America's Best Colleges for B Students. Tamra B. Orr
Founded as a boys’ preparatory school, it became a college in 1896, and gained university status in 1963. Its 75-acre campus is located in western Long Island, 20 miles from New York City. A four-year private institution, Adelphi University has an enrollment of 7,951 students. In addition to a large, well-stocked library, the campus facilities include: art gallery • bronze-casting foundry • sculpture and ceramics studios • theater • language labs • observatory. Adelphi University provides on-campus housing with 542 units that can accommodate 1,202 students. Housing options: coed dorms • special housing for disabled students. Recreation and sports facilities include: basketball, tennis and volleyball courts • baseball, lacrosse, soccer and softball fields • fitness center • swimming facility.
Student Life and Activities
Most students (78 percent) live off campus which does impact the on-campus social scene. Nevertheless, like any college, students do find time to create their own recreational outlets. “Adelphi is what you make it,” reports the student newspaper. If you want to meet people, there are plenty of opportunities. Students say, “There is a place for everyone to feel connected to the school no matter religion, race, gender or sexual orientation.” Popular gathering spots include the University Center dining room, Post dining, commuter lounge, fire-side lounge, UC Plaza (when the weather is warm), New York City and Roosevelt Field Mall. Popular campus events include Visual and Performing Arts exhibitions, Disabilities Awareness Week, International Week, Black History Month, Endowed Lectures Series, Student Theater and Dance Performances, Concerts and Performances by Top Music Groups and Comedians, Lectures by U.N. Ambassadors, Intercollegiate and Intramural Sports, Spring Fling Spring In/Spike It Festival, Homecoming and Career Day. Adelphi University has 80 official student organizations. Influential groups include Greeks, Circle K, Environmental Action Coalition, Christian Fellowship, African People Organization (APO), athletes, Caliber and La Union Latino. For those interested in sports, there are intramural teams such as: badminton • baseball • basketball • dodge ball • kick ball • flag football • soccer • volleyball. Adelphi University is a member of the Atlantic Soccer Conference (Division I), Northeast-10 Conference (Division II).
Highlights
Adelphi University
Garden City (Pop. 23,000)
Location: Large town
Four-year private
Founded: 1896
Website: http://www.adelphi.edu
Students
Total enrollment: 7,951
Undergrads: 4,954
Freshmen: 1,005
Part-time students: 13%
From out-of-state: 11%
From public schools: 73%
Male/Female: 29%/71%
Live on-campus: 22%
In fraternities: 8%
In sororities: 11%
Off-campus employment rating: Good
Caucasian: 55%
African American: 11%
Hispanic: 7%
Asian or Pacific Islander: 6%
Native American: 0%
International: 3%
Academics
Calendar: Semester
Student/faculty ratio: 9:1
Class size 9 or fewer: 11%
Class size 10-29: 70%
Class size 30-49: 18%
Class size 50-99: 1%
Class size 100 or more: -
Returning freshmen: 80%
Six-year graduation rate: 62%
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Education
Business administration/management
Academics and Learning Environment
For the B student, the learning environment of a college is just as important as the quality of its academic program. Adelphi University has 308 full-time and 585 part-time faculty members, offering a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1. The most common course size is 10 to 19 students. Adelphi University offers 89 majors with the most popular being nursing, education and business administration/management and least popular being French, philosophy and Spanish. The school has a general core requirement. Cooperative education is not offered. All first-year students must maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher to avoid academic probation. Other special academic programs that would appeal to a B student: self-designed majors • pass/fail grading option • independent study • double majors • dual degrees • accelerated study • honors program • internships • weekend college • distance learning.
B Student Support and Success
This school has offered a General Studies program since 1985. According to the university, it is designed for “motivated high school seniors who demonstrate the potential for academic success, but who have not met the traditional academic admission requirements. Counselors, faculty members and administrators identify potentially successful candidates on the basis of their applications and letters of recommendation, as well as through personal interviews.” The program offers small classes and personal advisement for each student. At the end of the year, students who have met all of the requirements continue as sophomores in the school’s other undergraduate programs.
Adelphi University provides a variety of support programs including dedicated guidance for: academic • career • personal • psychological • minority students • veterans • non-traditional students • family planning • religious. Recognizing that some students may need extra preparation, Adelphi University offers remedial and refresher courses in: reading • writing • math • study skills. Other remedial services include Computer lab, English conversation for international students. The average freshman year GPA is 3.1, and 80 percent of freshmen students return for their sophomore year. Among students who enter the work force, approximately 91 percent enter a field related to their major within six months of graduation. Companies that most frequently hire graduates from Adelphi University include: NYC Public Schools • Enterprise Rent-A-Car • North Shore L.I.J. Health System • AHRC • Bethpage Federal Credit Union • Long Island Public Schools • JP Morgan Chase • KPMG • 1-800-Flowers • XL Capital Assurance • Price Waterhouse Coopers • Schwartz & Co • GEICO • Ernst & Young • Marcum & Kleigman • St. Francis Hospital • BDO Seidman • Marks, Paneth & Shron • Winthrop University Hospital • Weiser.
Support for Students with Learning Disabilities
Students with learning disabilities may take advantage of specific support programs offered by Adelphi University. If necessary, the college will grant additional time to students with learning disabilities to complete their degree. Also, a lightened course load may be granted to LD students. High school foreign language waivers are accepted. According to the school, writing, math and content labs are available for all students through the Learning Center and writing center. Students with learning disabilities will find the following programs at Adelphi University extremely useful: tutors • learning center • testing accommodations • extended