Fast Facts - Becker College

Becker College Fast Facts 2011-2012

Profile
President
About Becker College
Location and Environment
The College’s Mission
Accreditation

Academics
Academic Programs
Points of Pride
The Student Experience
Athletics
Quick Statistics (Academic Year 2011-2012)

Profile

Private, independent, coeducational four-year college, offering undergraduate (associate’s and bachelor’s) degrees, and adult education degrees (associate’s and bachelor’s) and certificate programs.

President

Robert E. Johnson, Ph.D.

Since Robert E. Johnson, Ph.D., took office as the tenth president of Becker College in July 2010, this charismatic leader has charged the institution with a new entrepreneurial mission; led the creation of groundbreaking academic programs; realized significant capital projects; strengthened the institution’s financial foundation; and challenged students and faculty to compete in an increasingly global society.

About Becker College

Becker College traces its history to 1784—one of the nation’s top-25 oldest institutions of higher education—with a founding charter signed by John Hancock and Samuel Adams. The College evolved from the union of two institutions: Leicester Academy—the third preparatory school in Massachusetts, the first in central Massachusetts, and the first in the Commonwealth to accept female students—and Becker’s Business School, a Worcester school that offered career preparation for men and women.

Becker College graduates have long contributed to the betterment of society. From Dr. Elliott Joslin, a pioneer in the research and treatment of diabetes, to Colleen Barrett, retired president emeritus of Southwest Airlines who helped build the most successful corporate airline in aviation history, Becker College is committed to educating young men and women for professional success in a global society.

Becker has been named one of the best institutions for undergraduate education by The Princeton Review. Only about 15 percent of America’s 2,500 four-year colleges and three colleges outside the U.S. are profiled in The Best 377 Colleges: 2013 Edition, The Princeton Review’s flagship college guide.

Becker promises each student a transformational educational experience that offers relevant and outstanding academic programs, a connected and creative learning experience, and engaged and committed global citizenship. The College’s six core values—excellence, accountability, community and diversity, social responsibility, integrity, and creative expression—support its mission to prepare graduates to thrive, contribute to, and lead in a global society. More than 2,000 students annually, from across the nation and around the world, make up a vibrant and active Becker College community.

Location and Environment

The Worcester Campus is situated in the Elm Park neighborhood of Worcester—New England’s second largest urban center, with a population of approximately 180,000. With its quiet tree-lined streets and historic Victorian-style homes, the Worcester Campus is only a short walk from the downtown business district. The greater Worcester area is home to more than 30,000 students at 12 colleges.

The Leicester Campus is situated in a quintessential New England country town, adjacent to an historic village green. This rural setting provides space for Becker’s Division III athletic team facilities and for the animal studies programs. The College provides students with a free shuttle service, which enables them to move easily between campuses.

Becker College is less than an hour’s drive from Boston, three hours from New York City, and 70 miles or less from three major international airports.

The College’s Mission

The mission of Becker College is to deliver to each student a transformational learning experience—anchored by academic excellence, social responsibility, and creative expression—that prepares graduates to thrive, contribute to, and lead in a global society.

Accreditation

New England Association of Schools and Colleges
American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
Massachusetts Department of Education, to grant Initial Licensure for the Early Childhood Education level (pre-K through grade 3) and Initial Licensure in Elementary Education (grades 1 through 6)

Academics

Our academic programs combine rigorous course work and experiential learning into an innovative curriculum that prepares students for a wide range of future professional opportunities while providing the necessary competencies to lead in a global society. In addition to our core curriculum programs, students have numerous opportunities to participate in internships and practical experiences in rural, suburban, and inner-city settings. State-of-the-art teaching facilities include the nursing program’s simulation laboratory and the College’s on-campus animal clinic. Upon graduation, our students are ready to step into career-targeted jobs and make valuable contributions from day one.

Becker College offers study abroad options through its partnerships with the Center for International Studies (CIS) and Semester at Sea.

Academic Programs

All are bachelor’s degree programs except where associate’s degree is indicated.

Animal Studies

Animal Care (associate’s degree)
Equine Studies
Laboratory Animal Management
Pre-veterinary
Veterinary Science/Clinical Medicine and Laboratory Animal Medicine
Veterinary Technology (associate’s degree)

Business

Business Administration
Equine Management
Management
Marketing
Sports Management

Criminal Justice and Legal Studies

Criminal Justice
Forensic Science/Crime Scene Processing Concentration

Design

Graphic Design
Interactive Media: Game Design
Interactive Media: Game Development and Programming

Education and Psychology

Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education (B.A. in liberal arts)
Forensic Psychology
Psychology
Psychology/ Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Liberal Arts and Biology

Biology
Liberal Arts

Nursing and Exercise Science

Exercise Science (health and fitness)
Nursing (associate’s degree)
Nursing (4-year BSN)
Nursing RN-BSN

The Student Experience

Students thrive on campuses that foster the College’s core values of excellence, accountability, community and diversity, social responsibility, integrity, and creative expression. There is a connectedness between students and faculty that enhances learning and student success and provides each student with personal attention and a close-knit, family atmosphere.

Off-Campus Opportunities

Worcester offers a wide array of social, cultural, and recreational opportunities, including entertainment and sports arenas, semi-professional sports teams—the Worcester Sharks (ice hockey) and Worcester Tornadoes (baseball)—first-class museums, the Hanover Theatre, outdoor recreation areas, and a wide range of shopping and dining options. Because we are a member of the Colleges of Worcester Consortium, made up of 12 other Worcester-area colleges, our students have access to each member’s facilities, events, and activities.

Campus Facilities and Equipment

A variety of housing options are available for those students who choose to live on campus. The Worcester Campus offers housing in historic homes, and the Leicester Campus offers both historic homes and contemporary residences. Both campuses offer all-female, all-male, co-ed, over 21, and all-freshman living spaces. Each campus has its own dining hall, library, and fitness facility.

Students in the equine programs are involved in the daily maintenance and care of horses at the Becker College Equestrian Center in Paxton. The Becker College Lenfest Animal Health Center houses the College’s veterinary clinic, which sees more than 1,000 patients annually. The center also includes teaching facilities for laboratory animals, grooming, dog obedience, and laboratories for animal care and veterinary technology students.

Student Organizations and Activities

The Becker College community is an active one. Opportunities abound for on- and off-campus involvement to enrich each student’s learning and personal development. Regardless of personal interests, it’s easy to be active, social, and connected with the pulse of campus life.

The Student Government Association (SGA) serves as the official voice of all Becker College students. The SGA protects and promotes the best interests and rights of the student body, serves as the liaison between the students and the College administration, and works with student groups to enhance the overall student experience.

The intramural program promotes fun and healthy competition, with programs geared to student interest. Numerous clubs and organizations promote indoor and outdoor activities, cultural interests, the arts, and more. In addition, students are involved in community service and volunteer activities with such organizations as the American Red Cross, the Animal Rescue League, the United Way, schools, and others, which give students ample opportunities to be active and passionate about helping others.

Close to 75 percent of Becker students participate in varsity or intramural sports.

Athletics

In 2012, more than one third of Becker student-athletes completed the fall 2011 semester with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. Twelve junior and senior student-athletes were also inducted into the National Collegiate Student-Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma.

Becker College offers eight men’s varsity programs, seven women’s varsity programs, and two co-ed sports, competes at the NCAA Division III level, and is a member of the following:

Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference-Northeast (men’s ice hockey)
New England Collegiate Conference (baseball, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, field hockey, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, golf, volleyball)
Great Northeast Athletic Conference (men’s lacrosse)
New England Women’s Lacrosse Alliance (women’s lacrosse)
Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (football)
Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (equestrian)

Becker College offers the following men’s varsity sports: