PENNSTATE-BEHREND This handbook has been prepared to provide students with a reference to the in formation and regulations regarding student life at Penn State-Behrend The Policies and Rules for Students (Commonwealth and Other Branch Campuses! is also published by the University as a reference concerning system-wide informa tion, regulations, policies and rules which pertain to all students and faculty The Baiwend College of The Pennsylvania State University is located on a picturesque four hundred-acre estate on the out skirts of Erie. Penn State-Behrend is more than a name; it is a history, a tradition, a future, and a heritage of concerned and farsighted people. A committee of Erie citizens was formed after World War II to in vestigate the possibility of establishing a- public community college. The committee decided that Erie's needs would best be met by a branch campus of The Penn sylvania State University. Mrs. Mary Brownell Behrend, wife of the deceased Ernst Behrend generous ly offered the Glenhill Farm estate as a gift in memory of her husband. In 1898, Ernst Richard Behrend founded the Hammermill Paper Company with his father and brother. Three years later, he was appointed president of the com pany, a post Mr. Behrend held until his death in 1940. Mr. Behrend, who was active in community affairs, was Erie's only citizen to be award ed the Distinguished Service Cer tificate by the American Legion, Pennsylvania Department. Mrs. Behrend also received many honors, and in 1958 she was one of the first individuals to be awarded the Penn State Medal in recognition of her "outstanding contribution to higher education." The first class of 152 students entered the Behrend Center in 1948. These students were able to com plete only their freshman year at the center; but in five years the cur ricahun was expanded to include the sophomore year and two associate degree programs. Erie Hall, the first new building at the tenter, was constructed entirely with contributions from a corn mustily fund drive in 1953. In the University reorganization of 1959, the Commonwealth Campus system was established and the Behrend Center became the The Penn State Behrend Tradition Behrend Campus of The Penn sylvania State University. After eleven years of operation, the cam pus boasted 2,000 alumni and an enrollment of more than 300 students, doubling the enrollment of 1948. -- The decade of the 1900 s and early 1970 s saw much construction on the campus. In 1962, the Otto F. Behrend Building was dedicated to Dr. Otto Behrend, Ernst's brother. In 1968, the J. Elmer Reed Building, named after the head of the com mittee which developed a public higher education institution in Erie, was erected, and in that and the following year the Niagara and Perry residence halls were opened. During the summer of 1970, the Ed win W. Nick Building, containing laboratories and classrooms was completed north of the Otto Behrend Building. A residence hall, Lawrence Hall, and a food service building, Dobbins Hall, were open ed in 1971 to accommodate the in creasing number of students. In 1971, with a total enrollment of more than 1,200 students, the first junior class of approximately 35 students was accepted at Behrend Campus. The following June, the Behrend Campus graduted its first three baccalaureate students; two of them had completed all of their course work at Behrend. Approx imately 1,500 students were enroll ed in 1971 and 15 students were graduated in the baccalaureate programs. Students were offered two baccalaureate majors: the B.S. In General Arts and Sciences and the B.A. or B.S. in Science. On January 20, 1973 by an act of the Board of Trustees of The Penn sylvania State University, the Behrend Campus became The Behrend College, the only Penn State campus outside of University Park to receive college status. In 1972-73, 31 baccalaureate students graduated from The Behrend College out of an enroll FALL 1983 PENN STATE lIVNIINMOIC Celebrating 35 liars In Partnership With Northwestern Pennsylvania ment of 1,579. In 1973-74, the associate degree program In Letters, Arts and Sciences was added to the existing associate degree offerings of Elec trical Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, and Business. Many new programs were added to the curriculum in 1975-76: an associate degree program in Nurs ing and the Army Reserves Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and several baccalaurate majors. At the baccalaureate level, Penn State-Behrend now provides a significant educational alternative within The Pennsylvania State University system for students to complete B.A. degrees in Com munications, Economics, English, General Arts and Sciences, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Science; or B.S. degrees in Accoun ting, Bio-Science, Business Economics, Communications, General Business, History, Management, Mathematical Studies, Physical Science, Psychology and Social and Behavorial Sciences: Directed Multi-Disciplinary Studies. The Bachelor of Philosophy degree, tailored to an individual student's needs, permits a program of studies to transcend the somewhat more conventional baccalaureate programs. Beginning fall semester, 1983, three new Bachelor of Science programs will begin: Energy and Environmental Technology, Energy Science Engineering and Environmental Science Engineer ing. Penn State-Behrend is an educa tional community which combines the personalization and flexibility of a small college with the academic resources of a major land-grant university. This unique combination enables 1.800 undergraduate students to achieve their personal and academic poten tial. These two publications have been designed to be used M students to become at quainted with University wide information as well as local campus traditions rules, and activities The Student Handbook is published by the Student Affairs Office You have made a very good deci sion. You have opted for large research-university standards but an intimate setting to make the best use of those standards. Those of you vho remain at Behrend for four years will receive a Penn State degree and will have done so in an environment which fosters strong faculty-student interactions. In short, you will have the best of both Penn State worlds. Why is it important to be a part of a research university? What does that have to do with the instruction which you will receive in the ies. Message -It is a cole to waken* the el* W !WA* Pena State. 4nat la oplionat on the perposes Of !WOW 1t1a.1140 beak fa a *Wm, tio= - • Welcome From Dean Lilley classroom and the advising and other contacts you will have outside the classroom? The University's number one commitment is to teaching, but without faculty research and scholarship, teaching suffers. As faculty members create new knowledge within their disciplines, they enter the classroom with a fitness of mind and spirit that con veys not only the most pertinent in formation but an excitement about discovery. You may be fortunate enough to be able to assist them in their research. Whatever you plan to do after you leave Penn State-Behrend, take ad vantage of the best which is Penn State while you are here with us. We offer you an outstanding faculty and a friendly atmosphere in one of the most fantastic physical en vironments one can find anywhere. Make suKe you take the bus to downtown Erie to the Philhar monic, to the Civic Center and its popular music and sporting events and to the ski, slopes only twenty minutes away. A golf course is across the street and some of the region's most popular beautiful beaches at Presque Isle await you. Most importantly, explore the 400 acres of Penn State-Behrend and make the best possible use of it in all seasons. We offer you a unique environment for your education, and we urge you to make fullest use of it. Best wishes. PAGE 1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers