Kutztown University of Pennsylvania: An Organic Experience
August 27, 2009 | Michelle Smith
Settled among the rolling farm hills of Pennsylvania’s Dutch country is the small and historically rich community of Kutztown. The town is home to 4,500 full time residents and a major state university– Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. The school was founded in 1886 as the Keystone Normal School for aspiring school teachers. Since then, the school has grown to university status and now offers five colleges of study and a diversely educational experience with approximately 10,393 students enrolled each year.
The university is still widely known for its education department that certifies a large amount of Pennsylvania teachers each year. Other strong programs include the communication design, electronic media, and music departments. The school’s jazz ensemble has been recognized worldwide for its continued excellence and has performed all over the world.
At Kutztown University, teacher/student interaction is highly valued. The student to faculty ratio is 19:1. An average class size is around 30 students. Larger lectures are conducted for general education courses with enrollment rarely over 100 students. KU offers an honors program, national honors societies, 17 study abroad programs, and over 180 on campus groups and organizations. Students can find many activities going on throughout the campus on any given day. The organizations and groups are often an extension of the university’s majors of study and provide the opportunity for students in or outside of the major to explore and learn more about their interests.
Kutztown is home to a unique shopping district for residents and students alike. The classic Main Street offers everything from thrift stores and Chinese food to vintage malt shops and tattoo parlors. Some of the best spots in town include Global Libations, Eckhaus, the Attic and Pop’s Malt Shoppe.
Global Libations is a unique cafe that offers organically brewed coffee, a laid back atmosphere, and local entertainment every night of the week. Eckhaus is an art studio and gallery that showcases local artwork and also hosts concerts for Kutztown students and residents. The Attic is a funky thrift store that allows college students to share and buy fun clothes for cheap prices. Pop’s Malt Shoppe gives the Main Street a 1950’s feeling with its black and white tiled floor and shiny red stools that rotate at the foot of the bar while you wait for a freshly made milkshake.
The farm land that surrounds the town produces rich and delicious produce that is admired and loved by locals and visitors alike. Just a short drive from campus are several farmer’s markets and small specialty shops that are owned and operated by local farmers. The town provides a familiar home feeling while still giving you an exceptional college experience.
The campus is fully equipped with wi-fi, a state of the art radio station, television studio, and movie theater. Multiple computer labs and an excellent Audio Visual center in the library offer students the opportunity to use the best equipment on the market. As the university grows, new buildings are being added to enhance the experience with this new technology and advanced facilities and opportunities.
Students at KU are extremely diverse. The university boasts enrolling students from all over the world. The majority of students call Pennsylvania home when school is out, but there are also many out of state students enrolled at KU.
Students work together and play together at Kutztown University. Popular sporting events include basketball and football games. Rugby is also a very popular sport at the University and the team has competed in several championships and defeated big teams like Penn State, causing it to be a surprise powerhouse team from Eastern Pennsylvania.
So if you’re looking for a small town atmosphere and a traditional college experience, Kutztown University is the place for you. Check out the school’s website at www.kutztown.edu and see what this upbeat farm town has to offer you!
