Known for its innovative curriculum, Dickinson is a highly selective, private liberal-arts college. One of the nation's oldest colleges, and named in honor of a signer of the U.S. Constitution, Dickinson became the first college chartered in the newly recognized United States in September 1783. Dickinson has just under 900 full and part-time employees - administrators, faculty and staff - and its 144-acre campus is populated by students from 43 U.S. states and territories and 40 foreign countries. More than half of students study abroad through the school's 50 programs in 24 countries on six continents. Dickinson is recognized as a leader among institutions committed to sustainability and green initiatives and is continually recognized by such groups as the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, Sierra Club, Sustainable Endowments Institute, Princeton Review and Second Nature. Dickinson's stunning campus - featuring beautiful landscaping and buildings made of limestone - is located in the heart of the historic central Pennsylvania town of Carlisle, a key marker in Civil War activity. Founded in 1751, Carlisle, named a "most livable city" by Forbes, i...s a cosmopolitan town of 20,000 people, nestled between mountains that have long been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The Appalachian Trail and several mountain lakes are within easy reach of the campus, as are Hershey Park and historic Gettysburg. The town is a transportation hub linked by highway, rail and air to prominent East Coast cities, with driving times that make these cities readily accessible: Harrisburg, 20 minutes; Gettysburg, 30 minutes; Baltimore, 90 minutes; Washington, D.C., two hours; Philadelphia, two hours; New York, three hours; Pittsburgh, four hours. Dickinson takes pride in its campus wellness and professional development programs, offering an array of opportunities to faculty and staff.