ALERT: Utility/Power Failure on Campus – UPDATE

June 11, 2025 - 11:28 AM

UPDATE: Utility/Power Failure on Campus

Meadville Water Authority is just completing the the main water line repair on the north side of campus and and the water line should be pressurized shortly.

CAUTION FROM THE WATER AUTHORITY: A loss of positive water pressure is a signal of the existence of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through back-flow by back‑pressure or back‑siphonage. As a result, there is an increased chance that the water may contain disease-causing organisms.

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using; or use bottled water. You should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice. Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water, but also by other factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. Guardians of infants and young children and people at increased risk, such as pregnant women, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems, should seek advice from their health care advisors about drinking this water. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426‑4791.

The Water Authority will inform local residents when the water is safe to drink. An updated message Emergency Message will be sent from Public Safety.

Students, faculty and staff should monitor e-mail, the college web site, social and local media for updated information and further updates.
Contact Campus Safety in the event of an emergency: 814-332-3357.

More information on Emergency website

Department Information

Biology

Professors Hersh (Chair), Coenen, Dawson, French, Houtz, Humphreys, Kadmiel, Lundberg, Nelson, Venesky, Whitenack Biology, the study of life, is a discipline of astonishing variety. It encompasses not only the diversity of living things on the earth today, but also the diversity of levels (from molecules to cells to organisms to ecosystems) at which life can be studied. The Biology Department offers a modern, balanced, and comprehensive treatment of biology, emphasizing independent research, analysis of information, and integration among its subdisciplines and with other areas of the liberal arts, including related disciplines such as chemistry, mathematics, geology, physics and psychology. Many new discoveries in biology, such as those that are making genetic engineering a reality, are radically transforming our perception of what biology is and what it can mean to our everyday lives. More than ever, the social, political, economic and moral implications of these discoveries require not only that a liberally educated person understand the principles of modern biology, but also that a biologist be liberally educated.

Biology Facebook Page

Biology Courses Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete a course for non-majors (BIO 045–BIO 082) in the Department of Biology are expected to be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a general understanding of the basic principles of the relevant biological sub-discipline and of the process by which new scientific knowledge in this sub-discipline is generated.

Students who successfully complete the introductory courses (BIO 220–BIO 221) in the Department of Biology are expected to be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a general understanding of the central features of the extraordinarily diverse and expanding landscape of modern biology.

Students who successfully complete the sophomore-level investigative laboratory course (FSBIO 201) in the Department of Biology are expected to be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a general understanding of the standard laboratory tools, methodology, and process of biological research and of the basics of scientific writing;
  2. Present the results of independent research clearly and effectively in both written and oral forms.

Students who successfully complete a 300-level course (BIO 300–BIO 385) in the Department of Biology are expected to be able to:

  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of important principles and/or laboratory techniques in the biological sub-discipline covered by the course.

Students who successfully complete a junior seminar (BIO 580) in the Department of Biology are expected to be able to:

    • Demonstrate the ability to locate, critically analyze, interpret, and discuss primary research literature in the relevant sub-discipline within the biological sciences;
    • Design independent laboratory or field research that is consistent with the highest standards and practices of research in the relevant biological sub-discipline.

Students who successfully complete the two-semester senior project and seminar (BIO 600 and BIO 610) in the Department of Biology are expected to be able to:

  • Design and conduct independent laboratory or field research that is consistent with the highest standards and practices of research in the relevant biological sub-discipline;
  • Present the results of their independent research clearly and effectively in both written and oral forms.

Off-Campus Study in Marine Biology

Students who are eligible (GPA of at least 3.0 and approval of Director of International Education) can participate in our cooperative program with the Duke University Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, North Carolina. Students typically participate for one semester in the junior year and take a full course load, including an independent research experience. Students receive Allegheny grades and credit for Biology major (appropriate courses for Areas A, B, C, and Junior Seminar) and minor requirements. The spring program entails one-half semester at Duke and one-half semester at the Bermuda Biological Laboratory. Contact the Director of International Education in the Gateway for more information on this program.

Academic Bulletin

Visit the Academic Bulletinfor information on all majors, minors, and other programs at Allegheny college.

Visit the Allegheny College Academic Bulletin