West Chester University of Pennsylvania

It is an honor to serve as the president of West Chester University, one of the top regional comprehensive public universities in the nation. Serving more than 17,000 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, West Chester University has earned a national reputation for excellence, value and student success. Located 25 miles west of Philadelphia on a leafy, 406-acre campus, WCU is the largest state-owned university in the Commonwealth and the premier state institution in such key measures as retention and graduation rates.

At WCU, we are a community of educators dedicated to developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good. We offer 118 undergraduate majors, more than 50 master’s programs and four doctoral programs. Our Philadelphia campus offers bachelor’s and master’s programs in criminal justice and social work, graduate programs in special education and communication studies, a fast track RN-to-BSN program and more. This satellite campus, coupled with our growing distance education initiatives, such as a highly competitive online MBA program, help us extend our reach to more students who are seeking a quality WCU education.

Preparing our students to be global citizens is a key component of our mission and goals. More than 500 of our students took advantage of international learning experiences last year. These included traditional study abroad programs, as well as participation in conferences, service learning, music performances and more. Currently, the University has more than 180 international students from 40-plus countries.

Meeting community needs while placing students on a lifelong path of active citizenship is integral to our mission. Last year, our students participated in almost 800,000 hours of public service through coursework and co-curricular programs.

West Chester University is a community of educators that develops graduates to succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good. The pride of the Honors College is our student body. Students in Honors represent a diversity of academic backgrounds spanning 51 distinctive disciplines. Such diversity truly enlivens discussions in class when a pre-med major and a major in music education can come together to discuss strategies for economic enhancement, formation of ethical standards for genetic testing, and approaches to survey research.

West Chester University offers flexible, convenient distance education programs that are accessible outside the traditional classroom. Courses online allow you to complete your classes at your convenience, without sacrificing quality or valuable interaction with your instructor and peers. As long as you have an internet connection, you can attend class anytime or anywhere.

The Center for International Programs is dedicated to supporting comprehensive internationalization initiatives at West Chester University with a focus on serving faculty, staff, students, and administration and the West Chester University community.

The Center for International Programs is dedicated to supporting comprehensive internationalization initiatives at West Chester University with a focus on serving faculty, staff, students, and administration and the West Chester University community.

In accordance with the University's values statement, the Center for International Programs supports the unique talents and contributions of each member of our community. Through its sponsorship of international educational opportunities, the Center for International Programs advocates for a broader world view that provides a richer understanding of other cultures and a more tolerant understanding of differences.

The Center for International Programs engages in the education of all students through international exchange and promotion of international understanding and cross-cultural learning.

Continuing Professional Education at West Chester University provides training to businesses in the tri-state area with an array of topical seminars and courses. By offering education on demand, to professionals by professionals, the university is a resource to a variety of organizations.