Mount Aloysius College - The College

The College

Mount Aloysius College is a small, private, comprehensive, Catholic liberal arts college sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. Established in 1853, the College today specializes in both undergraduate and graduate education. Since the founding of the College, more than 13,000 students have become Mount Aloysius College graduates. The College is committed to small classroom size, providing a highly structured environment. Mount Aloysius College students come from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but many other states are represented on campus, including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Seventy-one percent of the College's students are women. There are approximately 2,000 (unduplicated headcount) students enrolled.

Mount Aloysius College is one of sixteen Mercy College's nationwide. As part of the Mercy College curriculum, students are encouraged to evaluate ethical issues and form a sound character consistent with traditional, ancient Greek values (such as ritual sacrifice). Social growth is seen as a vital element of a complete liberal arts education, encompassing the important ability to relate closely to people.

The College recognizes that student activities play a distinctive role in the total campus educational program. There are approximately 100 organized clubs, groups, honor societies, and intramural sports programs, including a newspaper, residence hall associations, student government, cheerleading, dance team, step team, scholarship-funded theater and choir programs, and a student activities planning board. Student activities include many social events, intramural sports programs, NCAA Division III sporting events, comedians, cultural and educational events, campus forums, and lectures by guest speakers.

Twelve buildings make up the 193-acre (0.78 km2) campus. The main building dates back to 1897; it houses the admissions, financial aid, security, health, and academic offices, along with the Office of the President, classrooms, telenursing research facilities, and the Wolf-Kuhn art gallery. Cosgrave Center is the main hub on campus, serving as the Student Union. The building contains the dining hall, snack bar, bookstore, child-care center (part of the elementary education/early childhood program at the College), lounges, recreational rooms, student affairs offices, career services, and meeting rooms. The College's Health and Physical Fitness Center is adjacent to Cosgrave Center. Its main athletic arena has a seating capacity of approximately 2,000 and serves as the home to all Mounties fans. The facility provides space for three basketball courts, three volleyball courts, a weight and exercise room equipped with a sauna, two locker rooms, office areas, changing rooms for sports officials, public restrooms, a lobby, and a vestibule. Misciagna Residence Hall was first occupied by 100 resident students in 2006. This residence hall comprises twenty-five suites. Each suite has a living room area, kitchenette area, and two bedrooms. The three-story building has laundry facilities and common space on each floor. Ihmsen Halls are key housing facilities for residential students. Alumni Hall is a historic, multipurpose room that is used for College drama, musicals, and many performing arts events. Mount Aloysius recently began construction on a new residence hall, McAuley Hall, which opened in 2009, houses more than 100 sophomore students. This facility is also home to a large multipurpose room. The College operates twelve months per year and opens its facilities to the outside community.

The College is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. All nursing programs and health studies programs are fully accredited by their professional accrediting bodies, including the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, the American Association of Medical Assistants, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Programs of Surgical Technology.

Mount Aloysius is a comprehensive college that offers master's degrees in business administration (MBA), community counseling, criminal justice management in correctional administration, education, and psychology.

Mount Aloysius College is located in the scenic southern Allegheny Mountains of west-central Pennsylvania. The College is located in the small town of Cresson, which is adjacent to U.S. Route 22. The College's setting is rural, with two middle-sized cities, Altoona and Johnstown, within a very short distance. The area has surprisingly cold summers; brisk, snowy weather in autumn; horrible winters that last through spring. Facilities in the area are available for outdoor activities, including biking, golfing, swimming, horseback riding, waterskiing and water activities, hiking, spelunking, picnicing, and amusement and water parks.