Special Events

• Reading and Lectures. A series of informal readings with writers and scholars.
   
  • Wilson Visiting Poet. A practicing poet gives a poetry reading, appears in classes, and meets with students.  Wilson poets have included such distinguished names as Stephen Spender, Gwendolyn Brooks, Galway Kinnell, Gary Snyder, Marie Howe, Terrance Hayes, Martín Espada, and Julianna Baggott.
    
    
  • GLCA Award Winners. Winners of the annual Great Lakes Colleges Association New Writers Awards in Poetry and Fiction visit the campus to give readings and meet with classes.
    
    
• Albion College Poetry Contest. For all high school students in Michigan, this contest brings finalists to the campus for a reception at which prizes are awarded. Albion students studying poetry are also invited to the reception.
  
  
• The Albion Review. The national undergraduate literary journal publishes poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and visual art of undergraduates from across the country. It is produced and edited entirely by students, and is distributed beyond the campus. Recent issues have included interviews with professional writers and artists.
  
  
• The Pleiad. The campus newspaper is written and edited by students, working with advanced computerized typesetting equipment. Editors receive academic credit. The Pleiad has won several national awards for excellence.
   
• Off-Campus Study and Study Abroad. About a quarter of Albion's English majors receive credit for study in the numerous programs available.
  
  
• Directed Studies. Students receive course credit for working individually with a faculty member on a topic of mutual interest.
  
  
• Honors Thesis. Students may elect to achieve departmental honors by writing a senior thesis under the direction of a faculty member. The thesis may be either a critical study or an original creative project.