Wilkes University
Encyclopedia
Wilkes University is a private, non-denominational American
university
located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
. It has over 2,200 undergraduates and over 2,200 graduate students (both full and part-time). Wilkes was founded in 1933 as a satellite campus of Bucknell University
, and became an independent institution in 1940, naming itself Wilkes College, after English radical politician John Wilkes
. The school was granted university status in 1990.
The school mascot, which was suggested by former Dean of Student Affairs Emeritus George F. Ralston, is a Colonel and the official colors are blue and yellow. The campus symbol is a letter "W" known as the "flying W" by students and alumni.
under the name "Bucknell Junior College" (BUJC) in Wilkes-Barre. BUJC attracted many students who were the first members of their families to benefit from higher education. The Junior College also received support from leading members of the Wilkes-Barre community.
In 1947, Wilkes College was instituted as an independent, nondenominational four-year college, with programs in the arts, sciences, and a number of professional fields as well as numerous extracurricular activities. Wilkes was given university status in 1990.
More recently college programs were significantly expanded. Wilkes College opened the School of Pharmacy in 1996, and in 1999, through a donation from Mrs. Geraldine Nesbitt Orr, the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University was established.
The Jay S. Sidhu School of Business & Leadership was created in 2004. Students in the university's business program are required to take courses across several schools with the intent to provide an emotional education in addition to the typical business experience.
In 2005, the Henry Student Center was expanded and the University purchased an 80000 square feet (7,432.2 m²) building in downtown Wilkes-Barre. This building serves as the Wilkes University communications center, housing the registrar, bursar, indoor track and field, and ropes course
.
Passan Hall at Wilkes University houses the infirmary, where a nurse can be consulted by any student who is ill.
The school's Nesbitt College of Pharmacy and Nursing is one of seven pharmacy schools in Pennsylvania. The Wilkes Graduate Teacher Education Program hosts classes online and at classroom sites across Pennsylvania.
Some of the Wilkes Graduate Teacher Education Programs are hosted entirely online.
The university sponsors academically focused lectures each year. The Max Rosenn
Lecture Series in Law and Humanities was established in the 1980s, and brought many speakers to the university including author Norman Mailer
, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens
, and journalist Bob Woodward
. The Allan P. Kirby Lecture in Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship has also hosted speakers including journalist and television host John Stossel
, and former New York Governor George Pataki
.
The university is apparently moving forward with this effort as is noted in the college corner of The Weekender, week of January 11, 2008 edition. They recently named a dean for the school. The University in 2010 announced that it would suspend moving forward with this plan for economic reasons and focus more on the sciences.
The softball team won the Middle Atlantic Conference region in 2006.
The football team were Middle Atlantic Conference Champions for the 2006 season.
The men's tennis team won 3 individual MAC Championship titles as well as 1 Doubles title on top of making a consistent appearance in the MAC Team Tournament which will be a record other teams will try to accomplis as well.
From the 1975 to 2000, the Wilkes' wrestling team was a Division I squad, wrestling in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association.
In the 2007-2008 Men's Basketball Season they went 13-12 overall and finished fourth in the conference. They made the playoffs and lost in the first round to the top seeded team, Desales.
In 2007 the Wilkes University Colonels Baseball Team were Freedom Conference MAC Champions, led by Coaches: Folek, Bavitz, Klinetob, Lipton, and Toomey
Its most recent All American is Florida Native Felipe Queiroz in 2006 in Wrestling.
In the mid- to late 1960s the Wilkes College football program ran off 32 straight wins—the fourth longest streak in college football history at the time.
It began in the fourth game of the 1965 season and ended in 1969. From a 34-0 victory over Ursinus to a 13-7 loss to Ithaca.
Rollie Schmidt coached the Colonels from 1962-81. His teams went 90-73-1 winning five MAC titles, two Lambert Bowls (best small college team in the East) and one Timmie Award (best small college team in the country).
In 2008 both the men's soccer team and the women's field hockey team competed in the ECAC Southern Region Tournament.
In 2008 the women's field hockey team was ranked 18th in the nation by the NCAA
In 2008 field hockey players Kerry Battersby and Gina Elmy were both honored by womensfieldhockey.com. Battersby was honored as a third team All American player, while Elmy included in the All-Rookie squad.
as sponsored by the Luzerne County Council of Teachers of Mathematics (LCCTM). Every year juniors and seniors from Luzerne County high schools come to Wilkes University to participate in the competition. The first place winner in both the junior and senior divisions are awarded a full-tuition scholarship to Wilkes University. The 58th Annual High School Mathematics Contest was held on Saturday, April 5, 2008.
Several apartment-style residences are maintained by the university including University Commons at the corner of West River and Ross Streets, and the University Towers high rise located at 10 East South Street.
Traditional dormitory
/residence life
housing is provided at Evans Residence Hall. With five floors and about 200 students, Evans Residence Hall is the largest capacity residential hall on the Wilkes University campus. This building is unique among the campus residential halls in that it provides air conditioning and a shared bathroom between every two rooms. The most recently renovated residential hall Chesapeake and Delaware Residence Halls, which was recently re-dedicated as Lawrence W. Roth Residence Hall, a residential hall connecting the previously separate Chesapeake and Delaware Residence Halls. It is a first year student, non-traditional residential hall housing about seventy residents.
Students living on campus enjoy laundry facilities, basic cable, and local phone service all free of charge. .
within the Shelburne Telecommunication Center, FM radio station WCLH
, weekly newspaper [The Beacon], and yearbook Amnicola.
Numerous student-run clubs are recognized and funded by the student government. Many of the clubs are athletically focused, representing sports including Crew
, Lacrosse
, Running
, Skiing
, Volleyball
, and Ultimate Frisbee. Clubs associated with academics and majors represent Psychology
, Sociology
, Criminology
, and Pre-Pharmacy
. Other clubs are formed around common interests such as Animal Advocacy, Vegetarianism
, Anime
, and Robotics
.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Wilkes University Programming Board hosted PA based bands such as Live
and Fuel
, and national favorites including Alanis Morissette
, Dashboard Confessional
, Lifehouse
, Busta Rhymes
, Hoobastank
, Jack's Mannequin
and Billy Joel
. In March 2011 they plan to host Yellowcard.
, Lackawanna College
, King's College, Luzerne County Community College
, Marywood University
, Misericordia University, University of Scranton
, Penn State Worthington-Scranton
, Penn State Hazleton
, and Penn State Wilkes-Barre
.
which provides a pool, gym, racquetball
courts, basketball
courts and other athletic facilities.
to operate a joint for-profit bookstore in downtown Wilkes-Barre. The new bookstore opened October 17 consolidating two independent bookstore
s previously run by Follett Higher Education Group, on behalf of the respective schools. The new bookstore, run by Barnes & Noble College Booksellers
, is located in the basement and first floor of the Innovation Center @ Wilkes-Barre. The first floor includes a Starbucks
cafe. The store is also accessible via the web.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
. It has over 2,200 undergraduates and over 2,200 graduate students (both full and part-time). Wilkes was founded in 1933 as a satellite campus of Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
, and became an independent institution in 1940, naming itself Wilkes College, after English radical politician John Wilkes
John Wilkes
John Wilkes was an English radical, journalist and politician.He was first elected Member of Parliament in 1757. In the Middlesex election dispute, he fought for the right of voters—rather than the House of Commons—to determine their representatives...
. The school was granted university status in 1990.
The school mascot, which was suggested by former Dean of Student Affairs Emeritus George F. Ralston, is a Colonel and the official colors are blue and yellow. The campus symbol is a letter "W" known as the "flying W" by students and alumni.
History and Expansion
Wilkes University was first established in 1933 by Bucknell UniversityBucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
under the name "Bucknell Junior College" (BUJC) in Wilkes-Barre. BUJC attracted many students who were the first members of their families to benefit from higher education. The Junior College also received support from leading members of the Wilkes-Barre community.
In 1947, Wilkes College was instituted as an independent, nondenominational four-year college, with programs in the arts, sciences, and a number of professional fields as well as numerous extracurricular activities. Wilkes was given university status in 1990.
More recently college programs were significantly expanded. Wilkes College opened the School of Pharmacy in 1996, and in 1999, through a donation from Mrs. Geraldine Nesbitt Orr, the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University was established.
The Jay S. Sidhu School of Business & Leadership was created in 2004. Students in the university's business program are required to take courses across several schools with the intent to provide an emotional education in addition to the typical business experience.
In 2005, the Henry Student Center was expanded and the University purchased an 80000 square feet (7,432.2 m²) building in downtown Wilkes-Barre. This building serves as the Wilkes University communications center, housing the registrar, bursar, indoor track and field, and ropes course
Ropes course
A ropes course is a challenging outdoor personal development and team building activity which usually consists of high and/or low elements. Low elements take place on the ground or only a few feet above the ground...
.
Passan Hall at Wilkes University houses the infirmary, where a nurse can be consulted by any student who is ill.
Academics
The university offers many majors in science, education, engineering, business, and liberal arts for undergraduate and graduate students. These academic programs are divided among four colleges.- College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- College of Science and Engineering
- Nesbitt College of Pharmacy and Nursing
- Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership
The school's Nesbitt College of Pharmacy and Nursing is one of seven pharmacy schools in Pennsylvania. The Wilkes Graduate Teacher Education Program hosts classes online and at classroom sites across Pennsylvania.
Some of the Wilkes Graduate Teacher Education Programs are hosted entirely online.
The university sponsors academically focused lectures each year. The Max Rosenn
Max Rosenn
Max Rosenn was a United States federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from 1970 to 2006....
Lecture Series in Law and Humanities was established in the 1980s, and brought many speakers to the university including author Norman Mailer
Norman Mailer
Norman Kingsley Mailer was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director.Along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Hunter S...
, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens
John Paul Stevens
John Paul Stevens served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from December 19, 1975 until his retirement on June 29, 2010. At the time of his retirement, he was the oldest member of the Court and the third-longest serving justice in the Court's history...
, and journalist Bob Woodward
Bob Woodward
Robert Upshur Woodward is an American investigative journalist and non-fiction author. He has worked for The Washington Post since 1971 as a reporter, and is currently an associate editor of the Post....
. The Allan P. Kirby Lecture in Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship has also hosted speakers including journalist and television host John Stossel
John Stossel
John F. Stossel is an American consumer reporter, investigative journalist, author and libertarian columnist. In October 2009 Stossel left his long time home on ABC News to join the Fox Business Channel and Fox News Channel, both owned and operated by News Corp...
, and former New York Governor George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
.
Proposed Law School
As part of the Wilkes Vision 2010 master plan, the university plans to study the feasibility of a Law School to "add to Wilkes prestige and develop an alumni base over time".The university is apparently moving forward with this effort as is noted in the college corner of The Weekender, week of January 11, 2008 edition. They recently named a dean for the school. The University in 2010 announced that it would suspend moving forward with this plan for economic reasons and focus more on the sciences.
Athletics
The Wilkes University Colonels compete in NCAA Division III athletics, and is a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference in all sports except wrestling, which is a member of the Metropolitan Wrestling Conference. Wilkes' teams compete in 14 intercollegiate sports: baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, field hockey, football, golf, lacrosse, men's soccer, women's soccer, softball, women's tennis, men's tennis, volleyball and wrestling.The softball team won the Middle Atlantic Conference region in 2006.
The football team were Middle Atlantic Conference Champions for the 2006 season.
The men's tennis team won 3 individual MAC Championship titles as well as 1 Doubles title on top of making a consistent appearance in the MAC Team Tournament which will be a record other teams will try to accomplis as well.
From the 1975 to 2000, the Wilkes' wrestling team was a Division I squad, wrestling in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association.
In the 2007-2008 Men's Basketball Season they went 13-12 overall and finished fourth in the conference. They made the playoffs and lost in the first round to the top seeded team, Desales.
In 2007 the Wilkes University Colonels Baseball Team were Freedom Conference MAC Champions, led by Coaches: Folek, Bavitz, Klinetob, Lipton, and Toomey
Its most recent All American is Florida Native Felipe Queiroz in 2006 in Wrestling.
In the mid- to late 1960s the Wilkes College football program ran off 32 straight wins—the fourth longest streak in college football history at the time.
It began in the fourth game of the 1965 season and ended in 1969. From a 34-0 victory over Ursinus to a 13-7 loss to Ithaca.
Rollie Schmidt coached the Colonels from 1962-81. His teams went 90-73-1 winning five MAC titles, two Lambert Bowls (best small college team in the East) and one Timmie Award (best small college team in the country).
In 2008 both the men's soccer team and the women's field hockey team competed in the ECAC Southern Region Tournament.
In 2008 the women's field hockey team was ranked 18th in the nation by the NCAA
In 2008 field hockey players Kerry Battersby and Gina Elmy were both honored by womensfieldhockey.com. Battersby was honored as a third team All American player, while Elmy included in the All-Rookie squad.
Annual High School Mathematics Contest
For over 50 years Wilkes University has been the host of the Annual High School Mathematics Contestas sponsored by the Luzerne County Council of Teachers of Mathematics (LCCTM). Every year juniors and seniors from Luzerne County high schools come to Wilkes University to participate in the competition. The first place winner in both the junior and senior divisions are awarded a full-tuition scholarship to Wilkes University. The 58th Annual High School Mathematics Contest was held on Saturday, April 5, 2008.
ACM Intercollegiate Programming Contest
The Wilkes University Math and Computer Science Department hosts the Eastern Pennsylvania division of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the annual ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest. Wilkes University has been host to the event for the last 5 years. A total of 8 schools host teams in the Mid-Atlantic Region.Annual Tom Bigler High School Journalism Conference
Annually, hundreds of Pennsylvania high school students attend this annual media oriented event. Each year features a notable keynote speaker, hands-on workshops in the areas of telecommunications, journalism and public relations and panel discussions and presentation from media professionals and personalities. A high school journalism contest and awards ceremony is also a main event.Plays
The Visual and Performing Arts Department presents four shows annually at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts.Residence Halls
Many residence halls are located in 19th century mansions that were donated to the university, or other houses purchased by the university. Over 20 mansion and house style residence halls are currently in use.Several apartment-style residences are maintained by the university including University Commons at the corner of West River and Ross Streets, and the University Towers high rise located at 10 East South Street.
Traditional dormitory
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
/residence life
Residence Life
Residence Life is the terminology used to describe the comprehensive program that surrounds the experience of living "on-campus" in a residence hall at a college or university in Canada and the United States...
housing is provided at Evans Residence Hall. With five floors and about 200 students, Evans Residence Hall is the largest capacity residential hall on the Wilkes University campus. This building is unique among the campus residential halls in that it provides air conditioning and a shared bathroom between every two rooms. The most recently renovated residential hall Chesapeake and Delaware Residence Halls, which was recently re-dedicated as Lawrence W. Roth Residence Hall, a residential hall connecting the previously separate Chesapeake and Delaware Residence Halls. It is a first year student, non-traditional residential hall housing about seventy residents.
Students living on campus enjoy laundry facilities, basic cable, and local phone service all free of charge. .
Clubs and Organizations
Wilkes has an active student media, including a television stationTelevision station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
within the Shelburne Telecommunication Center, FM radio station WCLH
WCLH
WCLH is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA, the station serves the Scranton area. The station is currently owned by Wilkes College. The station has obtained a construction permit from the FCC for a power increase to 205 watts...
, weekly newspaper [The Beacon], and yearbook Amnicola.
Numerous student-run clubs are recognized and funded by the student government. Many of the clubs are athletically focused, representing sports including Crew
Crew
A crew is a body or a class of people who work at a common activity, generally in a structured or hierarchical organization. A location in which a crew works is called a crewyard or a workyard...
, Lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
, Running
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
, Skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
, Volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, and Ultimate Frisbee. Clubs associated with academics and majors represent Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, Criminology
Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
, and Pre-Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
. Other clubs are formed around common interests such as Animal Advocacy, Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
, Anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
, and Robotics
Robotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Wilkes University Programming Board hosted PA based bands such as Live
Live (band)
Live is an American rock band from York, Pennsylvania, composed of Chad Taylor , Patrick Dahlheimer , and Chad Gracey . Lead singer and principal songwriter Ed Kowalczyk left the band in November 2009....
and Fuel
Fuel (band)
Fuel is an American rock band formed by guitarist/songwriter Carl Bell and bassist Jeff Abercrombie in 1989. Originally known as Small the Joy, they changed the group's name to Fuel sometime in 1994...
, and national favorites including Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
, Dashboard Confessional
Dashboard Confessional
Dashboard Confessional is an American rock band from Boca Raton, Florida, led by singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba. The name of the band is derived from the song "The Sharp Hint of New Tears" from the debut album The Swiss Army Romance....
, Lifehouse
Lifehouse (band)
Lifehouse is an American rock band from Los Angeles. The band came to mainstream prominence in 2001 with the hit single "Hanging by a Moment" from their debut studio album, No Name Face. The single won a Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year, beating out Janet Jackson and Alicia...
, Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
, Hoobastank
Hoobastank
Hoobastank is an American rock band, best known for their 2004 hit "The Reason" and other hits "Crawling in the Dark" and "Running Away". They formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California, with singer Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen. They...
, Jack's Mannequin
Jack's Mannequin
Jack's Mannequin is an American rock band formed in 2004, originally hailing from Orange County, California. The band began as a side project of Andrew McMahon, the frontman for Something Corporate, and is composed of guitarist Bobby Anderson, bassist Mikey "The Kid" Wagner, and drummer Jay...
and Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
. In March 2011 they plan to host Yellowcard.
Student Government
The Student Government at Wilkes hosts many annual events for undergraduates. Among these are a Homecoming Pep Rally, Homecoming Dance, Fall Casino Night, Winter Weekend,Spring Casino Night, and Spring Fling. The Tri Council, comprising Commuter Council, Off Campus Council, Inter-Residency Hall Council, Programming Board, and Minority Student Council, also put on additional events throughout the Spring and Fall Semesters. Among these are a Fall and Spring Study Break Party, and Spring Block Party.Air Force ROTC Program
Detachment 752 of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps is located at Wilkes University. Established in 1973, AF ROTC Detachment 752 has trained and prepared hundreds of young men and women for future careers as USAF officers. The detachment is currently located in Slocum Hall. The detachment serves 12 other crosstown colleges and universities in Northeast Pennsylvania to include Bloomsburg University, East Stroudsburg University, Keystone CollegeKeystone College
Keystone College is a small private college located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Its official mailing address is La Plume, Pennsylvania in Lackawanna County; however, much of the campus is in Factoryville, Pennsylvania in Wyoming County. The school was founded in 1868.-History:Keystone Academy was...
, Lackawanna College
Lackawanna College
Lackawanna College is a college in Scranton, Pennsylvania with satellite centers in the towns of Hazleton, Hawley, Towanda, and New Milford....
, King's College, Luzerne County Community College
Luzerne County Community College
Luzerne County Community College, also known as LCCC, is a 2-year community college located in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. LCCC offers over 100 academic, technical, and career programs. It has an open admissions policy for most programs and has over 25,000 graduates...
, Marywood University
Marywood University
Marywood University is a selective, coeducational, Catholic liberal arts university located on a campus in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Established in 1915 by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and currently enrolls approximately 3,500 students on a national award-winning campus...
, Misericordia University, University of Scranton
University of Scranton
The University of Scranton is a private, co-educational Catholic and Jesuit university, located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the northeast region of the state. The school was founded in 1888 by Most Rev. William O'Hara, the first Bishop of Scranton, as St. Thomas College. It was elevated to a...
, Penn State Worthington-Scranton
Penn State Worthington-Scranton
Penn State Worthington Scranton is a Commonwealth Campus of the Pennsylvania State University. It is located in Dunmore, Pennsylvania.The Worthington Scranton campus is named in memory of Worthington Scranton, a prominent industrialist and civic leader of northeastern Pennsylvania...
, Penn State Hazleton
Penn State Hazleton
Penn State Hazleton is a commonwealth campus of the Pennsylvania State University. It is located in Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, near the junction of Interstates 80 and 81...
, and Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Penn State Wilkes-Barre is a commonwealth campus of the Pennsylvania State University. It is located in Back Mountain, Pennsylvania.The Wilkes-Barre Campus can trace its history to 1915 when two top engineers, who were affiliated with Penn State and worked in the coal industry, released a study on...
.
Recreation
Students may use university-owned athletic facilities, and are also given a free membership to the Wilkes-Barre YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
which provides a pool, gym, racquetball
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
courts, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
courts and other athletic facilities.
Academic Buildings
Most of the academic buildings are located within the same city block, between South River Street, South Franklin Street, South Street, and Northhampton Street. The Stark Learning Center (SLC), located on South River Street, is the largest building on campus. It houses offices and classrooms for the university's science, math, engineering programs, and some art classes. The first floor contains the Sordoni Art Gallery, which hosts four exhibitions each year, and maintains a permanent collection with several hundred pieces. Classrooms and offices for humanities and social sciences are located in Breiseth Hall, a three story building located on South Franklin Street, in the same block as SLC. Kirby Hall, a mansion formerly home to Fred Morgan Kirby, was renovated to house offices and classrooms for English and communications programs.University Center on Main
In 2005, the university acquired the former Wilkes-Barre Call Center building and parking garage on South Main Street. The parking garage is currently being used for student and faculty parking. The Public Safety department has remodeled and relocated to the basement of the garage. The "Call Center" building was renovated and renamed "University Center on Main". The building now houses recreation facilities including tennis and basketball courts, and a rock climbing wall. Many student services offices have been reorganized and relocated to this building in a move to cut costs and provide students with more knowledgeable support staff. This move resulted in a net reduction of 7 full-time positions.University Towers
The university purchased the University Towers apartment complex located at 10 East South Street from a private real estate company for $8.1 million. Approximately 400 students will be housed in this building's 130 units.Bookstore
The university partnered with neighboring King's College, PennsylvaniaKing's College, Pennsylvania
King's College is a liberal arts college located in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, King's has been ranked among the best colleges in the nation by U.S. News and World Report for 16 straight years...
to operate a joint for-profit bookstore in downtown Wilkes-Barre. The new bookstore opened October 17 consolidating two independent bookstore
Independent bookstore
An independent bookstore is a retail bookstore which is independently owned.-Literary and countercultural history:Author events at independent bookstores sometimes take the role of literary salons. The bookstores themselves, "have historically supported and cultivated the work of independent...
s previously run by Follett Higher Education Group, on behalf of the respective schools. The new bookstore, run by Barnes & Noble College Booksellers
Barnes & Noble College Booksellers
Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, Inc. operates bookstores at more than 600 U.S. colleges and universities. Barnes & Noble College Booksellers is a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble, Inc., which acquired it in 2009. It was formerly a separate company, and Barnes & Noble chairman Leonard S. Riggio...
, is located in the basement and first floor of the Innovation Center @ Wilkes-Barre. The first floor includes a Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
cafe. The store is also accessible via the web.