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Lourdes University

Coordinates: 41°42′35″N 83°42′22″W / 41.709839°N 83.706132°W / 41.709839; -83.706132
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"Franciscan Center" redirects here. For the Baltimore emergency outreach agency, see Franciscan Center of Baltimore.
Lourdes University
Former names
Lourdes Junior College, Lourdes College
TypePrivate
Established1958
AffiliationRoman Catholic
PresidentDr. David Livingston
Academic staff
87 full-time and 174 adjunct
Students2,343
Undergraduates1963
Postgraduates380
Location
Sylvania
,
Ohio
,
USA

41°42′35″N 83°42′22″W / 41.709839°N 83.706132°W / 41.709839; -83.706132
Campus113 acres (0.46 km2) Suburban
ColorsTerracotta and Black
   
AffiliationsWolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
MascotGray Wolves
Websitewww.lourdes.edu/

Lourdes University is an independent, Roman Catholic and Franciscan university located on 113 acres (0.46 km2) in suburban Sylvania, Ohio, 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Toledo. Established in 1958, the institution is grounded in the vision and ministry of its sponsors - the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania.[1]

Academics

As a Franciscan university, Lourdes students benefit from the liberal arts curriculum and professional studies focus.[2][3] Lourdes has a diverse community of students and a 12:1 student to faculty ratio.[4]

Classified as a master’s university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education,[5] Lourdes offers baccalaureate degree programs in the arts and sciences, business and leadership, education and human services, and nursing. Students can also pursue pre-professional programs and graduate degrees.[6]

Committed to its Franciscan values of community, learning, reverence, and service,[7] Lourdes undergraduate students must complete 20 service learning hours before receiving their bachelor’s degree.[8] In addition to educational activities, Lourdes provides a variety of social, recreational and athletic activities to further enrich campus life, and offers a campus ministry programming.[9]

History

Founding and early history

In 1916 Mother Adelaide Sandusky traveled from Minnesota to northwest Ohio to establish a province of the Rochester Franciscans that eventually became the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania.[10][11] For nearly 50 years, she cultivated the Sylvania Franciscan community establishing thriving ministries including the Catholic and Franciscan institution known today as Lourdes University.[10][11]

Initially created as an extension campus of the College of St. Teresa (in Winona, Minnesota), Lourdes Junior College was founded in 1958 to educate the Sisters of St. Francis.[10] In 1964, the liberal arts institution was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.[12] As time passed and there were fewer candidates in formation, Lourdes began admitting lay students with women enrolling in 1969 and men in 1975.[10]

Recent History

While Lourdes has continued to grow and evolve throughout its history, it has experienced the most change in recent years. The addition of a new academic building, dining facility, athletics, and on-campus student housing has led to an 81% enrollment growth over the last 10 years.[13][14] In 2002, Lourdes began offering graduate degrees and since then has expanded its graduate school to include programs in business, education, leadership, liberal studies, nursing, and theology.[10][15] In 2011, to reflect the complete university experience now offered, Lourdes College officially transitioned to Lourdes University.[10][15][16]

Lourdes' academic and student life programs have been recognized for their excellence. Princeton Review has named Lourdes University among its Best Midwest Colleges for the past 12 years,[2][17] GI Jobs Magazine named it a Military Friendly School for the past five years,[18] and the The Chronicle of Higher Education has named it twice as one of the Great Colleges to Work For®.[19] Additionally, the university has been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for two consecutive years.[20][21]

Campus

Lourdes University is located on 113 acres (0.46 km2) in Suburban Sylvania, Ohio in the Great Lakes Region of the Midwest. The historic campus is located on the grounds of the Sisters of St. Francis. A mid-campus expansion will soon connect the historic campus with its apartment-style student housing.[22]

The historic campus comprises buildings dating from the early 20th century to early 21st century, many constructed in the California mission architectural tradition.[11] St. Clare Hall constructed in 1929 was the first building erected and once served as St. Clare Academy, the high school for the Sisters of St. Francis who were in formation. Duns Scotus Library is housed in St. Clare Hall.[11] Other buildings of note located on the Sisters’ historic grounds include the Franciscan Center,[23] Lourdes Hall, Mother Adelaide Hall, the Portiuncula, Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel and St. Francis Hall. The two buildings built in the 21st century are Delp and Russell J. Ebeid Hall which were constructed with an eye toward being environmentally-sustainable and green-friendly.[10]

Athletics

Known as the Gray Wolves, Lourdes University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and plays in the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC). Offering 19 men’s and women’s sports, the teams play under the university’s colors of terra cotta and black. Their mascot is Gubi, named after the story of St. Francis of Assisi and the Wolf of Gubbio).

Student Life

Lourdes offers more than 40 academic, cultural community, honorary, professional, social and special interest student organizations. The Student Government Association (SGA) is the governing body for students.[24]

The department of Campus Ministry offers a variety of activities to help create a community whose faith is alive, informed and active. The interaction of diverse faith traditions enriches campus life. Students are encouraged to become active members of the campus and civic community through prayer, fellowship and outreach opportunities.[25]

The Vitruvian is the student newspaper and offers insightful articles on current events and topics.[26]

References

  1. ^ "Our Philosophies & Goals". Lourdes University. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Lourdes University: There's no place like home". The Toledo Blade. November 5, 2013.
  3. ^ "About Lourdes University". Lourdes University. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  4. ^ "At a Glance". Lourdes University. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  5. ^ "Carnegie Foundation Classification - Lourdes College". Carnegie Foundation. 2008–2010. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
  6. ^ "Majors & Programs". Lourdes University. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  7. ^ "Mission, Values & Outcomes". Lourdes University. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  8. ^ "Education: Service Learning Requirement". Lourdes University. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  9. ^ "Campus Live". Lourdes University. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "Timeline of Lourdes University". Lourdes University. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  11. ^ a b c d "History of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio". Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  12. ^ "Directory of HLC Institutions - Lourdes University". The Higher Learning Commission. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  13. ^ "Lourdes University president steps down". WNWO News desk. February 13, 2012.
  14. ^ "Lourdes University sees growth in full-time, traditional age students". Catholic Chronicle. September 5, 2012.
  15. ^ a b "Lourdes moving to university status". The Blade. July 26, 2011.
  16. ^ "Lourdes transitions from college to university". Toledo Free Press. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  17. ^ "Lourdes University". The Princeton Review. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  18. ^ "Military Friendly School, Lourdes University". GI Jobs Magazine. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  19. ^ "Lourdes College - Best Colleges - Education". US News and World Report. August 20, 2010.
  20. ^ "Lourdes University makes 2012 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll". Our Town Sylvania. March 21, 2012.
  21. ^ "President's Honor Roll for Community Service Announced". Ohio Campus Compact. March 4, 2013.
  22. ^ "Lourdes University's mid-campus expansion under way". Toledo News Now. October 22, 2013.
  23. ^ "The Franciscan Center of Lourdes University". The Franciscan Center. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  24. ^ "Student Organizations". Lourdes University. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  25. ^ "Campus Ministry". Lourdes University. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  26. ^ "The Vitruvian". Lourdes University. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
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