Mount St. Joseph University

College of Mount St. Joseph
Motto	Deo Duce "With God as our Leader"
Type	Private, Coeducational
Established	1920
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Endowment	$21,179,548
President	Dr. Anthony Aretz [1]
Academic staff	240
Undergraduates	2,133
Location	Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Campus	Suburban, 92 acres (0.4 km²)
Colors	Blue and Gold
Mascot	Lions
Website	www.msj.edu
	File:College of Mount St Joseph box logo.jpg

The College of Mount St. Joseph is a private, Catholic, co-educational college located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Also known as “the Mount,” the College was founded in 1920 by the Sisters of Charity and educates students through interdisciplinary liberal arts and professional curricula emphasizing values, integrity and social responsibility. Total enrollment exceeds 2,100, with over 1,800 undergraduate students and approximately 300 graduate students. The Mount offers 35 undergraduate programs, nine associate degrees, and pre-professional and certificate programs, as well as graduate programs in education, teaching, organizational leadership, religious studies, nursing, and physical therapy.

History

The College of Mount St. Joseph was established by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Ohio, a religious congregation that traces its roots to Elizabeth Ann Seton, North America's first canonized saint. The first Sisters of Charity arrived in Cincinnati from Maryland in 1829 and opened St. Peter’s Academy, then St. Mary’s Academy. By 1853, these schools were replaced by Mount St. Vincent Academy. In 1906 the academy was named Mount St. Joseph after a move to the Mount St. Joseph property in Cincinnati’s Delhi Township, owned by the Sisters of Charity.

Mount St. Joseph Academy offered a four-year high school curriculum but also postgraduate study covering two years of college. In 1920, the Ohio Department of Education granted formal approval for a college curriculum. The College of Mount St. Joseph opened the doors to its first 20 students in September 1920 as the first Catholic college for women in Southwestern Ohio – the same year that American women gained the right to vote.

Within a few years, new construction was underway to accommodate a growing enrollment. By the 1950s, the Sisters of Charity made plans to develop property at the intersection of Delhi and Neeb Roads into a new campus that opened in fall of 1962. By the 1970s, adult education brought a new population of women and men to campus for degree studies, and by 1986, the College was formally declared coeducational. The Sisters of Charity continued to operate the College until 1972 when the Mount was incorporated under a Board of Trustees. The College remains a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Charity.

Academics

The College of Mount St. Joseph offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in a variety of academic and professional fields.

Core Curriculum

At the heart of an education at the College of Mount St. Joseph is the Core Curriculum, an interdisciplinary Liberal Arts and Sciences curriculum. The Core Curriculum fosters thinking critically and creatively, communicating effectively, appreciating the complexity of human behavior, knowing the relation among various ethical systems, and appreciating the relationship of Roman Catholicism to other belief systems. The goal of this curriculum is to equip students with professional skills for the workplace as well as the qualities necessary to thrive in a complex and diverse world.

Undergraduate students complete 52 semester in the Core Curriculum. First-time students begin with a three-credit Foundations Seminar (interdisciplinary studies) course. Later, students take another three credits with an advanced-level interdisciplinary course. A majority of the credits of the Core Curriculum are distributed among discipline-specific courses that expand concepts introduced in Foundations Seminar. Students choose from courses in humanities, social sciences, history, natural sciences, mathematics, religious studies, philosophy, and ethics. Nine credits are electives that give students an opportunity to pursue a personal interest in greater depth and to sample a variety of topics.

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor's degree programs at the College of Mount St. Joseph include accounting, art, art education, athletic training, biochemistry, biology, business administration, business administration/mathematics, chemistry, chemistry/mathematics, communication studies, computer information systems, criminology/sociology, English, fine arts, general studies, graphic design, history, inclusive early childhood education, interdisciplinary liberal studies, interior design, mathematics, mathematics/business administration, mathematics/chemistry, middle childhood education, music, natural science, nursing, paralegal studies, psychology, religious education, religious pastoral ministry, religious studies, social work, sociology, special education, and sport management.

A wide variety of minors are also offered in addition to preprofessional programs in pre-health, pre-medicine, pre-art therapy, and pre-law. Associate degrees include accounting, art, business administration, communication studies, computer information systems, general studies, graphic design, interior design, and paralegal studies. Certificate programs in gerontology, iDesign (Web and interactive design), nonprofit leadership, and paralegal studies are also available.

For the state of Ohio licensure in education, the College of Mount St. Joseph offers programs in adolescent and young adults, inclusive early childhood education, middle childhood, multi-age, and intervention specialist/special education. Licensure programs for other states are also available.

Graduate Programs

The College of Mount St. Joseph's advanced degree programs specialize in the cultivation of leadership skills in business, depth in ministry, and expertise in the teaching and health professions. Graduate degree programs include a Master of Arts in Education, Master of Arts in Teaching with three accelerated programs, Master of Arts in Religious Studies, Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (M.S.O.L.), Master of Nursing (M.N.), and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.).

Service Learning

Service Learning is part of an education at the College of Mount St. Joseph and allows students the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge while volunteering their service in a variety of areas. The purpose of the Service Learning Program is directed toward education and channeling students’ creativity toward solving urban problems and truly building a sense of community in neighborhoods through an experiential, action-reflection model of service learning.

The Plus One Credit Option Program is the main model of service learning used at the College. This model encourages students to take a free, one-hour credit addition to any course in which it is offered. The Plus One Credit Option Program engages students in reflection about the basic citizen responsibilities of service and leadership which are a part of the Mount’s heritage. In addition to this model, students may be engaged in courses which include service as part of their syllabi or individual service experiences. Service experiences occur on a local neighborhood level, in other regions of the country, and in other countries.

Project EXCEL

Project EXCEL is a comprehensive academic support system for students with learning disabilities who are enrolled at the College of Mount St. Joseph. Initiated in 1982, Project EXCEL has proven to be a highly successful intervention program. Students who participate in EXCEL attain academic success through their working partnership with the EXCEL professional staff, faculty, and other study resources at the College.

The program's goals are to assist students in the transition from a secondary program to a college curriculum, and to promote the development of learning strategies and compensatory skills which will enable students to succeed in a regular academic program. Project EXCEL offers students a broad spectrum of support services and accommodations to meet individual specific needs, including professional tutors, monitoring of student progress and academic counseling, scheduled consultations to promote organization and time management skills, writing lab, skills development classes, note-takers, audio-taped texts, access to and instruction in using technology, speech recognition software, accommodated testing, instruction in learning strategies, reading in the content areas and coping skills, faculty liaison, academic advising with attention to students' specific learning needs.

All Project EXCEL students are educated in the broad spectrum of the liberal arts while having the opportunity for an education that provides a career orientation. There are no restrictions with regard to choice of majors for the students in Project EXCEL, other than they must meet established department criteria. Project EXCEL is a for-fee program.

Cooperative Education

Through the Cooperative Education program (Co-op), qualified students have the opportunity to gain career related, paid work experience. Co-ops earn academic credit that will complement classroom training by integrating theory with practice. Credit is granted for the learning gained and not for the experience itself. In the process employers gain creative, eager to learn, para-professional employees. The Mount partners with over 130 co-op employers, and the average co-op hourly rate that students earn is $10.00 an hour.

Honors Program

The Honors Program is open to all students who show a dedication to learning through independent thinking and personal initiative. The program partners highly motivated students with dedicated faculty and features an honors curriculum that spans all majors and is not limited to the walls of a classroom. For more than 20 years, the Honors Program has been enabling students to refine their intellectual skills, learn and think more critically yet creatively, and capitalize on their talents and abilities.

The Honors Program provides opportunities for increased dialogue, questioning, critical thinking, and independent analysis. If an Honors course does not exist, Honors students have the freedom to develop additional course work in a standard class to earn Honors credits. Individual, semester-long projects can also fulfill Honors requirements.

Library

The Archbishop Alter Library at the College of Mount St. Joseph is home to more than 96,000 volumes of books, journals, videotapes, DVDs, and CDs. The Library gives patrons access to more than 140 databases, thousands of electronic books, and hundreds of Web sites, specifically chosen for students, faculty, and staff. A member of OhioLINK, the Library allows patrons to request books and non-print items from every academic institution in the state for 3-5 day local delivery.

Through its wide variety of services, the Library plays an active role in the College’s educational process. Some of these include interlibrary loan, in person and online research help, traditional and electronic course reserves, instructional sessions designed for specific courses, instructional services for students, faculty, and staff, recreational reading and video/DVD collections, group study room, and full World Wide Web access.

Athletics

The College of Mount St. Joseph competes in the NCAA Division III as a member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, and its mascot is the Lion. The College offers a full intercollegiate athletic program for men and women, which includes 21 teams.

Men's Athletic Teams

Baseball
Basketball
Cross country
Football
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Tennis
Track & field
Wrestling

Women's Athletic Teams

Basketball
Cheerleading
Cross country
Dance
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track & Field
Volleyball

Intramural Sports

Students, faculty, staff, and alumni also have the opportunity to play intramural sports. Both team and individual activities are provided throughout the school year, with play culminating in a championship round.

Intramural sports include:

Basketball
Cornhole
Flag football
Indoor soccer
Racquetball
Sand volleyball
Soccer
Team handball
Ultimate frisbee
Volleyball

Campus

The College of Mount St. Joseph is situated on a scenic, 92-acre suburban campus overlooking the Ohio River and a 15-minute drive from downtown, Cincinnati, Ohio. It offers a close-knit community of living and learning that strives to encourage and nurture the personal and academic growth of students.

Facilities

Residence Hall

The Residence Hall is located in the Seton Center. The residential suites in the Residence Hall feature amenities for privacy and socializing that help students become part of the living and learning community. Laundry facilities are included in the cost of the room, and residents have access to several laundry rooms which are equipped with commercially built, residential style washers and dryers, so no coins or vending cards are required.

The East and West sections of the Residence Hall features a sink in each room, tiled floors, and open lounge spaces for recreation and study.
The Center section features suites for two residents with a bathroom in each suite, individual bedrooms, and a common living room. The bedrooms and living rooms are carpeted. The rooms also have individually-controlled heating and air conditioning. Open lounge spaces for recreation and study are at each end of this section. The Center section was completely remodeled in 2004-2005.
The South East section features individually controlled air conditioning/heating units, carpeted rooms and hallways, and versatile furniture that can be configured in many different ways.

Art Building

After a multi-million dollar renovation in 2007, the Dorothy Meyer Ziv Art Building re-opened revealing a creative, updated learning atmosphere that includes three levels of classroom space and studios, Studio San Giuseppe Art Gallery, and a photography lab. The reconfigured classrooms are open spaces that resemble professional work spaces in the art and design fields. The learning spaces are functional and flexible, and offer students access to media, technology, materials, and tools. A private library workspace is also part of the learning environment. Graphic design, fine arts and interior design students benefit from these real-world teaching and learning spaces.

College Theatre

With a seating capacity of 1100, the College Theatre is the largest auditorium on campus and an important venue for campus and community cultural events. The theatre is equipped with comprehensive lighting and sound systems, an oversized stage, an orchestra pit and a large stock of set pieces used for college productions. In addition to rehearsals and performances of the Concert Band and a community orchestra, the theatre is home to the annual Musical Theatre productions of the Music Department.

Recital Hall

Adjacent to the College Theatre, this newly renovated 80-seat hall is used for smaller meetings, lectures, presentations, and music performances. Equipped with performance lighting, sound system, and multi-media equipment, the Recital Hall also provides an intimate environment for student recitals and masterclasses.

Harrington Center

The Jean Patrice Harrington, SC, Student Center was completed in 1998, and includes offices and space for a full range of student services as well facilities for recreation and athletics. The centerpiece of the Harrington Center is a gymnasium equipped with seating for 2,000 supporters. It is the home of the men's and women's basketball teams, wresting team, volleyball team, and intramural sports contests. Other recreation facilities inside the Center include a running track, handball courts, Fitness Center, and Athletic Training Center. The Harrington Center offers space for clubs and organizations, Food Court, Entertainment Center, The Wellness and Student Health Services, Student Life Offices, Women's Center, the Bookstore, and a Children's Center.

Learning Center

Located in Seton Center, the Learning Center provides a centralized system of support that enhances the ability of every motivated student to succeed in his/her studies at the College of Mount St. Joseph. It encompasses:

The Writing Center
The Math Center
Peer Tutoring Program
Diagnostic and placement testing
Instructional and adaptive software
Courses in basic academic skills
Individualized assistance with study skills and learning issues
Academic support for students with disabilities

Career and Experiential Education Center

The Career & Experiential Education Center is located in Seton Center and provides a comprehensive approach to career preparation, professional development, personal growth, and service to the community with experiential learning as the key component. It offers students:

Career Development - career assessment, resume resources, and on-campus recruiting.
Cooperative Education - paid career experience in a student's field of study.
Prior Learning Assessment - credit for learning outside of a college setting.
Service Learning - community service/volunteering that is integrated with a variety of courses.

Sports Complex

Home to the College of Mount St. Joseph’s football, soccer, track & field, and lacrosse teams, the Sports Complex features Schueler Field, surrounded by an all-weather eight-lane running track. Concessions, locker rooms, showers, equipment storage, athletic training facilities are also housed in the Sports Complex, which provides 2,400 fans with a comfortable, welcoming environment.

The Welcome Center

Located at the entrance to Seton Center, the new Mary Schaefer Welcome Center centralizes admission services for prospective traditional, adult, graduate, and transfer students. The center offers the following services and facilities: Private space to meet with admission counselors, conference room for presentations, transfer credit analysis, traditional student admission, graduate program admission, adult student admission, campus tours, brochures and admission information, personal attention to supplement online admission services.

Mater Dei Chapel

The refracted brilliance of stained glass, the art work of students, and mosaics grace the Mater Dei Chapel. The annual celebratory baccalaureate mass for graduates is held in the chapel in the spring. Seating up to 800 guests, the chapel also hosts liturgies, religious performances, ecumenical services, and weddings.

Environmental Initiatives

Caring for the earth is an integral part of the College of Mount St. Joseph's mission and heritage, as a college founded by the Sisters of Charity.

Green Roof

In a significant step toward energy conservation, the College of Mount St. Joseph installed a green roof atop Archbishop Alter Library on August 6, 2008. The green roof consists of 4,440 square feet of modules filled with root barrier, growth media and over 8,800 sedum plants which are grown locally. When in full bloom in the summer, the yellow flowers and blue foliage included in the planting echo the school colors of blue and gold. The center of the roof contains 177 modules filled with white marble chips spelling the College's initials MSJ.

The green roof is designed to reduce heating and cooling costs, extend the lifespan of the roof membrane, and decrease storm water runoff and pollutants into storm sewers. According to industry averages, the green roof is expected to reduce storm water runoff by as much as 90 percent and to cut the costs of heating and cooling the library building by 25 percent to 50 percent. The College of Mount St. Joseph is the first college in the Greater-Cincinnati area to place a green roof on a major building.

Recycling

Since 2005, the College of Mount St. Joseph’s Environmental Awareness Club turned its energies and ideas into making campus-wide recycling a reality. Today, recycling bins are now located campus-wide in nearly every office, lab and classroom, including every room in the Residence Hall. Recycling efforts continue to grow as the campus community learns about the significant impact that recycling can have on landfills and the environment.

Trayless Dining

Inside the Fifth Third Bank Hall, where students, faculty and staff gather to dine, the large, plastic trays previously piled with plates of food and beverages, are gone. Trayless dining is now being used to promote wiser food choices and to eliminate food waste.

The food service department conducted a two-day test to sell their new way of thinking. Before trayless dining, the liquid waste from two days in the dining hall was 51 gallons of milk and soda products as well as 908 pounds of food. Two days of trayless dining resulted in liquid waste dropping 30 percent and food waste declining 35 percent. During this two-day period, 500 gallons of water, no longer needed to wash trays, were conserved.

Alternative Transportation

Campus police use bicycles and electric golf carts to fulfill certain functions of their daily duties in serving the campus community. Using these alternative methods of transportation has reduced the amount of fuel needed for the police cruiser fleet.

Grounds

The campus grounds of the College of Mount St. Joseph have been appreciated for hosting a diverse representation of landscape material to include mature southern magnolia, ginkgo tree, pagoda tree Styphnolobium, maple, Albizia julibrissin mimosa/silk tree, hardy crape myrtle, cedar trees, Metasequoia, various oaks, laurels, Mahonia aquifolium grape-holly, hardy prickley pear cactus opuntia, yucca, ferns, and various other trees, bushes, and plants. Of particular interest are the hardy orange poncirus trifoliata, the needle palms, and the empress tree Paulownia tomentosa that can be found growing outside with no additional winter protection in "the Quad" area of the campus. Whitetail deer, nearly tame chipmunks, and wall lizards are some of the campus fauna that are commonly observed on campus. Various songbirds and raptors are present and make for great birdwatching between classes.

External links

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