Fairfield University
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Motto | Per Fidem ad Plenam Veritatem -- Through Faith to the Fullness of Truth |
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| Established | 1942 |
| Type | Private |
| Endowment | $210 million [1] |
| President | Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. |
| Faculty | 300 |
| Undergraduates | 3,500 |
| Postgraduates | 1,100 |
| Location | Fairfield, Connecticut, USA |
| Campus | Suburban 200 acres (809,000 m²) |
| Colors | Cardinal Red |
| Mascot |  Stags |
| Website | www.fairfield.edu |
Fairfield University is a private and co-educational master's level university located in Fairfield, Connecticut. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Over 3,500 undergraduate and 1,100 graduate students study in Fairfield's six schools and colleges: The College of Arts and Sciences, The Charles F. Dolan School of Business, The School of Engineering, The School of Nursing, The Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, and The University College. In total, the student body hails from 34 states, 45 countries, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Fairfield's Charles F. Dolan School of Business, offers fully accredited graduate and undergraduate programs, according to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The Dolan School is known for its innovative teaching methods, its aggressive placement of undergraduates into internship programs in New York City and surrounding Fairfield County, Connecticut, and its high faculty to student ratio.
The school is situated on a pastoral great campus with views of Long Island Sound, which allows many of the upperclassmen to live in beach houses. The campus offers all the amenities of a major, comprehensive university in a setting of rolling hills, sprawling lawns, picturesque ponds, and bucolic wooded areas- a setting ideal for education. Fairfield University is also home to Fairfield College Preparatory School, commonly known as Fairfield Prep.
Money Magazine rated the Town of Fairfield a Top Ten Best Place to Live in 2006 recognizing the great beaches and vibrant downtown area which are located just 5 minutes from campus. The University runs a shuttle between campus and downtown where students can catch a dinner and a movie or a Metro-North Train bound for Grand Central Station in New York City.
[edit] Seal of the University
Fairfield's seal combines elements of its several traditions. The gold pinecones come from the coat of arms of the family of Saint Robert Bellarmine, S.J., for whom the University was originally named. Superimposed on the cones is the badge of the Society of Jesus - the letters IHS surmounted by the cross and surrounded by the instruments of Christ's passion - to indicate that the University is in the care of members of the same religious family.
There are three compartments in the upper portion of the shield, because "the school is dedicated and exists in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit." The central compartment portrays a hart crossing a ford, a part of the coat of arms of the Diocese of Hartford, whose boundaries encompassed the Town of Fairfield, when the University was founded. Finally, the two outer compartments show clusters of grapes, charges taken from the town seal and symbolic of the fertility of the verdant fields of the Town and County of Fairfield. When the University was founded in 1942, the official name of the University was "Fairfield University of St. Robert Bellarmine". Three of the original seals with this name still exist on campus - in the main lobby of Alumni Hall, on the exterior of the Barone Campus Center, and on the glass front of Regis Hall facing the Quad.
[edit] History
The history of Fairfield University began in the 1942 with acquisition of two contiguous estates of the Jennings and Lashar families by the Jesuits and the appointment of Rev. John J. McEleney, S.J. as the first President by Rev. James H. Dolan, S.J. who was the Provincial Superior of the New England Jesuit Province and soon to be the second President. Today, the Fairfield campus is anchored by the three manor homes of the original estates: Bellarmine Hall (1921), formerly the Lashar's 'Hearthstone Hall', re-named to honor Saint Robert Bellarmine, S.J,; McAuliffe Hall (1896), originally O.G. Jennings' 'Mailands', re-named for Bishop Maurice McAuliffe, who sanctioned the creation of Fairfield University; and David J. Dolan House, Lawrence Jenning's 'Larribee', dedicated to honor the uncle of the donor who made the 1989 acquisition of Dolan Campus possible.
[edit] The Jesuits in Fairfield
A brief history of The Jesuits in Fairfield can be found on The Fairfield Jesuit Community website.
[edit] If these Stones Could Speak
Rev. Joseph MacDonnell, S.J. wrote a detailed account of the history of Fairfield University in his book entitled If these Stones Could Speak. Excerpts of this account can be found at his website entitled Fairfield University's Ur-History.
[edit] Catholic and Jesuit Identity
Fairfield is first and foremost a Catholic and Jesuit University
Fairfield University's Roman Catholic and Jesuit tradition and history reach back nearly 500 years to the life, teachings and insights of Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556). As one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, Fairfield belongs to an elite group that continues Ignatius' dedication to developing the whole person. Fairfield's nurturing environment invites students of all traditions to a maturing of faith, self knowledge, respect for the dignity of themselves and others, a devotion to justice, a commitment to serving the poor, and a passion for truth, reflection, and lifelong learning.
Characteristics of Jesuit Higher Education
- Dedication to human dignity from a Catholic and Jesuit faith perspective
- Reverence for and an ongoing reflection on human experience
- Creative companionship with colleagues
- Focused care for students
- Well-educated justice and solidarity
[edit] Academic Distinctions
[edit] Rankings and Ratings
Fiske Guide to Colleges
- Profiled as one of the "country's best and most interesting colleges and universities."
- Stated that "Fairfield is one of the up-and-coming schools in the Roman Catholic universe" and "is moving into the same class as older, more revered East Coast Jesuit institutions."
- Ranked among "Small Colleges and Universities Strong in Business."
- Ranked among the "Best 361 Colleges."
- Ranked the Charles F.Dolan School of Business among the "Best 237 Business Schools."
- Ranked among the "Best Northeast Colleges."
- Ranked among "America's Best Value Colleges" in 2005. (The only Connecticut school and among 77 schools nationwide).
- Ranked among "Top 25 Most Connected Campuses" in 2004.
- Ranked #4 among the top 36 regional universities in the North (with a master's degree program) in 2007.
- Ranked #4 six times, #3 eight times, and #2 two times over the past 16 years.
- Ranked among Top 100 schools with the highest rates of students who graduate in four years.
[edit] Fulbright Scholars
- Since 1993-94, 39 Fairfield students were awarded highly prestigious Fulbright Program Scholarships from the flagship international educational program sponsored by the U.S. government.
- Ranked #1 among universities that grant master's degrees in the Fulbright Program's list of colleges and universities that produced 2006 U.S. Fulbright Fellows. Besting 55 other schools in the category, Fairfield was selected by the Institute of International Education, the non-profit agency which administers the Fulbright Program and the Chronicle of Higher Education, for this ranking. This is the second time in three years that Fairfield has been singled out for having the largest number of Fulbrights in its category.
- In the last nine years, eight faculty members have been awarded Fulbright Program Scholar Grants for postdoctoral research. Fairfield faculty members have published hundreds of scholarly articles and books in the past two years.
[edit] Phi Beta Kappa
- Fairfield University is the second youngest institution to gain membership in Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious academic honor society. When the Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was chartered at Fairfield University in 1994, Fairfield joined an elect company of 262 colleges and universities. Nationwide, only one percent of college seniors are invited to join Phi Beta Kappa annually.
[edit] Fellows and Scholars
- In recent years, Fairfield University students have been the recipients of the following fellowships and scholarships:
- Thirty-nine Fulbright Scholars
- Three Barry M. Goldwater Scholars for excellence in mathematics and science research;
- Five Clare Boothe Luce Scholars for women who excel in the sciences;
- One National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow;
- One Morris K. Udall Scholar in Environmental Policy and Science;
- Six Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid for research;
- Ten Freeman-Asia Awards for Study in Asia.
- Two Council of Undergraduate Research Fellows;
- Seven Pfizer Corporation Fellowships for summer research (since 1991);
- One Jacob K. Javits Fellow for doctoral studies in humanities;
- Eight National Security Education Program (NSEP) Fellows for study abroad outside Western Europe;
- Three Gates Millennium Scholars;
- One National Institute of Health Scholar for Graduate Studies in Health Science;
- Thirteen William G. McGowan Scholars for business students; and
- One Sophomore Book Award from Phi Beta Kappa, Zeta Chapter.
[edit] Academic Programs
Fairfield's Jesuit ethos trains students in scholarship; prepares students for leadership; encourages students to engage in service projects; and develops students with strong social concerns for the common good. Fairfield University is an intellectual, social, spiritual, and cultural destination of choice for students and faculty from a rich diversity of backgrounds. Everyone in the University commits to excellence in educating, serving, inspiring and training students in various disciplines and fields.
Fairfield University offers 33 undergraduate majors and 30 graduate degree programs, as well as more than 350 credit and 250 non-credit courses in University College. The Fiske Guide to Colleges recognized Fairfield's Strongest Programs to include Biology, International Studies, Art History, Religious Studies, Sociology, Accounting and Finance, and Mechanical Engineering. The innovative New Media major is the first of its kind among Jesuit universities and features CineFest Fairfield, an annual film festival showcasing student work created in production courses.
- The College of Arts and Sciences
- The Charles F. Dolan School of Business
- The School of Engineering
- The School of Nursing
- The Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions
- The University College
- Centers and Special Programs
- Honors Societies
[edit] DiMenna-Nyselius Library
Built in 1968, the DiMenna-Nyselius Library recently underwent major renovation and expansion. It’s warm and inviting Arts and Crafts details blends in beautifully with Fairfield's New England campus. At present, the Library contains an extensive and carefully selected collection of print and electronic resources which include over 300,000 bound volumes, 1800 journals and newspapers, over 11,000 audiovisual items and the equivalent of 92,000 volumes in microform. Its electronic resources, provide online access to a wide variety of World Wide Web subscription databases that bring full text journals and statistical information to the desktop anywhere on campus. Throughout the Library, wireless access is available in designated areas. The Library also contains two open access computer labs featuring Macintosh and Dell computers (one with 24-hour access for students), two dozen multimedia workstations, an electronic classroom, a 90-seat multimedia auditorium, and study rooms.
[edit] Kress Foundation Art Collection
The DiMenna-Nyselius Library is the home of a Kress Study Collection of 10 old master paintings that date from the mid-14th through the early 18th centuries and are representative of the major schools of Italian Renaissance and Baroque painting. The paintings represent a spectrum of religious and secular images generally attributed to the followers or the studio workshops of some of the noteworthy major painters of Italian Renaissance and Baroque art. This collection was a gift to Fairfield University by the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport, CT and arranged by Dr. Philip Eliasoph. The paintings were originally given to The Discovery Museum by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation whose mission is to promote the understanding and appreciation of European art in the United States. Fairfield is one of only 23 colleges and universities to maintain a collection from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.
[edit] Arts & Entertainment
[edit] Quick Center For the Arts
The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is the major center of theatre and the arts at Fairfield University and recognized as the "cultural epicenter of Fairfield County" by Westport Magazine. The Quick Center opened in 1990 and includes events such as popular and classical music, dance, theatre, and programs for young audiences. It houses the 740-seat Kelley Theatre, the 150-seat Lawrence A. Wien Experimental (Black Box) Theatre, and the Thomas J. Walsh, Jr. Art Gallery. The Quick Center has become known as one of the finest concert halls in the country.
[edit] Open VISIONS Forum
The Open VISIONS Forumis a public outreach program of University College engaging the 'life of the mind' with the Connecticut community. Its Mission is to integrate the academic perspective of the University's students and faculty with the wide general interests of our regional audience. Through an ongoing series of lively and informative lectures, these 'public conversations' present eminent opinion-makers, artists, authors, learned contributors to the humanities and sciences and civic and political commentators to engage the audience with topical issues facing a global and national agenda. This season features Emmy-winning broadcast journalist Bill O'Reilly, civil rights educator Mary Frances Berry and MTV News Correspondent Gideon Yago.
[edit] Pepsico Theater
The PepsiCo Theatre, a renovated 1922 carriage house, is the home to the Theatre Program of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts and Theater Fairfield, the resident production company. The PepsiCo Theatre is also home to Shakespeare Ventures, a professional theatre company based on the campus of Fairfield University. The facility includes a 70-seat flexible black box theatre, coffeehouse, dance studio, design studio, and costume shop/dressing room. This theatre is the primary rehearsal space for all Theatre Fairfield and Shakespeare Ventures productions, and the performance space for at least two productions a season.
[edit] CineFest Fairfield
CineFest Fairfield is an annual film festival held in association with the Fairfield Community Theatre featuring short films by students, alumni and faculty. The film festival is sponsored by the Department of Visual and Performing Arts and showcases its innovative New Media major. "CineFest Fairfield will become a notable annual event for the University and for Fairfield County," Fr. James Mayzik, S.J., Director of the New Media major and Media Center said. "Fairfield students will emerge as leaders within the region and the nation for their creativity and talent in film, television and radio within this exciting new program."
[edit] Athletics
Fairfield University is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and is classified as Division 1-A in the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its athletic programs. Fairfield sponsors 19 varsity sports - baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's crew, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, and women's volleyball. Fairfield annually boasts one of the best student-athlete graduation rates in the nation. The men's and women's golf programs are both ranked among the best in the nation for academics, according to the Golf Digest's Second Annual College Golf Guide.
The Stags most notable success in athletics has come from the basketball, lacrosse and soccer programs. The women's basketball head coach, Diane Nolan, achieved her milestone 500th career win in 2005-06 while the men won a berth to the 2003 Postseason National Invitation Tournament and Deng Gai '05 was the nation's top shot blocker in 2004-05. The men's lacrosse team won berths to the 2003 and 2005 NCAA Tournaments and the women won the 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003 MAAC Regular Season Titles. And the women's soccer team won a berth to the 2005 NCAA Tournament and the men won the 2005 MAAC Regular Season Title and were ranked nationally in 2001 and 2005.
Men's Varsity Hockey and Football were eliminated in 2003 due to financial reasons. The division 1-AA football team had a short history (first season 1996), but much success (MAAC title in 1998).
[edit] Club Sports
Club sports offer a competitive athletic opportunity for students including men's crew, equestrian, men's and women's ice hockey, karate, men's and women's rugby, sailing, men's and women's skiing and snowboarding, and men's and women's volleyball. The Equestrian Club was Regional Champions in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, & 2003. The Men's Hockey Club fell just a game short of the MCHC championship in 2006. The Men's Rugby Football Club was established in 1963 and is the longest continuously running sport club at Fairfield University. And the Men's Volleyball Club won the 2006 New England Collegiate Volleyball League Division II Championship.
[edit] University Presidents
| Years | President |
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| 1942-1944 | Rev. John J. McEleney, S.J. |
| 1944-1951 | Rev. James H. Dolan, S.J. |
| 1951-1958 | Rev. Joseph D. FitzGerald, S.J. |
| 1958-1964 | Rev. James E. FitzGerald, S.J. |
| 1964-1973 | Rev. William C. McInnes, S.J. |
| 1973-1979 | Rev. Thomas R. Fitzgerald, S.J. |
| 1979-2004 | Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. |
| 2004 - | Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. |
[edit] Notable Faculty
- Dr. Kent R. Brown (Playwright-In-Residence, Adjunct Professor of English)
- Dr. Arjun Chaudhuri (Rev. Thomas R. Fitzgerald, S.J., Professor of Marketing)
- Dr. Edward Deak (Roger M. Lynch Professor of Economics)
- Lucy Katz, J.D. (Robert C. Wright Professor of Business Law, Ethics, and Dispute Resolution)
- Dr. Gregory Koutmos (Gerald M. Levin Professor of Finance)
- Dr. Paul Lakeland (Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Professor of Catholic Studies)
- Dr. R. James Long (Professor of Philosophy)
- Dr. John Orman (Professor of Politics)
- Dr. James Simon (Professor of English)
- Dr. Winston Tellis (Stephen and Camille Schramm Professor of Business)
- Brian Q. Torff (Director of Jazz and Popular Music, World renowned bassist and composer)
- Dr. Ellen Umansky (Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Judaic Studies)
- Dr. Meredith Wallace (Elizabeth DeCamp McInerny Professor of Health Sciences)
[edit] Notable Alumni
Despite the relative youth of the institution Fairfield University alumni are achieving considerable success and making significant contributions in the fields of business, law, medicine, education, social justice and athletics. Fairfield University proudly counts amongst its alumni a former President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, a former Dean of the Georgetown University Law Center, a President of a mission helping Haitian street children, the Chief Judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court, the Connecticut Senate Majority Leader, a former President of the Medical College of Georgia, an Emmy Award-winning news anchor and leaders of several major Fortune 500 corporations and Wall Street financial institutions.
[edit] Alma Mater
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- Fairfield! See the stag with cross of Gold
- Rears once more its undefeated head.
- Fair out field, as any field of old,
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- Bids our banners, like our blood, be red.
- "Through faith, unto total truth," our cry
- Swells from the sea to spire and sky;
- Hear, Alma Mater, hear! Fairfield, hail!
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- Mem'ries fold away the thought of thee:
- Autumn roses crimson on the bough,
- Bright snow breaking to the dogwood tree
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- Keeps spring singing, then as now.
- "Through faith, unto total truth," our cry
- Swells from the sea to spire and sky;
- Hear, Alma Mater, hear! Fairfield, hail!
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[edit] Publications and Media
[edit] Student
- Fairfield Mirror - The Independent Student Newspaper of Fairfield University
- WVOF - The Voice of Fairfield University
- The HAM Channel - The Student Television Station of Fairfield University
- The Sound - The Student Literary Magazine of Fairfield University
- The Cream Filling - The Student Arts Publication of Fairfield University
[edit] University
- 1073 North Benson - A Publication for Fairfield University Alumni
- Campus Currents - The Official News Publication of Fairfield University
- Dogwood - A Journal of Poetry and Prose
- Fairfield Now - The Magazine of Fairfield University,
- Parent Ties - A Publication for Fairfield University Families
- Press Room - Fairfield University's Electronic News Room
[edit] Media Center
The Media Center is a 15,000-square foot facility located on the ground floor of Xavier Hall that houses the New Media: Film, Television, and Radio major. It also serves the campus in various other ways, as home to the Campus Television Network; AMES, the academic media equipment lending service; and RCADE (Resource Center for Advanced Digital Exploration), offering courses in video/audio production and post production, Web publishing, Photoshop, and design to members of the University community.
The Media Center operates a 32-foot television production satellite uplink truck that can transmit and receive digitally encoded television signals from geostationary domestic satellites. Fairfield University is one of few colleges in the nation to have this technology allowing campus programming and international news organizations including CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and Bloomberg Television to be broadcast world-wide from the University.
The Media Center Staff has won national recognition for its Award-Winning Programs and production of Multimedia Presentations for the University. Some of the most recent honors have included the Crystal Award of Distinction from the Communicator Awards 2005 Print Competition; two Awards of Excellence from the Videographer 2005 Awards; and the Platinum BEST of Show from The Aurora 2005 Awards.
[edit] External links
- Fairfield Prep
- Fairfield University
- The Fairfield Jesuit Community
- The Fairfield University Disc Golf Course
- The Unofficial Fairfield Stags Message Board
- The Unofficial Stags Sports Forums
[edit] Map links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
[edit] External links
| Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference |
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| Canisius • Fairfield • Iona • Loyola (MD) • Manhattan • Marist • Niagara • Rider • Siena • Saint Peter's |
Categories: Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference | Educational institutions established in 1942 | Fairfield University | Universities and colleges in Connecticut | Jesuit universities and colleges in the United States | Historically Irish-American colleges | Fairfield County, Connecticut | Fairfield, Connecticut | Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport | Nursing schools in Connecticut
