The First Amendment

In 1891 the trustees sought to amend the charter and obtain the right to confer degrees. They also wanted to make it clear that women were admitted as students. A history of the church mentions that young women of the congregation were attending the college in 1888. The revised charter refers to "…the support of an Educational Institution intended primarily for the benefit of Working Men; and for young men and women desirous of attending the same." The amendment was approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the first Bachelor of Oratory degrees were conferred in 1892. Four of the eighteen degrees were awarded to women.


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 Full-text of the Amendment

 View the founding Charter