Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Reading Locations
Alvernia’s Hill Campus spreads across more than 190 picturesque acres in Berks County, three miles from the heart of historic Reading, Pa., and is an easy car ride from Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
The campus is anchored by Francis Hall, where it all began 100 years ago. The oldest building on campus, it serves as a hub of academic and social activity. Alvernia's foundresses, the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, opened and dedicated the site in 1926. Originally the St. Francis Orphanage, it transitioned into a high school before debuting as Alvernia College in 1958. Expansions and renovations over the years include Francis Hall Theatre, the Miller Art Gallery, music studios, recital spaces, a fine and performing arts suite and a small chapel. Francis Hall is also home to the President’s Office, the university's Welcome Center and a residence hall.
Additional residence halls are spread throughout the campus, along with the Franco Library; the Student Center; numerous learning halls; the McGlinn Conference Center, an offshoot of the Bernardine Sisters' Motherhouse; and Campus Commons, home to a two-story fitness center, dance and aerobics studio and recently renovated campus living room and gathering space.
The newest addition is the Tom and Helen Flynn Complex for Recreation, Wellness and Health Sciences (PLEX), a 100,000-square-foot academic and recreation hybrid facility. The PLEX's recreation spaces include a 70,000-square-foot field house which consists of a six-lane NCAA competition-level indoor track and four full-sized sports courts — tennis, soccer, basketball — for use by the campus community as well as university teams. The PLEX also includes specialized classroom space for the Doctorate of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training programs and state-of-the-art lab space for the health sciences.
In 2021, Alvernia expanded into downtown Reading.
John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne
The John R. Post Center is Alvernia’s downtown Reading facility, a hub for innovation, learning and community. A $20 million renovation and retrofitting project transformed the building into a state-of-the-art, 250,000-square-foot living and learning facility.
Contact Information
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
400 Saint Bernardine St.
Student Center, 2nd floor
Reading, PA 19607
Phone: 610-796-8269
Fax: 610-790-2873
admissions@alvernia.edu
Office Hours
Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Graduate & Adult Education Admissions Office
Upland Center
540 Upland Avenue
Reading, PA 19611
Phone: 610.796.5187 or 888.258.3764 x6
Fax: 610.796.8367
gradandadult@alvernia.edu