Stonehill College

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Stonehill College
Motto Lux et Spes
Motto in English Light and Hope
Established 1948
Type Private
Religious affiliation Roman Catholic, Congregation of Holy Cross
Endowment $330 million [1]
President Rev. Mark T. Cregan, CSC
Provost Dr. Katie Conboy
Academic staff 255 (approximately)
Undergraduates 2600
Location Easton, Massachusetts Google maps
Campus 375-acre (1.52 km2)
Colors Purple, White          
Athletics NCAA D-II (Northeast Ten Conference)
Sports Baseball, Basketball, Cross country running, Equestrian, Field hockey, Football, Ice hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and field, Volleyball
Nickname Skyhawks
Mascot "Ace" the Skyhawk
Website http://www.stonehill.edu

Stonehill College is a nationally-ranked, private Roman Catholic college located in Easton, Massachusetts, United States, founded in 1948, dedicated solely to the education of some of the nation's finest undergraduates. The College is renowned for its stunning campus, extensive study abroad programs, and for its rigorous academic curriculum. Situated in North Easton, Massachusetts, a suburban community of 23,329 people, Stonehill is located 22 miles (35 km) south of Boston on a 375-acre (1.52 km2) campus, the original estate of Frederick Lothrop Ames. The campus map highlights 29 buildings that complement the original Georgian-style Ames mansion (with the exception of Boland Hall and Pilgrim Heights).

The mission of the College is to provide undergraduate education of the highest caliber to shape men and women into leading lives of purpose and integrity.

Other Holy Cross Colleges include Our Lady of Holy Cross College (Louisiana), King's College (Pennsylvania), The University of Portland, Saint Mary's College (Indiana), St. Edward's University, Holy Cross College (Indiana), and Stonehill's sister school, The University of Notre Dame, where Stonehill's engineering majors spend their last four semesters of undergraduate education. Please note: The College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA) is not a member of the Congregation. It is a Jesuit institution.

Stonehill College was founded in 1948 by the Congregation of Holy Cross whose members established the University of Notre Dame (1842).

Contents

[edit] History

In the autumn of 1934, the Holy Cross Fathers in North Dartmouth began to look for new quarters because of increasing seminary enrollment. The current Stonehill campus was purchased from Mrs. Frederick Lothrop Ames on October 17, 1935. The initial purchase included 350 acres (1.4 km2) and the original mansion; the congregation purchased the remaining 190 acres (0.77 km2) from Mrs. Cutler two years later. Frederick Lothrop Ames was the great-grandson of Oliver Ames, who came to Easton in 1803 and established the Ames Shovel Company.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts authorized the Congregation of Holy Cross to establish Stonehill College on the Frederik Lothrop Ames estate on June 30, 1948. In September of that year the college enrolled 134 men as the first class. Classes were held in the mansion and in the Ames Gym.

The first building built by the college was the Science Building which opened in February 1949. In 1974 the building was renovated and renamed the Tracy Science Building in honor of David Tracy, a former Stonehill advisor and trustee. The Science Building has since been moved to the brand new Shields Science Center, which opened in 2009.

On November 3, 1949, the first issue of the College newspaper, The Summit, was published. In the fall of 1951 the college decided to become a coeducational organization and enrolled 19 women. The first class graduated from Stonehill on the first Sunday of June 1952 and consisted of 73 men.

[edit] Academics

[edit] Degrees and academic programs

As a College of Arts and Sciences and pre-professional studies, Stonehill awards on the undergraduate level the B.A., B.S., and B.S.B.A.

Stonehill offers 31 major programs, the opportunity to double major or participate in one of the College’s 37 minor programs. On average, more than 330 academic courses are offered each semester.

Students develop knowledge and skills through general education, master at least one major area of study, and have the flexibility to explore other coursework, study abroad, internships, independent research, and other experiences unique to their own educational plans.

[edit] Key administration

  • Chairmain of the Board of Directors: Thomas May (President and CEO of NSTAR);
  • President: Mark T. Cregan, C.S.C.;
  • Vice President for Finance and Treasurer: Jeanne M. Finlayson;
  • General Counsel and Clerk: Thomas V. Flynn;
  • Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost: Dr. Katie Conboy;
  • Vice President for Advancement: Francis X. Dillon;
  • Vice President for Student Affairs: John Denning, C.S.C.;
  • Vice President for Mission: TBA;
  • Vice President for Enrollment Management: Christopher Lydon.

[edit] Admission

The College offers Early Decision, Early Action and Regular Decision options for applicants. They have an average acceptance rate of 64%.

[edit] Summer programs

The Martin Institute at Stonehill College offers summer programs for high school students with Blueprint Summer Programs. In summer 2011, the program begins on June 26th with four courses available: Introduction to American Government & Model UN, Business and Entrepreneurship, Creative Writing and Psychology. Students live and study on campus and go on field trips to Washington D.C., Six Flags, Boston, Cape Cod and Portland, Maine.

[edit] College ranking

U.S. News & World Report's “America’s Best Colleges 2008” ranked Stonehill #105 of nearly 300 nationally renowned baccalaureate institutions included in the “Liberal Arts Colleges” category. One of only 8 Catholic colleges in the top 50% of that group, Stonehill previously held the #1 ranking in the “Comprehensive-Bachelor's (North)” category from 2001-2007. [1] Currently, Stonehill is ranked as one of the top up-and-coming schools in U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2010." The report also ranked Stonehill #7 for "happiest student body" and #14 for "most beautiful campus." In total, Stonehill ranked among the top 20 institutions in 11 categories of the report. [2] In addition, among institutions using the NSSE (2005), Stonehill is ranked in the top 10% for providing “Enriching Educational Experiences,” and in the top 50% for “Level of Academic Challenge” and “Supportive Campus Environment.”

The Princeton Review ranked Stonehill College [2]:

  • Best Northeastern Colleges
  • Best 373 Colleges
  • Everyone plays Intramural Sports #9
  • Most Accessible Professors #10
  • Town-Gown Relations Are Great #10
  • Most Popular Study Abroad Programs #13
  • Best Career Services #19
  • Election? What Election #8

[edit] Student activities and student life

[edit] Student life policies

In March 2009, Stonehill barred the distribution of free contraception on campus citing religious reasons. College officials confiscated boxes of free condoms left in dormitories by student activists[3]

[edit] Campus media

[edit] Housing

Stonehill provides guaranteed 4 years of housing. The housing is set up as Freshman/ Sophomore and Junior/ Senior. O'Hara and The Holy Cross Center are designated freshman traditional-style dorms.

Freshman and Sophomores have the chance the live in O'Hara, Holy Cross Center, Boland, Villa Theresa, Corr, and select Pilgrim Heights suite style housing.

Juniors and Seniors all live in Suite style housing in Notre Dame Du Lac, Junior, and Senior Courts, along with the brand new New Hall.

[edit] Campus renovations

The college has begun a series of improvements to the campus. These improvements include:[4]

  • Diverting the Rt. 123 access road to wrap around the outside of the campus, passing W. B. Mason Stadium and the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex. Previously the road passed between O’Hara Hall and The Martin Institute. The new road is intended to create a better pedestrian atmosphere on campus with most of the main access roads encircling the campus. The area where the previous road passed through was converted into walking paths and grass lands. In addition a new brick walkway was constructed to connect to the brick pathways on the quad.
  • Construction of a new science center on the Rt. 123 side of the Martin Institute. The new center had a soft open in the Summer of 2009, and had a grand opening for the Fall semester of the same year. The center also marks the first corporate inclusion on campus, as a Dunkin' Donuts opened in the student center of the building in October 2009.
  • Construction of a much-desired footbridge over the Ames Pond (to be located and accessed behind O'Hara Hall). This is planned to be completed in mid-2010. Project has been put on hold.
  • Construction of a new residence hall next to Notre Dame Du Lac Residence hall, planned for a Fall 2010 opening.

The re-routing project was completed in late summer of 2006. The pathway project was completed in the spring of 2007. The final phase, with the construction of the new residence hall and bridge, will be completed by summer 2010.

  • The Hill, a fast food-like eating area in Roche Commons, is being completely done over by the architect of the Fire and Ice restaurant. The remodeling is starting the beginning of May and should be completed by the start of the Fall 2010 semester.

[edit] New buildings on campus

Stonehill College is always changing, building new start of the art buildings.

  • Near the entrance way to Stonehill, the Shields Science Center is a 89,630 Sq. Feet building that houses Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology. The Pettit Atrium houses 340-500 people events. Opening in 2006, the Science Center is the crown jewel of the campus. Also has a Dunkin Donuts in it.
  • MacPhaidin Library is a state-of-the-art facility lining the side of the campus. provides students with study space and computer labs.
  • New Hall is a brand new suite-style residence hall that has 8 people rooms with a kitchenette.

[edit] Athletics

The Athletic Department fields 20 competitive NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports. The College’s combination of academic and athletic success has garnered Stonehill the #4 ranking in the country among NCAA Division II schools in the Collegiate Power Rankings that are published by the National College Scouting Association. Furthermore, Stonehill finished 65th in the overall NCSA Top 100 Power Rankings across all three NCAA divisions. The Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex is home to the College staff that sponsors eight intercollegiate club teams featuring Ultimate Frisbee, Rugby, Lacrosse and Golf as well as an extensive intramural sports program offering Racquetball, Basketball, Soccer, Floor Hockey and Flag Football.

[edit] Skyhawks

In late 2002, The Strategic Planning Committee determined that the then-current Stonehill College mascot, the chieftain, was politically incorrect as it was disrespectful to American Indians and decided that it would be changed. The committee ruled that a new mascot be named as the institution's athletic identity. Therefore, in the following year the college held open forums in which students, alumni, and faculty were asked to submit ideas for the new identity, vote on suggestions, and gauge popularity. Among popular choices were The Stonehill Summit, The Stonehill Skyhawks, The Stonehill Saints, The Stonehill Wolfpack, The Stonehill Crusaders, The Stonehill Mission, The Stonehill Shovelmakers, and The Stonehill Blizzard.

During the fall semester of the 2005 academic year Stonehill College officially changed the name of its athletic teams to the "Stonehill Skyhawks," with a brand new mascot known as 'Ace', an anthropomorphic purple hawk wearing a scarf, goggles, bomber jacket, and an aviator cap. The actual name 'Skyhawks' is not a reference to either a bird or animal. It is instead an homage to a type of airplane that Frederick Ames allowed to land on his property (what is now the main campus) during World War I. The name is linked closely to the school's history in this way.

[edit] Noteworthy alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2010 Endowment Market Value and Percentage", National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)
  2. ^ "Profile: Stonehill College", Princeton Review website
  3. ^ Boston Globe article on banned contraception
  4. ^ Details of improvements
  5. ^ "Thomas J. May, M.S. '69 (Chair)", Stonehill College website
  6. ^ "Profile: Leo J. Meehan, III ’75", Board of Trustees, Stonehill College website
  7. ^ O'Malley Scholarship application form and DA will not fight court's dismissal of indictment in fetal drug case, Boston Globe 1990 November 29 (accessed 2010 May 19).

[edit] External links
Congregation of Holy Cross colleges and universities

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