Chestnut Hill college is a liberal arts institution in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, PA from which it takes its name. Founded in 1924 as a Roman Catholic women¡¯s college by the Sisters of St. Joseph, it has been fully co-educational since 2003. The city of Philadelphia itself can be a haven for students, with a vast cultural history and a vibrant nightlife.
Undergraduate freshman at Chapel Hill will be inducted into a Core Curriculum course, which contains programmes such as a College Writing requirement and a foreign language course. As well as an active interdisciplinary approach, CHC is well regarded in a range of courses including environmental sciences and music. CHC¡¯s most famous Mathematics alumnae is Frances Spence, who would go on to work for ENIAC as one of the world¡¯s fist computer programmers.
Some clubs and organisations at CHC are an active Student Government Association, and theatre group Mask & Foil, one of the oldest societies on campus. One of the facilities at CHC is the Campus Ministry, a multi-faith institute with a mission statement of ¡®coming to know God, self and others through service, spirituality and community¡¯.
The athletics team and CHC students are nicknamed the ¡®Griffins¡¯, after the mythical beast which features on the university crest. Eligible sports teams compete in the Central Athletic Collegiate Conference, and there are nine men¡¯s teams including baseball and lacrosse, and nine women¡¯s teams such as bowling and volleyball.
One of the most popular events hosted at Chapel Hill is the annual Harry Potter Weekend. The four day occasion includes a conference with academic discussion of themes found in the films and novels, a Quidditch Tournament, and a festival with attractions such as a Knight Bus and imitation Butterbeer.
