Marymount College, Tarrytown

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Marymount College of Fordham University
Marymount College Seal
Motto: Tua Luce Dirige: "Guide Us By Your Light" (college); Sapientia et Doctrina "Wisdom and Learning" (university)
Established: 1907; Fordham University acquisition: 2002
Type: Private, Independent
Endowment: $6,126,000
President: Joseph M. McShane, S.J. (last)
Undergraduates: 798
Location: Tarrytown, New York, USA
Campus: Suburb, 25 acres
Colors: Blue and White; Maroon and White
Mascot: Marymount Saints (college), Ram (university)
Website: www.fordham.edu

Marymount College of Fordham University was a small private women's college in the United States, and part of Fordham University. Marymount's campus was located in Tarrytown, New York. Enrollment in 2004 was 844 students.

The college was founded as an independent women's college in 1907 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (R.S.H.M.). Mother Marie Joseph Butler founded the institution to "create a place of learning where women could grow and where they could receive an education that would prepare them for positions of leadership and influence in the world."[1] Early courses at Marymount ranged from courses in domestic science to classes offered in political science and law. In 1924, Marymount became one of the first women's colleges in the United States to offer a study abroad program. Students studied at major universities in London, Rome, Paris, and Madrid, living at Marymount schools (London, Paris, Rome).

In 1978, Marymount College's student body peaked at 1,112 students.[2]

Marymount College at Tarrytown was the first of several colleges founded by the RSHM (Marymount colleges). Several of these still exist, including Marymount Manhattan, Marymount University, and Loyola Marymount.

Original Motto: Tua Luce Dirige (Direct Us By Thy Light)

Original Mascot: The Saints

Original Colors: Blue and White


Contents

[edit] Acquisition and Closure of Marymount by Fordham University

Marymount College of Fordham University seal
Marymount College of Fordham University seal

In July 2002, Marymount officially consolidated with Fordham University, renaming the college as the Marymount College of Fordham University and becoming the institution's fifth undergraduate school. In 2005, Fordham University announced its plans to close the women's college, effective June 2007, but to keep the campus, which it renamed the Marymount campus, active as a center for graduate studies. Most of the 798 Marymount students were to finish their education at the 25-acre Tarrytown, N.Y., campus, which was permanently to be known as the Marymount Campus of Fordham University - pending the University's decision of its plans to sell, or keep the property. The Westchester division of the multi-campus Fordham College of Liberal Studies, already housed at the campus, would continue and expand its liberal arts program. Fordham announced that over time, the professional school programs in business administration, social service and education would move their Westchester operations to the Marymount Campus.

In the press release announcing the phase out, the Board of Trustees of Fordham emphasized that Marymount juniors and seniors who graduated by spring 2007 would complete their degrees at Marymount College (and receive a Fordham degree and diploma), while freshmen and sophomores would complete their degrees in programs offered at one of the other four undergraduate colleges of Fordham University, if they indeed decided to remain at Fordham. The Marymount Sisters, are to remain in the residences they occupied at the closing of the school although they too lost their teaching jobs.[3] The final class of 203 women graduated in May, 2007, 45 of whom attended the university commencement ceremonies. [4]

Despite promising the Marymount Board of Trustees that Fordham would continue to operate Marymount as a women's college, Fordham decided to close the college entirely and sell the property at an enormous profit. In August, 2007, Fordham announced it will sell the Marymount campus, to the disappointment of many alumnae.[5]. The University cited unjustifiable and disproportionate costs to maintain the large campus relative to the comapratively modest needs of the programs intended to be placed there. On February 17, 2008, Fordham announced the sale of the campus for $27 million to EF Education, a chain of private language-instruction schools.[1]

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Fordham U. Sells Marymount College Campus for $27-Million" Chronicle of Higher Education Feb. 17, 2008 link

[edit] See also

[edit] External links