Small college offers a university feel

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(Jon Clements/For The Examiner)
Hood College President Ronald Volpe.

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Ronald Volpe, 61, became president of Hood College in Frederick in 2001.

Previously, he was an administrator at Capital University in Ohio.

He has held numerous positions at his alma mater, Gannon University in Pennsylvania, including dean of admissions and dean of the business school.

Volpe earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Gannon, a master’s from Xavier University and a doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh.

He also completed post-doctorate studies in academic leadership at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania.

Q How is Hood College different from other liberal arts college in Maryland?

A Hood isn’t a typical liberal arts institution, because we have many professional and pre-professional programs. Also, nearly half of our total student population is in the graduate school.

We’ve been saying for some time now that Hood really offers a small-college environment with a university-like education. We ... have about 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students.

We do require all of our undergraduate students to complete our core curriculum, but there is a lot of flexibility in our curriculum. Many of our students literally design their own curriculum.

The overwhelming majority of our undergraduate students are engaged in meaningful research projects with our faculty.

Q What kind of unique career preparation do you offer?

A I don’t believe there is another liberal arts college in the state that has on its campus a business technology incubator [an organization that supports the entrepreneurial process].

On our campus, we have a business technology incubator housed by budding entrepreneurs who are trying to develop new products, new software and new vaccines.

Many of our business and science students are working at the incubator as interns, and our faculty is working side by side with them.

Q Hood went coeducational in 2003. Many colleges have had difficulty making that transition. What has been Hood’s experience?

A We’ve been contrarians. We were told that a women’s college takes a decade or even two decades to make that transition — that hasn’t happened.

We are now about 68 percent female, 32 percent male.

It’s a tribute to the institution and to the programming, and you need to understand that Hood was not your traditional women’s college. We didn’t have a lot of what we would call exclusively women’s programming.

Even as a women’s college, Hood was strong in the sciences, strong in business.

Q How is Hood helping students afford tuition?

A Very few Hood students pay the full price. I’d be hard-pressed to find one student here who isn’t receiving some type of scholarship grant or financial assistance.

Hood has been blessed with a number of foundations, so we can provide a generous scholarship endowment. Our alumni and donors have been very generous to the college over the years.

The out-of-pocket cost the parents pay at Hood is sometimes half the total sticker cost.

Q Hood’s Web site boasts a good ranking from U.S. News and World Report. Many liberal arts colleges are against these rankings. Where do you stand?

A We are proud to be listed in national publications, but we are guarded with how we interpret that.

We think there is some value in these rankings. However, the most important thing prospective students should do is visit the campus. They should sit in on classes, talk with faculty, get a sense of the fit.

When I speak with prospective students, I give them the formula of the four P’s. They should look at the programming, the people, the price and the performance. If they just use that formula, it will help them make an informed decision.

Q Will you apply the four P’s to Hood?

A The programming: We have a large array of liberal studies courses and professional training programs.

The people: We have a wonderful campus and a lot of caring people.

The price: We are affordable.

The performance: We share with our prospective students the high job-placement rate of our graduates.

And I might add one more P, and that’s place. We are very proud of where we are in Frederick. Frederick is a historic city, and it’s been our home for over 100 years.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

» Sue Hecht, former chief executive officer of Heartly House and Maryland state delegate

» Rona Mensah, disc jockey at WAFY Radio

» Phil Bowers, president of Bowers Brewing Co. and owner of Brewer’s Alley, G. Hunters, Isabella’s and Acacia restaurants; Maryland Restaurateur of the Year

» Janice Ambrose, associate judge of District Court of Maryland, Frederick

» Rebecca Fishack, special assistant to Gov. Martin O’Malley

» James N. Robey Jr., retired Howard County police chief; state senator of District 13

FAST FACTS

» Enrollment: 2,400 (1,425 undergraduate, 975 graduate)

» Student-to-faculty ratio: 11-to-1 undergraduate, 13-to-1 graduate

» Undergraduate tuition: $25,076

» Room and board: $8,542

» Majors: 27

» Master’s degrees offered: 13

» Undergraduates from Maryland: 80 percent

Source: Hood College

mmcilroy@baltimoreexaminer.com

The Examiner is taking a look at college and universities across the state. Click here to read the entire series.

SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY

EMAIL STORY

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291 days ago: ‘Always ready’ are words to live by

291 days ago: Coast Guard means danger, commitment

298 days ago: McCready paved way for black students

298 days ago: Be in demand; become a nurse

305 days ago: Academy brings leaders to life

312 days ago: Promises aside, read the contract

312 days ago: Join up, go to war, get a degree

319 days ago: As volunteers, students reach into community

319 days ago: Loyola teaches with outside service

333 days ago: New quad for students — not cars