St. Norbert College

St. Norbert College

Motto	Docere Verbo et Exemplo
Motto in English	To teach by word and example
Type	Private
Established	1898
Affiliation	Norbertines (Catholic Church)
Endowment	US $63 million
President	Thomas Kunkel
Academic staff	109 full-time, 70 part-time
Undergraduates	2,084
Postgraduates	53
Location	De Pere , Wisconsin , USA
Campus	Suburban, 38 Buildings on 93 acres (38 ha) bordering the Fox River
Colors	Green and Gold
Nickname	Green Knights
Website	http://www.snc.edu/
File:SNC logo.gif

St. Norbert College (SNC) is a private Catholic liberal arts college in De Pere, Wisconsin. Founded in October 1898 by Abbot Bernard Pennings, a Norbertine priest and educator, the school was named after Saint Norbert of Xanten. In 1962, the college became coeducational and today enrolls about 2,175 students.

History

St. Norbert College was established when Abbot Bernard Pennings, a Dutch immigrant priest from the Premonstratensian abbey of Bern (Netherlands), founded the college to train young men for the priesthood. Frances I. Van Dyke, a seminarian, was the first and, at the time, the only student. St. Norbert is the first and only institution of higher learning in the world sponsored by the Premonstratensian order. Abbot Pennings later started a commerce program at the college for lay students before retiring in 1955.

St. Norbert's second president, Father Dennis Burke, expanded the college, anticipating the student population would eventually reach 2000. Dr. Robert Christin, who became president in 1968, implemented the current course system and the academic divisional structure. In 1973, Neil Webb, a former faculty member and vice president, became president. With his strong fiscal management abilities, Dr. Webb established the first substantial permanent endowment for the school.

Serving as the college's president from 1983 to 2000, Thomas Manion brought national recognition to the institution and led the expansion of facilities and the development of additional academic programs. Under his leadership, the enrollment topped 2000, and extensive renovations and construction activities expanded the college's physical facilities.

Mr. Thomas Kunkel, former Dean of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park, became the seventh president of the college on July 1, 2008.

Academics

St. Norbert College offers undergraduate programs in more than 40 areas of study, leading to a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Business Administration degree. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is also offered through a joint effort with the Bellin College of Nursing. The most popular undergraduate majors are Business Administration (22%), Education (18%), and Communication (12%). In addition to its undergraduate offerings, St. Norbert College offers three masters-level graduate programs in education, theological studies, and liberal studies. The Master of Theological Studies department hosts a branch program in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Program studies take place on the Norbertine Community grounds in Albuquerque. Students on that campus can earn the full MTS degree.

St. Norbert College has a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1 and an average class size 22. Regardless of their major, students enrolled at St. Norbert College complete a 12-course (48 credit) General Education Program that emphasizes writing and the liberal arts. The school places an emphasis on its honors program, student-faculty collaborative research (as early as freshman and sophomore years), professional internships and study abroad.

Over the past 15 years, St. Norbert has been ranked as one of the top five comprehensive (bachelor's-level) colleges in the Midwest, by U.S.News & World Report. In 2008, St. Norbert moved into the national liberal arts colleges category and is now ranked 127th of the 264 schools in the nationwide category. The college is also listed among the "best in the Midwest" by Princeton Review, and is ranked 84th of out 600 by Forbes on their list of America's Best Colleges.

Campus

The campus consists of 93 acres (38 ha), much of which borders the Fox River. Students typically walk to classes, even in the winter. The many trees and statues on campus provide a scenic view, especially in Fall, when the foliage changes colors. Directly behind the Campus Center is a pavilion and docks where St. Norbert hosts its fall Back to School Festival, a kick off to the new school year, with fireworks, a picnic, and live entertainment on the Fox River waterfront. Gries Hall was recently added to SNC campus, as well as a new library.

Important social buildings include the Ray Van Den Heuvel Family Campus Center (Campus Center), which includes a fitness center, gymnasium, and diner (Phil’s Diner) and a reading lounge with a picturesque view overlooking the Fox River. There is also an events hall for movies and public speakers. Special events put on by student groups are also held there, such as comedian appearances and awareness speeches. The Baer mall, in front of Main Hall, is another scenic location.

Student life

Burke Hall

More than 74% of students live on campus in residence halls, apartments and townhouses. St. Norbert requires all traditional undergraduate students not registered as commuters to live on-campus to strengthen the bond of community. A limited number of seniors are released to live off-campus in recent years, though the administration has made it clear that this is an exception, not the rule. Typically only seniors find off-campus housing, which is still within blocks of campus. Freshman housing includes four traditional residence hall options: Madelaine-Lorraine Hall (co-ed), Sensenbrenner Hall (women-only), Bergstrom Hall (co-ed), and Burke Hall (co-ed). Campus housing options for sophomore and juniors include Mary Minahan McCormick Hall, Michels Hall, and Victor McCormick Hall. Upperclassmen enjoy the "Townhouses" (apartment-like housing), College-owned houses, and College-owned apartments.

Student involvement

There are more than 67 registered student clubs and organizations on campus. More than half of students participate in one of these groups, making student involvement an important aspect of campus life. St. Norbert encourages its students to become involved in their community through community service, and also by participating in one of the 16 fraternities, sororities, and independent social groups. The school also has 10 National Honor Society chapters, two student publications, and eight musical and performance ensembles. A major activity for St. Norbert students participate in is the annual "Into The Streets" community service project that provides service to organizations in De Pere and neighboring cities. This event is staffed by first year students and is part of the FYE program.

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association (SGA) vision is to serve as the relevant, representative voice of the student body before the wider community within and outside of St. Norbert College. The Student Government Association is split into three governing bodies: 1) Executive Board, 2) Student Assembly and 3) Committee Representatives. The entire organization holds in excess of fifty representative positions. The student representatives serve as a link between students and the administration to serve the interests of the student body.

Greek Life

Greek life at St. Norbert includes four sororities and four fraternities, as well as two Greek governing groups. Greek groups sponsor fund-raising activities, food drives, and benefits to support charities. Greek groups collectively completed a total of 1,385 hours of service during the 2006-2007 school year.

Fraternities

ΑΔΓ Alpha Delta Gamma recently reactivated in the '09-'10 school year, and will celebrate its rechartering in the Fall 2010 semester. At only six members large, ADG used to be the largest fraternity on campus. They are a Catholic-based fraternity that whose main philanthropy is Habitat for Humanity.

ΔΥ Delta Upsilon was started May 18, 1992 by 14 individuals. This fraternity has sponsored food drives for Paul’s Pantry, raised money for its nationally-affiliated Boys and Girls Club, participated in Relay for Life, and recorded 130 service hours in 2007 with 18 members. Delta Upsilon puts on an annual “Wheel Chair Bowl” that raises funds for United Cerebral Palsy. Created in 2006, the Wheel Chair Bowl is a game of football played on a basketball court with wheel chairs. This event, put on exclusively by the St. Norbert chapter of Delta Upsilon, has received local media attention.

ΦΔΘ The Phi Delta Theta St. Norbert chapter contains around 30 members. Members participate in many campus-wide causes, with the chapter dedicated to the ALS Association as its international philanthropy. In 2007 they recorded a total of 48 hours of service work.

ΤΚΕ Tau Kappa Epsilon is the oldest Fraternity on campus and was founded in 1987. TKE is also the largest Fraternity on campus, with 30 active members. In 2007 they recorded 244 service hours with 14 members. Members participate in fund-raising events for charities such as Alzheimer's Association and Relay for Life. Every biennium, TKE holds an alumni weekend in which the founding fathers of the St. Norbert chapter return to celebrate their long history on campus.

Sororities

ΑΞΔ Alpha Xi Delta National Sorority holds an annual Bear Hugs Drive, where members collect donated toys for needy children at Christmas.

ΔΦΕ Delta Phi Epsilon International Sorority, founded in 1917, is a sorority dedicated to diversity, known as one of the first sororities not to discriminate based on ethnicity, race, or creed.

ΚΒΓ Kappa Beta Gamma helps with multiple causes, including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Relay for Life, and Red Cross blood drives. For the last six years KBG has hosted a benefit to raise money for the National MS Society.

ΘΦA Theta Phi Alpha This group is the oldest sorority on campus founded in 1954. It is active in philanthropies, including serving at the House of Hope in Green Bay.

Independent social groups

Independent Social Organizations at St. Norbert are non-Greek groups that provide a social outlet for members, while also performing service to the campus and local community. These groups also participate in Homecoming events with the Greek groups. Women’s social organizations include BUD, CC Hams, The Electric Company, No Nonsense, and Untouchables. Men’s social organizations include Admar, BIG and PW Club.

Athletics

Main article: St. Norbert Green Knights

The St. Norbert College "Green Knights" participate in NCAA Division III athletics and have been members of the Midwest Conference since 1982. St. Norbert offers 19 varsity sports including: football, volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's hockey, softball, baseball, men's and women's track and field, cheerleading, and dance.

St. Norbert's men's hockey team competes in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. St. Norbert won the Division III national championship in 2008, 2011 and 2012 and were runners up in 2004, 2006 and 2010. The St. Norbert hockey team were the NCHA regular season champions from 1997–1999, 2002–2009, 2011 and 2012 and have won the post season tournament in 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012. They have been one of the most successful Division III hockey teams in the new millennium.

The Green Knight football team has delivered eight conference championships in the last nine years while competing in the NCAA Division III Midwest Conference, under the helm of head coach Jim Purtill. Since his arrival the Green Knights have enjoyed a 100-17 Midwest Conference record, while competing in the national playoffs seven of those years.

In addition to varsity sports, St. Norbert also offers a number of intramural sports.

The St.Norbert men's lacrosse team, created in 2004, competes in the Great Lakes Lacrosse League. St. Norbert delivered their first division championship in 2010.

The Green Bay Packers have conducted training camp on the St. Norbert campus since 1958, making this the league's longest training camp relationship between a team and school. In exchange, the Packers donate their used equipment and provide St. Norbert yearly grants. St. Norbert hosted Fordham University, the alma mater of legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi, in 1982. The game is, to date, the last college football game played at Lambeau Field.

Notable alumni

Cofrin Hall

• Michael Archer, president, Applebee's International
• Chris Ayers, Hollywood cartoonist
• Vernon Biever, photographer and author
• Robert John Cornell, member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin
• N. Patrick Crooks, Wisconsin Supreme Court justice
• Tom Durkin, sportscaster
• James H. Flatley, U.S. Navy war hero
• Lawrence J. Fleming, U.S. Air Force Major General
• Ted Fritsch, Jr., football player
• Herbert J. Grover, educator and politician
• John C. Hanley, U.S. Army general
• Larry Krause, NFL player
• Joe LaFleur, NFL player
• Dale McKenna, Wisconsin State Senator
• Terry Meeuwsen, Television Host and Miss America 1973
• Michael Monfils, Mayor, City of Green Bay
• William R. Moser, politician and jurist
• Mary Mullarkey, Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court
• Leo P. O'Brien, Wisconsin State Senator
• Tip O'Neill, NFL player
• James J. Schmitt, mayor, City of Green Bay
• Myron P. Lotto, Wisconsin State Senator
• Tadashi Yamamoto, founder of the Japan Center for International Exchange and the Shimoda Conference

External links

• St. Norbert College Website
• St. Norbert College Athletics Website
• Midwest Conference
• Northern College Hockey Association
• St. Norbert College Student Government Association