Williamson College of the Trades: A Legacy of Skill and Opportunity

Williamson College of the Trades, formerly known as Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, stands as a unique institution dedicated to providing deserving young men with a tuition-free education in various trades. Located in Media, Pennsylvania, this private men's junior vocational college has a rich history and a distinctive approach to education.

Overview of Williamson College of the Trades

Williamson College of the Trades is a small, 2-year, private technical college situated in a suburban setting. The institution offers associate degrees in six different trade/technical programs at no cost to enrolled students, with tuition, room, and board covered by a Williamson Scholarship and federal/state grants. The college is residential, fostering a close-knit community with various activities, including eight intercollegiate athletics.

Key Facts

Location: Suburban
Type: Private men's junior vocational college
Size: Small
Campus Setting: Suburban
Programs: Associate Degrees
Acceptance Rate: 31.4%
Student-Faculty Ratio: 10-to-1
Campus Type: Residential only (no commuters)

History and Founding

Founded in 1888 by philanthropist Isaiah V. Williamson, the college was established to teach underprivileged young men "some trade, free of expense" through a character-based curriculum. Williamson contemplated the idea of a trade school since the 1850s and spent the final decade of his life developing the concept. He personally drafted the Foundation of Deed, which he presented to the board of trustees on December 1, 1888.

Isaiah V. Williamson's Vision

Isaiah Williamson envisioned a school that would provide underprivileged boys with the skills and character necessary to become respected leaders and productive members of society. His commitment to this vision led him to invest his personal wealth and dedicate his final years to establishing the institution.

Key Figures in the Founding

The charter members of the board of trustees consisted of tradesmen, colleagues, and friends of Williamson, including:

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John Baird (President of the Trustees)
James C. Brooks (Treasurer)
Lemuel Coffin
Edward Longstreth
William C. Ludwig
Henry C. Townsend
John Wanamaker

John M. Shrigley was also appointed secretary and President of the school.

Campus Development

On March 6, 1889, the day before his death, Isaiah Williamson approved the purchase of 220 acres of land in Middletown Township, near Elwyn, Pennsylvania, for the school's campus. Renowned Philadelphia architect Frank Furness won the design competition for the original campus buildings, with ground broken for the administration building in 1890. The campus opened for classes in September 1891.

Academics and Programs

Williamson College of the Trades offers a unique educational model, providing a three-year Associate Degree in six different trade/technical programs at no cost to enrolled students. The college's mission is to prepare deserving young men to be respected leaders and productive members of society.

Trade Programs

Students can earn degrees and certificates in six different fields, including:

Carpentry
Electrical
Masonry
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist
Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General
Landscape Construction and Management

Electrical Program in Detail

The Electrical program prepares students for employment in the residential-commercial electrical construction industry. Through lectures, demonstrations, shop exercises, and campus work projects, students are trained to become leaders in the construction field, potentially as journeyman electricians, job site foremen, construction superintendents, project managers, front office administrators, or owners of contracting firms.

The program covers:

Safety rules and regulations for electricians, including lockout/tagout procedures.
Ohm’s law (as applied to DC circuits); series/parallel circuits, resistive circuits, and circuit analysis; the NEC® and how to use it.
Basic hardware, systems, and tasks familiar to electricians in residential construction/maintenance, including electrical devices and wiring techniques.
Alternating-current systems, forces, and the application of Ohm’s law.
AC and DC motors (components, circuits, and connections).
Various types of lamps and lighting fixtures.
Intermediate level hardware, systems, and tasks familiar to electricians in commercial construction/maintenance, including electrical devices and wiring techniques.
Electric circuits in health care facilities and other special locations; standby and emergency systems; fire alarm systems; specialty transformers.
Basic electronic theory, solid-state controls and adjustable frequency drives, and HVAC controls.
Heat tracing and freeze protection.
Electrical topics related to security, including access control and various intrusion detection systems.
Advanced level hardware, systems, and tasks pertinent to industrial and utility construction/maintenance, including electrical devices and wiring techniques.
Electrical topics related to communication, including both telecommunication and wireless communication systems, both residential and commercial.
Power transmission and distribution, including the methods used to distribute power in residential and commercial subdivisions.
Distribution equipment such as case breakers and switchboards.
Tasks related to electrical construction, including switchgear and breaker maintenance - both medium- and low-voltage sources - and the safety practices involved.
Preventive and predictive maintenance and non-destructive testing, along with other testing techniques.

The curriculum also covers the processes and procedures necessary for carrying out construction projects from start to finish, including technical, business, logistical, and management aspects.

Stackable Certificates and Rowan University Partnership

Williamson College of the Trades has partnered with Rowan University to offer a stackable certificate program. This enables students to earn credentials in carpentry, electrical, or masonry trade programs while also earning course credits toward a Bachelor of Arts in construction management, offered online through the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering.

This partnership bridges the trades and higher education, addressing the industry's need for a highly trained, highly skilled workforce. Both institutions received transformational gifts from Henry Rowan, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who saw a need for a highly skilled, technical workforce.

Campus Life and Student Experience

Williamson College of the Trades provides a unique and structured campus life for its students. As a residential college, all students are required to live on campus throughout their three years of study.

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Residential Life

Students live in supervised dormitories and are expected to adhere to a dress code. The residential setting fosters a sense of community and provides a supportive environment for students to focus on their studies and personal development.

Daily Chapel Service

All students attend a daily chapel service, reflecting the college's commitment to character development and moral values.

Student Activities

Students must participate in at least one official student activity each year, promoting engagement and a well-rounded experience. The college offers various activities, including eight intercollegiate athletics.

Campus Facilities

The campus features a range of facilities to support the academic and extracurricular activities of students, including:

Baseball, football, lacrosse, and soccer fields.
The Joseph L. and Marion M.
Houses the Clarence W.
The complex of facilities supporting the Landscape Construction and Management program is named after the philanthropist Mrs. William L. McLean, Jr.
Technical center named in honor of newspaper executive, William L.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Williamson College of the Trades has an acceptance rate of 31.4%. Special consideration for admission is given to students demonstrating financial need.

Full Scholarships

Williamson is the only trade college in the United States that gives all students full scholarships covering tuition and room and board. The college uses its endowment to cover two-thirds of student costs each year, with the balance coming from private donations and fundraising.

Tuition and Fees

While the listed tuition and fees for 2020-2021 were $28,320, students do not pay this amount due to the full scholarships provided.

Financial Aid Statistics

100% of undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid.
The average scholarship or grant award is $29,117.

Rankings and Recognition

Williamson College of the Trades has earned recognition for its unique approach to vocational education and its commitment to providing opportunities for underprivileged young men.

Historical Significance

With trade apprenticeships disappearing in the US in the late 19th century, Williamson was a model in vocational education.

Recent Recognition

Students at Delco's Williamson College made the top 10 in 2015.

Philanthropic Support

Williamson College of the Trades has benefited from significant philanthropic support throughout its history.

The Rowan Gifts

In 2008, Henry Rowan gave Williamson two gifts that totaled $25 million, the largest endowment gift by a single individual in its history. This contribution has helped to sustain the college's mission of providing tuition-free education to deserving young men.

Other Notable Benefactors

March 2008- Henry and Lee Rowan and H.
June 2021 - Joseph L. and Marion M.
The complex of facilities supporting the Landscape Construction and Management program is named after the philanthropist Mrs. William L. McLean, Jr.
Technical center named in honor of newspaper executive, William L.

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