Harcum College

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Harcum College

Type	Privateassociate degree-granting college
Established	1915
President	Jon Jay DeTemple
Students	1,600
Location	Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania , U.S. 40°01′20″N75°18′49″W / 40.0223°N 75.3137°W /40.0223; -75.3137
Campus	Suburban, 14 acres (0.057 km2)
Colors	Purple & white
Nickname	Bears
Sporting affiliations	NJCAA Division I
Website	www.harcum.edu

Harcum Collegeis aprivateassociate degree-granting college inBryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1915 and was the first college in Pennsylvania authorized to grant associate degrees.

Edith Hatcher, daughter of prominentVirginiaclergyman and educator William E. Hatcher, was a talented concert pianist. In 1913, Edith Hatcher married Octavius Marvin Harcum. After the birth of their first child, Edith wrote "the concert career did not offer a chance for family stability" so they chose a venture that would combine "my talents as an educator and artist and his business vision and ability."

They opened the Harcum Post Graduate School on October 1, 1915, in Melville Hall with three students and five pianos. Edith's goal was to "start a school where the individual talent of each girl would be treated as an integral part of her education." Though her expertise was in the fine arts, Edith was also committed to providing a strong academic program.

In its early years, Harcum was auniversity preparatory school, giving students the skills needed for college study. It quickly grew, soon adding junior college-level courses. Mr. Harcum, or "Uncle Marvin" as the students called him, was the firstPresident. When he died in a car accident in 1920, Edith assumed the Presidency. She remained in that post for more than 30 years.

Leadership was eventually assumed by Philip Klein and Henry Klein. In 1956,Pennsylvaniagranted Harcum permission to be the firstjunior collegein theCommonwealth's history to confer the Associate of Arts and the Associate of Science degrees. Tremendous building and expansion occurred in the 1960s with the addition of the Academic Center, Pennswood Hall, and Klein Hall. Historically a women's college, Harcum began admitting male students during the 1970s and became officially co-educational in 2003.

Today, Harcum serves traditional and non-traditional students interested in AlliedHealth Science,BusinessandHuman Services, with both a commuter and residential experience. Henry Klein served on Harcum's board oftrusteesfor more than 50 years, holding the record for the longest serving board member at any university or college in theUnited States of America.

Harcum College offers over 20 degree programs in fields like AlliedHealth Science,Business, Human Services, Design, and Education. Non-credit courses, certificate programs, and professional development programs are offered through the Office of Continuing Studies. Courses are offered at Harcum'sBryn Mawrcampus, at partnership sites, and online.

Harcum's main campus is inBryn Mawron thePhiladelphia Main Line.

The campus is in the municipality ofLower Merion Township,^[1]and in theBryn Mawrcensus-designated place.^[2]

The main campus buildings stretch along Montgomery Avenue, including the historic Melville Hall, Klein Hall, Bedford Hall, The Academic Center (which includes Harcum's Library), historic Richter Hall and Pennswood Hall — the college's main residence hall.

Also oncampusis the college'sCohen Dental Center, a 16-chair clinical facility which houses the Dental Clinic, Dental Laboratory, and classrooms.

The Veterinary Services building houses theAnimal Care Facilitywhich services the AVMA accredited Veterinary Technology program.

The Harcum Music Schoolwas founded in 1985 when Medley Music of Bryn Mawr transferred ownership of their teaching division to Harcum College. The school officially moved to Harcum's Bryn Mawr campus in 1990. The Harcum Music School is open to Harcum students as well as community members who wish to learn a musical instrument, take intermediate or advanced lessons, collaborate with other musicians, or play in front of a live audience.

The Kevin D. Marlo Little Theatre—named after Kevin D. Marlo, son of Harcum Trustee Dennis Marlo and an aspiring actor and who was killed during theSeptember 11th attackson theWorld Trade Center—is an historic theatre that was restored and revived in 2011 in an effort to reconnect students and community to the arts.

The campus is connected to center cityPhiladelphiaby thePaoli/Thorndale Lineof Regional Rail.

Harcum offers men and women'sbasketballand indoor and outdoor track & field as well as women'svolleyballand men and women'ssoccer.

The athletic teams are members of theNational Junior College Athletic Association.

The college's officialmascotis "Hatcher the Bear", named after founder Edith Hatcher Harcum.

• Official website