Delaware Valley University, otherwise known as 鈥淒elVal,鈥 is a small school located about thirty miles outside of Philadelphia. DelVal was originally founded as an agriculture school, but now strives to bring its 1,700 undergraduates an interdisciplinary education with a curriculum that relies on an experiential learning component called 鈥淓360.鈥 This is very apparent in the more than 1,000 acres of land that act as living laboratories for students to get 鈥渉ands-on opportunities鈥 in 鈥渆nvironmental, agriculture, and animal sciences.鈥 There is 鈥渁 lot of technology integrated into the programs,鈥 鈥渕any work-study opportunities that you cannot find at other schools,鈥 and plentiful farm opportunities for 鈥渓ucky鈥 animal science majors that 鈥減rovide a foot in the door for a job.鈥
Professors at DelVal are 鈥渄evoted, enthusiastic and eager to teach,鈥 and they 鈥渢ry to make the material interesting and understandable.鈥 They 鈥渨ant to see students succeed and are usually enthusiastic to help.鈥 Small classes (with no TAs) offer students the ability to be deeply involved with their learning and 鈥渢o create relationships with the professors in the classes and network for different careers.鈥 Often times, students 鈥渦tilize the campus for teaching moments:鈥 the landscape majors learn on the school grounds, greenhouses and school farm land are used 鈥渉eavily by professors and used to teach students.鈥 Many teachers will use the campus in other ways, such as 鈥渢aking walks or having class outside if the weather is good.鈥