Lourdes University

"Franciscan Center" redirects here. For the Baltimore emergency outreach agency, see Franciscan Center of Baltimore.

Lourdes University
Motto	Discover Your Place
Established	1958
Type	Private
Religious affiliation	Catholic
President	Dr. Janet Robinson (Interim)
Academic staff	187
Students	2,616
Undergraduates	1,936
Postgraduates	680
Location	Sylvania, Ohio, USA
Campus	89 acres (0.36 km2) Suburban
Former names	Lourdes Junior College, Lourdes College
Colors	Terracotta and Gray
Athletics	NAIA
Nickname	Gray Wolves
Affiliations	Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
Website	www.lourdes.edu/

Lourdes University is an independent, private, Catholic university in Sylvania, Ohio, 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Toledo.

The liberal-arts institution opened in 1958 as Lourdes Junior College, and its academic culture is rooted in the Catholic Franciscan tradition. Lourdes offers baccalaureate degree programs in the arts, business, education, nursing, sciences and social work as well as graduate degrees in education, nursing, business administration, organizational leadership, liberal studies and theology. The institution also offers pre-professional programs such as art therapy, engineering, law, medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy and veterinary science. It is classified as a Master’s university by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Lourdes has been named a “Best in the Midwest” college by the Princeton Review for seven consecutive years from 2004-2011.

Lourdes currently has an enrollment of about 2,600 students. The university provides a variety of social, recreational and educational activities to further enrich students’ lives, ranging from music concerts and educational lectures to intramural sports. Community service and volunteer activities are encouraged, and the university provides many opportunities for service experience, such as Habitat for Humanity. The university began an intercollegiate athletics program in 2010 and competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.

History

Founding and early history

In the early 1900s Mother Adelaide Sandusky led a group of sisters from the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota to Northwest Ohio and became known as the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio. The Sisters began educating students in the Toledo Diocese. Soon after arriving in Toledo they established Provincialate High School to prepare the Sisters for education and healthcare careers. In 1917 the group purchased 89-acre (0.36 km²) of farmland in Sylvania. Following the Great Depression in the early 1940s the property became the location for an extension campus of the College of Saint Teresa.

Lourdes received its certificate of authorization from the Ohio State Board of Education in January, 1958, at which time it became known as Lourdes Junior College. Although originally established to educate sisters of the Franciscan community, the college became fully accredited in 1964 and began to admit lay women in 1969. Lourdes Junior College became known as Lourdes College in 1973. At this time discussion began on expanding degree offerings to include four-year degrees. In 1975 men were admitted for the first time in the school's history.

In 1982, the Ohio Board of Regents authorized Lourdes College to grant two baccalaureate degrees, the Bachelor of Individualized Studies and the Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. In 1986, Lourdes was authorized to add the Bachelor of Arts, with seven majors, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.). In 2002, graduate programs at Lourdes were approved by the Ohio Board of Regents and accredited by the North Central Association. The college later expanded the graduate programs, adding a Master of Organizational Leadership, Master of Education, Master of Arts in Theology, and Master of Science in Nursing programs. On August 19, 2011, Lourdes College officially transitioned to Lourdes University at its annual convocation.

Recent history

Student enrollment reached an all-time high of 2,035 during the 2006-07 academic year and the university continues to see new all-time enrollment records. To keep up with the needs of a growing student body, Lourdes commenced construction of a new academic building in October 2006. The new building, composed of Delp Hall and McAlear Hall (renamed Russell J. Ebeid Hall in 2012), opened in 2007. Delp Hall, which was designed to be environmentally friendly, houses the Ebeid Center and the WIN Center. The Ebeid Center was designed by students for students and offers a place to gather, study, watch TV, play games or put on small stage performances. The WIN Center offers an environment an environment focused on student success and retention. The Center has groups study rooms, computer labs and academic support to all Lourdes students in good standing. McAlear Hall features additional classrooms, faculty offices, and space for finance and information technology operations.

In fall 2007, Lourdes announced plans to expand its nursing program through a partnership with Promedica Health System, and classes began at The Toledo Hospital in January 2008. A year later, the Lourdes School of Nursing launched a new Operating Room First Assistant program, followed shortly by the introduction of the Registered Nurse (RN) to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). In 2009 The Chronicle of Higher Education named Lourdes one of the "Top 10 Places to Work For.” The college initiated a Pre-Engineering program in partnership with the University of Detroit Mercy and added a new Master of Arts in Theology degree program.

Although predominately a commuter campus, in 2010 Lourdes opened the new Lourdes Commons student housing complex after renovating the Wickford Woods apartments located next to the main campus. The opening marked the first time in the college's history that students have the opportunity to live on campus. Lourdes renamed the on-campus housing for students Lourdes Commons. It is located to the South East of the Main Campus. Lourdes Commons offers one and two bedroom apartments with a number of amenities in four separate residence halls. Student enrollment reached a new record of 2,616 students. In 2011 the university will begin another partnership, with Owens Community College. Students will be able to earn to earn Bachelor of Science four-year degrees in eight business majors: accounting, finance, business administration, health care administration, human resource management, integrated business, marketing and management, taking the majority of classes at College Hall on the Owens Toledo campus with classes taught by Lourdes faculty.

Campus

The campus of Lourdes University is located in Sylvania, Ohio, northwest of Toledo less than a mile from the Ohio-Michigan border on wooded 89 acres (0.36 km²) bounded by the Ottawa River to the north, Silica Drive to the west, Convent Road to the south and a branch of the Norfolk Southern Railroad to the east. The campus features buildings ranging from early 20th century to early 21st century, many constructed in the California Mission style of architecture.

The campus includes over 12 academic buildings, and numerous facilities are still in use by the Sisters of St. Francis. St. Francis Hall was built in 1917 and was the first building constructed on the property for the Sisters. It currently houses the Center for Professional Studies and contains classroom space, a student lounge, disability services center, and other offices. St. Clare Hall was constructed in 1929 as St. Clare Academy. It was renamed St. Clare Hall in 1977 and includes many of the administrative offices including the Registrar, Bursar, First Year Experience classrooms, and faculty offices. The building also includes classroom space, meeting and conference space, and music practice rooms. Lourdes Hall is connected to Mother Adelaide Hall and contains the President's office and various other administration and faculty offices. It is also home to the Campus Ministry and the office of Service Learning. The Franciscan Theatre and Conference Center includes a gymnasium and fitness center, meeting rooms, commons area. The Serra Theatre is also located in the facility and seats 850 for campus and local community cultural and educational events. Delp Hall, is a modern, green facility to collect rainwater runoff and also includes a geothermal temperature system. It houses the Ebeid Student Center and the Sr. Cabrini Warpeha WIN Center with study rooms and computer labs for student use. In 2011 the university broke ground on a new dining hall. The university also renovated an apartment complex adjacent to the campus to be used for student housing.

The Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio. maintain an active commune on the campus of the university that includes residence space, an art studio, non-profit counseling center that specializes in helping the needy and marginalized, and religious and prayer spaces. Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel is the main chapel of the Sylvania Sisters of St. Francis as well as the chapel for Lourdes University. The chapel was dedicated in 1961 and features Santa Barbara Mission style architecture designed and built under the direction of Mother Mary Adelaide. The Portiuncula Chapel is a small oratory located near the main chapel, constructed as a replica of a church St. Francis in Assisi, Italy. The Rosary Care Center was constructed in 1975 as Rosary Hall and served as a residence hall for senior Sisters of Sylvania Franciscan community. It now serves as a 76-bed licensed nursing home to vowed religious women and men, and priests.

Academics

The university is classified as a Master’s college and university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The university utilizes a semester-based academic calendar and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Lourdes University offers its students more than 30 majors to choose from. Academic disciplines at Lourdes are organized into the Graduate School and four Undergraduate Colleges, which encompass 15 departments.

• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Nursing
• College of Education and Human Services
• College of Business and Leadership
• The Graduate School

Lourdes University's undergraduate programs were not ranked by U.S. News & World Report for the 2010-11 academic year. However, the Lourdes University College of Nursing was ranked #234 in the top nursing graduate programs. The university has full accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Lourdes has been fully accredited by the North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission since 1964 and received its ten-year renewal in 2006-07.

Athletics

Main article: Lourdes Gray Wolves

Lourdes University teams, nicknamed athletically as the Gray Wolves (which its mascot and nickname are closely tied to the story of St. Francis of Assisi and the Wolf of Gubbio), are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, lacrosse, golf and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, lacrosse, golf, softball and volleyball.

Lourdes began its athletic program in the fall of 2010 and began competing in men’s and women’s golf, women’s volleyball and men’s basketball. The college plans to add additional sports including softball, lacrosse, and cross country in the following academic years. Their athletics colors are terracotta, black and white. Recently, Lourdes was named as one of the newest members of the NAIA.

Student life

The majority of students at Lourdes are classified as in-state students, with 93% of students listed as Ohio residents. Out-of-state students represent 6% of undergraduate enrollment. In addition, 52% of undergraduate students are full-time students. 46% of the student body is under 24 and 54% listed as 25 or over.

Lourdes offers a variety of activities including: art and music, drama, environmental issues, literature, student government, social groups, as well as a variety of organizations that focus on academic interests. L.E.A.P. (Lourdes Events and Activities Planning (LEAP) is a student group that focuses on planning on-campus activities. The Campus Ministry offers students the ability to become active members of the university community through spiritual, social and service opportunities. Students play an integral part in the shaping of prayer and liturgy, outreach events, and activities that create a sense of community. Campus Ministry coordinates volunteer efforts among students, faculty, staff and administration to participate in the Habitat for Humanity. Alternative Spring Break, to help at local agencies such as Sylvania Area Family Services, Bethany House, and Helping Hands of St. Louis soup kitchen, and to increase awareness and involvement in local, national and global outreach projects and justice initiatives. The Department of Recreation offers an assortment of recreational health and intramural sport activities, such as pilates, yoga, fitness training seminars, volleyball, flag football, self-defense, cornhole, ladder golf, badminton and indoor soccer. The college also offers a number of academic honor societies including: Kappa Gamma Pi (Catholic College Graduate) ~ Phi Alpha (Social Work Honorary) ~ Phi Alpha Theta (History) ~ Sigma Theta Tau (Nursing) ~ Theta Alpha Kappa (Religious Studies & Theology).

External links

• Official Website
• Official Athletics Website
• Facebook