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Tri-College Consortium with BMC and Haverford Celebrated for Academic Strength

Main Line Today Celebrates
Tri-College Consortium

by Maki Somosot '12
2/4/2011

Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and Swarthmore students
From left, students Annie Mendez, Mary Florence
Sullivan and Noah Marks. Photo by Jared Castaldi

The Tri-College Consortium—consisting of Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges—was recently recognized in Main Line Today for its "unique symbiosis" of academic strength and resource integration. The consortium enables students at the three colleges to cross-register for courses, use an integrated library system, and expand their social networks. U.S. News & World Report has also consistently highly ranked all three colleges, with Swarthmore as an annual contender in the top three.

The three institutions in the consortium share core values such as social consciousness, perhaps a result of their common heritage as Quaker-founded institutions, but each retains its distinctive personality. Swarthmore's Dean of Students Liz Braun says that Swarthmore is defined by its academically rigorous honors program, which allows students to "express their ideas to any scholar in their field" through the honors examinations. Bryn Mawr, which is an all-women's institution, is known for its strong science and engineering program, whereas Haverford offers a notable study abroad program for sophomores and juniors.