Pa. That land, about 15 minutes from the main campus, has been dedicated as the Gemmill Campus, honoring the family that started and administered the Warwick Foundation.
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