Thiel College
 | |
| Motto | "Lux Mundi Verbum Dei" |
|---|---|
Motto in English | Light of the World, Word of God |
| Type | Private, Liberal Arts |
| Established | 1866 |
| President | Dr. Susan Traverso[1] |
| Undergraduates | 1,096 |
| Location | Greenville, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Campus | Rural |
| Colors | Blue and Gold |
| Nickname | Tomcats |
| Website | www.thiel.edu |
Thiel College is a private, liberal arts, sciences and professional studies college in Greenville, Pennsylvania related to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.[2] Thiel is one of the smallest colleges/universities in the region with about 100 full and part time faculty members. According to the US Department of Education, they have just over 1,000 students in attendance. They have a 33% graduation rate.[3]
History
Founded in 1866 as a coeducational institution, Thiel College started as a result of a meeting between the Rev. Dr. William Passavant and A. Louis Thiel. At the Lutheran Church Pittsburgh Synod convention in Greensburg, Pennsylvania in 1869, it was decided that Thiel Hall would become a college and serve western Pennsylvania. Thiel College began its corporate existence on September 1, 1870. Thiel College was originally located in Philipsburg, now Monaca, Pennsylvania. It moved to Greenville in 1871.[4]
On August 1, 2016, Susan Traverso left her position as provost of Elizabethtown College and became the first female president of Thiel College.[5]
Today, Thiel is home to about 100 full and part time faculty members. According to the US Department of Education, they have just over 1000 students in attendance. They has a 33% graduation rate.[2] In 2016, Forbes Magazine rated them among the top ROI colleges in the U.S. In 2017-2018, College of Distinction recognized Thiel for its Business and Education programs.
Campus
Thiel (pronounced "teel") is situated on a wooded 200-acre campus in the small western Pennsylvania town of Greenville, which is about halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Thiel has an enrollment of 1,096. The student body is 54% male and 46% female. 58% percent of students are from Pennsylvania, while 36% are from other states and Puerto Rico, and the remaining 6% are international students. 20% of students are minority students. The college has a student:faculty ratio of about 11:1 and 68% of classes have 20 or fewer students.[6]
Since 2009, Thiel has invested more than $30m in new and enhanced facilities. Thiel will dedicate a new science connector and competition-certified track and field complex, fall 2017.
Degrees and accreditation
Thiel offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Associate of Science, and Associate of Arts degrees. Degrees are offered in more than 60 majors, minors and areas of study. The academic calendar includes a fall and spring semester as well as May, June, July, Online and Evening sessions during the summer.
Thiel is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools;[7] Pennsylvania Department of Education;[8] and the American Chemical Society.[9]
Athletics
The Thiel Tomcats compete in NCAA Division-III athletics, in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.
Tomcats currently field teams in baseball, men's and women's basketball, cheerleading, dance, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's indoor track & field, men's and women's outdoor track & field, men's and women's volleyball, and wrestling.[10] In 2017, Thiel began offering Equestrian Studies as a minor.
Student life
Thiel offers a variety of student life activities, clubs and organizations, and leadership opportunities, including 28 honorary societies and academic clubs, Greek life, leadership and service organizations, student government, a student theatre troupe, multicultural and religious groups, marching and concert bands, several choirs and much more. The Thiel Activities Board (TAB) provides a range of recreational activities.
Greek life at Thiel includes: Fraternities:Delta Sigma Phi, Kappa Sigma, Phi Theta Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon; sororities: Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, Sigma Kappa, and Zeta Tau Alpha.
Living on campus
Thiel guarantees housing for four years in residence halls, apartments, theme houses and townhouses. Nearly 88% of students live on campus. In addition to the Davis Square apartments, College Ave. Apartments and Townhouses, Thiel provides five dormitories for its students: Sawhill, Stewart, Bane, Hodge, and Florence West. Other facilities on campus include 24-hour computer lab, career development center, IT Solution Center, Learning Commons, art gallery, a fitness center, multi-sport air-supported dome, theater, cafeteria and bistro dining.
Academic expenses, scholarships and financial aid
Tuition for the 2017-2018 academic year is $29,00 with room/board at $11,750. More than 99% of students received some form of financial assistance. Thiel offers many scholarships and financial opportunities, including Merit Awards of up to $10,000 or one of five full-tuition Presidential Scholarships. Students should apply by January 15 for consideration.[11]
Notable alumni
- Barry W. Bova, Magistrate, Sandusky County, Ohio Juvenile and Probate Court
- Amelia Earhart, women’s rights advocate and aviation pioneer (Honorary 1932)
- Mark Funkhouser, Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri (2007–2011)
- Lynn Jones, former Major League Baseball (MLB) player (Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals), 1979–1986
- Firdaus Kharas, Canadian director and producer of animation, film and television media
- Richard M. Nixon, U.S. President (Honorary 1959)
- Mark Nordenberg, Chancellor, University of Pittsburgh (1995-2014)
- Arnold Palmer, professional golfer (Honorary 1976)
- Tom Regan, professor and writer, Animal Rights Movement
- Fred Rogers, television personality (Honorary 1969)
- Carl Aaron Swensson, American Lutheran minister and founder of Bethany College
- Jack M. Wilson, President, University of Massachusetts (2003-2011)
References
- ↑ Ricciutti, Gerry (17 May 2016). "Thiel College names first female president". WKBN.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ↑ Why Go Lutheran
- ↑ Thiel College names first female president
- ↑ The History of Thiel College 1866-1974 (Dr. Roy H. Johnson. Thiel College, Greenville, Pennsylvania) http://www.thiel.edu/about_thiel/history.htm
- ↑ Ricciutti, Gerry (17 May 2016). "Thiel College names first female president". WKBN.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ↑
- ↑ Ltd., Info724. "Middle States Commission on Higher Education". Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ↑ "EDNA". Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ↑ "ACS - CPTASL". Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ↑ Thiel Athletics http://www.thielathletics.com
- ↑ Thiel College Facts 2016-2017 https://www.thiel.edu/assets/documents/fact-sheets/2016-2017_Fact_Sheetupdate.pdf
External links
Coordinates: 41°24′47″N 80°22′59″W / 41.413°N 80.383°W