Williamson College of the Trades prepares deserving young men to be useful and respected members of society. WILLIAMSON'S CREDO

Transcription

1 WILLIAMSON'S MISSION Williamson College of the Trades prepares deserving young men to be useful and respected members of society. WILLIAMSON'S CREDO Williamson College of the Trades believes that the ideals upon which Isaiah V. Williamson founded the School, now College, are as valid and relevant today as when the School was founded in In its beliefs and practices, Williamson remains committed to these ideals. COMMITMENT TO OUR HERITAGE WE BELIEVE that healthy, able-bodied young men who have learned a good mechanical trade, and who are intellectually and emotionally prepared, honest, frugal, entrepreneurial, temperate, and industrious, are certain to succeed in life, and to become useful and respected members of society. WE BELIEVE that Judeo-Christian ethics and values help to prepare graduates to be dependable, honest, and productive workers. COMMITMENT TO CRAFTSMANSHIP WE BELIEVE that work should be done to the best of one s ability, out of personal integrity. High expectations of achievement must never be compromised. WE BELIEVE that work done to the best of one s ability is honorable. Through work well done we better serve one another. COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY WE BELIEVE all those associated with Williamson should be disciplined, honest, fair, confident, frugal, committed to excellence, and professionally skilled. WE BELIEVE our work should manifest a spirit of unity and harmony, and that everyone should be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect. WE BELIEVE that a culturally diverse campus setting enhances the quality of training, education, and campus life. Faith, Integrity, Diligence, Excellence, and Service. CORE VALUES VISION Williamson men building a better world by building better families, organizations, and communities.

2 DEFINING STRENGTHS AND UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES OF THE SCHOOL For more than 125 years, Williamson has held fast to Isaiah V. Williamson s vision and standards of excellence, providing deserving young men an exemplary vocational education that has earned the school a reputation as one of the nation s finest postsecondary trade institutions. Named The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades from its founding until July 1, 2015, when the official name is changed to Williamson College of the Trades. The quintessential Williamson Man is an exceptionally skilled craftsman and technician of exemplary character, and he feels privileged to have been educated at Williamson. Williamson-trained tradesmen and technicians are in great demand in the marketplace, and most of the graduates have received multiple job offers. The Placement Office reports receiving calls from companies as early as September for the following June s graduates, and these companies often cite the school s success at character development. It is the reason companies across the country seek out [Williamson] students, because they can hit the ground running, become highly productive people in little time, and have a work ethic that is not taught in any other institution in this country, noted one graduate. Williamson hosts two career fairs every year where the employers seeking to hire have outnumbered the available seniors ready to accept permanent jobs after graduation. Additional evidence of the school s success emanates from the Admissions Office, which receives approximately four applications for each available scholarship, and so has the ability to be quite selective. In addition to requiring a high school diploma or its equivalent, Williamson also relies on admissions interviews, testing, character references, and a financial means statement to make its final decision. Special consideration is given to students from economically disadvantaged families who would not otherwise be able to further their education. THE SCHOOL CULTURE The culture of Williamson is one of structure and discipline. The requirement to wear suit jacket, tie, and shined dress shoes to all academic classes is just one example. Students live in supervised dormitories. Inspection is held every morning, followed by daily nondenominational chapel services, academic classes, and training in the shop. Study hall is mandatory for incoming freshmen, who are also not allowed to leave the campus in the evenings on weekdays. Gentlemanly behavior is expected at all times. Infractions of the Code of Conduct result in the assignment of discipline points and work hours on campus. There is a zero-tolerance policy for drug and alcohol use. To assist students in the development of the character traits valued by the school, the faculty meets each semester to review the conduct of each student; a structured mentoring program is in place for students whose evaluations show room for improvement. Students and alumni acknowledge that the work is tough and adjustment to the highly structured environment is not easy. Nonetheless, the vast majority agree that Williamson instills in students self-discipline and a strong work ethic; prepares students to be exceptionally skilled tradesmen and successful in business; and provides opportunities they could not receive anywhere else. As one trustee explained, The three years I spent [as a student at Williamson] have helped shape nearly every aspect of my life, from the type of father and husband I am, to the type of person I am, to the type of business I run. You can t ask for more from any education than that. 2

3 Most of the students time is accounted for, and the school works hard to create an atmosphere free from distractions and external pressures. We ask a lot of these young men, says one administrator, and they deliver. In addition to discipline, another significant feature of Williamson s culture is its spiritual element. Daily chapel services affirm moral and spiritual values and help students see how those values play out in everyday life. Speakers come from the staff, alumni, students, and the community. A full-time chaplain/counselor also teaches a mandatory ethics course. Community members describe the culture as family-oriented, uplifting, and mutually respectful. Students are motivated and enthusiastic, and faculty morale is high. This is verified by the 15-year average tenure of the full-time faculty. Students forge close bonds, and a feeling of fraternity extends to the active and devoted alumni body. One administrator said, It is a joy to work here. Another staff member explained that teaching at Williamson is more of a ministry than a job. CAMPUS AND FACILITIES The school s wooded campus, nestled in the historic Delaware Valley, is located one mile southwest of Media in the suburbs of Philadelphia. It is the largest remaining collection of buildings designed by renowned 19 th -century architect Frank Furness and has been designated a Pennsylvania Historical Site. The attractive campus features 40 buildings and athletic fields, including the Main Administration Building, Restall Sports Center, Lipp Educational Center, Dorrance H. Hamilton Horticultural Center, William L. McLean, Jr. Technical Center, and separate shop facilities for each trade discipline. The Walter M. Strine, Sr. 2W9 Learning Center, dedicated in June 2007, tripled the size of the school s library; created seven new classrooms for courses in communications, mathematics, science, business, humanities, drafting, and safety education; and provides computer workstations for students use. Eleven dormitories, faculty homes, the stately President s Home, and many lovely gardens, maintained by students in the horticulture program, complete the school s facilities. ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE The day-to-day operations of the school are managed by a strong administrative team, with an average tenure of 17 years. The team includes the President, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Dean of Education, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Dean of Students, Dean of Admissions, Chaplain, and Athletic Director. In 2011, The Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations renewed Williamson s Seal of Excellence accreditation for compliance with Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. In 1998, the school was the first institution of higher education in the state to earn this recognition. Williamson is governed by a 21-member, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. Approximately one-third of the Board members are graduates of the school and all are deeply devoted to it. Most are self-made men and all are leaders in 3

4 business or industry as well as their communities. The Board is committed to prudent management of the College s resources, and its strong partnership with the administration has created a highly effective leadership environment. The trustees remain focused on strategic issues relevant to their oversight role, but do not get involved with the dayto-day operations of the school. FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT For the current school year, Williamson s annual operating budget was approximately $7.3 million roughly $28,000 per student educated. With absolutely no tuition or state/federal aid of any kind, Williamson relies entirely on gifts and endowment income to finance its educational mission. The generosity of donors and prudent financial management have enabled the school to remain debt-free and to end the past 18 years with a budget surplus. In 2007, two Philadelphia area entrepreneurs and their wives Henry and Lee Rowan and H. FitzGerald Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest pledged a total of $45 million to Williamson s Legacy Campaign the largest gifts in school history. The pledges nearly doubled Williamson s endowment now valued at over $103 million and the investment income is expected to generate two-thirds of the school s annual operating costs. Income from the endowment allows Williamson to provide full scholarships to all students, who are expected only to maintain an active health insurance policy and pay a shop fee. Freshmen also pay for bedding, a calculator, and a refundable enrollment deposit. The Advancement Office is responsible for raising the remaining one-third annually from alumni, friends, foundations, corporations, and others. The alumni body numbers around 3,300 members, many of whom are loyal supporters. Approximately 30 percent of graduates contribute to Annual Giving. THE FACULTY The 19 full-time members of the academic and trade faculty work well together. Academic faculty work hard to make instruction applicable to the trade. Trade faculty work hard to teach students that they need to work just as much with their heads as with their hands. Faculty turnover is low, and teachers receive multi-year contracts if they demonstrate teaching effectiveness and engage in professional development. Faculty members are evaluated regularly by the students. Many members of the faculty and administration live on campus, and all know the students well. They are extremely dedicated and take great satisfaction in watching the transformation of students during their three years at Williamson. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM Williamson s educational program is well respected within the broader community, and the college enjoys an outstanding reputation for the quality of its graduates. The college is currently accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges and authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to confer the Associate Degree in Specialized Technology. The College is in the process of upgrading its degree to an Associate Degree in Applied Science and will seek accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Each student studies one trade in a three-year program. Craftsman Diplomas are awarded in Carpentry and Masonry. Associate in Specialized Technology degrees are awarded in Construction Technology; Horticulture, Landscaping, and Turf Management; Machine Tool Technology; Power Plant Technology; and Paint and Coatings Technology. Class sizes are small; the student-faculty ratio is 13:1 on average. Core academic courses include business, communications, computer technology, drafting, humanities, mathematics, and physical science. Students assist in the maintenance and operation of the school through the Student Service Program, which includes food service duties, dormitory cleaning, repair projects, and maintenance of buildings and grounds. 4

5 The program is both structured and demanding, including daily chapel, work details, trade and technical theory, four hours of academic classes and four hours of trade work in the shop each day, and required extracurricular participation. For the Williamson student, there is no such thing as skipping a class or sleeping in. The academic program emphasizes practical applications to help students on the job. The trade programs are enhanced with offsite co-op experiences, many with some of the area s leading companies. In short, students learn both theory and how to apply it. This combination of trade and academic education with hands-on experience broadens students, while the contact with fellow students in other areas enables students to become more familiar with other trades. Seniors and freshmen share the same schedule so that the older students can mentor and teach the younger. This structure is designed to mimic the real-world life experience, and it is one of the main reasons why Williamson s graduates are in such high demand. ATHLETICS, OTHER EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH Williamson fields varsity teams in eight sports (football, basketball, wrestling, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, tennis, and cross country), competing against both two-year and four-year colleges. Williamson s soccer team captured the Eastern States Soccer League championship in 2014 and the tennis team captured the Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference championship in More than half of the students participate in athletics. Intramural sports include volleyball, basketball, ping pong, horseshoes, and Frisbee football. Other student activities and student life programs include Jazz Ensemble, Artisans choral group, Student Government, school publications, and spiritual life groups. Each student is required to participate in some sport or extracurricular activity each school year. Williamson students are also actively engaged beyond the school. In 2015, the school s exhibit in the Philadelphia International Flower Show earned the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society Silver Medal, the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania Special Achievement Award in Education, The Gold Medal Award for the best use of gold medal plants and the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society Special Achievement award in education. In April 2015, three students won gold medals at the SkillsUSA state competition (where students compete in career trade, technical, and leadership fields), claiming honors in Carpentry, CNC Technician and Masonry, and will go on to participate in the national competition in Louisville, Kentucky in June. (In the past fifteen years, Williamson has amassed an astounding 23 National medal winners, including 10 National gold medals.) Carpentry students worked with Habitat for Humanity to help construct several homes in Philadelphia, and teams of students, staff, and alumni have traveled annually to the Dominican Republic for 15 years to help build and maintain a hospital and now travel to El Salvador to assist in a similar fashion. 5