| St. Edward's University | |
|---|---|
| Motto | Learn to think |
| Established | 1878 / 1885 |
| Type | Private, Coeducational |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic, Congregation of Holy Cross |
| Endowment | USD $41 million[1] |
| President | George E. Martin, PhD |
| Undergraduates | 4,368 |
| Postgraduates | 925 |
| Location | Austin, Texas, USA |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Gold and Blue |
| Nickname | Hilltoppers |
| Mascot | Topper |
| Website | www.stedwards.edu |
St. Edward's University is a private Roman Catholic institution of higher learning located south of Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas. The university offers a liberal arts education and its campus is located on a hill overlooking the city of Austin. The campus's most notable landmark is Main Building.
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St. Edward's University was founded by the Rev. Edward Sorin, CSC, Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, who also founded the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Father Sorin established the institution on farmland south of Austin in 1878 and named it St. Edward's Academy in honor of his patron saint, Edward the Confessor and King. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross.
In 1885, the president, the Rev. P.J. Franciscus, strengthened the prestige of the academy by securing a charter, changing its name to St. Edward's College, assembling a faculty, and increasing enrollment. Subsequently, St. Edward's began to grow, and the first school newspaper, the organization of baseball and football teams, and approval to erect an administration building all followed. Well-known architect Nicholas J. Clayton of Galveston, Texas was commissioned to design the college's Main Building. The structure was built four-stories tall in the Gothic Revival style and was constructed with local white limestone.
In the spring of 1903, a mysterious fire destroyed the majority of Main Building, but it was rebuilt by the fall. In 1922, Main Building sustained damage from a tornado that caused significant damage all over the campus. Main Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
In 1925, St. Edward's received its university charter. Most of the personnel at the time were Holy Cross Priests and Brothers. Women arrived at St. Edward's in 1966 as students for Maryhill College, a coordinate institution. By 1970, Maryhill was absorbed and St. Edward's became co-educational.
By 1971, the university carried bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration. Also added were the College Assistance Migrant Program, or CAMP (1972); a professionally oriented Theater Arts curriculum (1972); an innovative degree program for adults called New College (1974); and Freshman Studies (1975).
In 1984, Patricia Hayes became the first woman and only the second layperson to lead St. Edward's University. In 1990, enrollment reached 3,000 for the first time. This decade also ushered in a revised undergraduate curriculum, and capital and technological improvements.
In 1999, George E. Martin became the 23rd president of St. Edward's University.
St. Edward's has maintained a balanced operating budget — currently more than $115 million — and the university's endowment stands at more than $41 million. Total university assets exceed $249 million. Fundraising has grown each year as well, and 83% of faculty and staff contributed to the annual fund last year — more than triple the giving levels of benchmark universities.
In 2000, St. Edward’s University, under the leadership of President George E. Martin and the Board of Trustees, identified seven strategic priorities to achieve its vision. These include objectives for enrollment growth, faculty and staff recruitment and retention, curricular and co-curricular program development, facility and technology development, financial management, endowment growth, and marketing.
Progress on the priorities began immediately. Enrollment has grown from 3,669 in Fall 1999 to nearly 5,300 in Fall 2009. New academic programs have been added, including undergraduate majors in bioinformatics, criminology, entrepreneurship, forensic chemistry, nonprofit management and graphic design, as well as graduate programs in computer information systems, project management, teaching, and organizational leadership and ethics.
The university’s strategic plan, which details how St. Edward’s will construct new facilities while maintaining the overall architectural character of campus, supports the strategic priorities for academic excellence, enrollment growth, and recruiting and retaining the best students, faculty and staff.
Trustee Hall, a 33,000-square-foot (3,100 m2) academic facility, was the first building completed under the plan. It opened in Fall 2002. The completion of Basil Moreau Residence Hall in 2003 and Jacques Dujarié Hall in 2005 further enhanced residence life.
The John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center-North Building, a 64,000-square-foot (5,900 m2) facility that opened in Fall 2006, is the first phase of a two-building science complex and houses the biology and chemistry programs in the School of Natural Sciences. A second phase, scheduled to open in 2012, will house the computer science, mathematics and physics programs.
A 756-car parking garage opened in 2007 and offers convenient access to the heart of campus.
A new residential village, which opened in January 2009, evokes a sense of urban living in the heart of campus.
Major renovations of existing campus buildings include Premont Hall (2006, Fleck Hall (2007) and Doyle Hall (2009).
Plans for a new chapel are being drawn up by architect Rick Joy, winner of the 2004 National Design Award from the Smithsonian Institution’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.
In 2010, St. Edward’s University completed its 10-year strategic plan under the leadership of President George E. Martin. It also began a yearlong celebration of the university’s 125-year anniversary. To honor this anniversary, the university created the 125 Service Challenge, which encourages students, alumni, faculty and staff to participate in service around the community and help reach a collective goal of 75,000 service hours. In October 2010, the university community is due to join together for a 125th birthday party complete with food, entertainment and birthday cake.
University seal
The university seal represents the rich history of St. Edward’s University. Here is a guide to the meaning behind the university seal:
• Shield = Our homeland, the United States
• Cross = Christianity
• Anchor = Taken from the seal of the Congregation of Holy Cross, the founders of St. Edward’s
• Mace = St. Edward, King and Confessor; our patron for whom the university is named
• Wavy Lines = Colorado River, which runs through Austin
• Lone Star = State of Texas
• Heart Shot with Arrows = Love and learning
Nearly 5,300 students attend St. Edward's, with undergraduates coming from 46 states and 36 countries. The average SAT score of 1131 for the 2009 freshman class has risen 90 points since 1999. Nearly 54% of incoming freshmen rank in the top 25% of their high school class. The acceptance rate for freshmen applicants is 66%.[2]
More than 1,300 students live on campus in seven residence halls and two apartment communities. Students at St. Edward's University are also involved in more than 90 campus organizations, including student government, service organizations, academic honor societies, cultural clubs and intramural sports.
St. Edward's offers 11 master's degree programs and five bachelor's degrees in more than 50 areas of study through the schools of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Education, Humanities, Management and Business, and Natural Sciences.[3] Additionally, St. Edward's offers similar bachelor's degrees for adults 24 years of age and older through the New College program, which began in 1974.
St. Edward's boasts that it has an impressive Theater Arts program program, which features a U/RTA contract with the Actors' Equity Association, allowing students who successfully complete the requirements of a Membership Candidate Program to become eligible to join Actors' Equity Association. St. Edward's has one of the only undergraduate programs in the country with this affiliation. In 2005, actor Ed Begley, Jr. brought his play, César & Ruben to St. Edward's University for its Texas premiere.
Beginning in September 2008, St. Edward's started a satellite campus in Angers, France to provide educational opportunities for European and American students. St. Edward's faculty members travel to Angers each semester to teach courses.[4] The St. Edward's in Angers, France, program is in partnership with the Catholic University of the West.[5]
Hilltop Views is the student newspaper published by the School of Humanities at St. Edward’s University. Hilltop Views is available on news stands around campus on Wednesdays during the academic year. Hilltop Views is the exclusive newspaper of the St. Edward's University community and has been since 1987. Hilltop Views can be accessed online.[6]
Since 2004, U.S. News and World Report has ranked St. Edward's University among the top 25 among master's-granting universities in the western region.[7] In its 2011 Best Colleges edition, U.S. News ranked St. Edward's University in 21st place.[8]
St. Edward's has also been recognized as one of "America's Best Colleges" by Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP). In their joint report, Forbes and CCAP ranked 600 undergraduate institutions based on the quality of the education they provide and the experience and achievements of their students. St. Edward's was ranked in the top 10 among Texas universities.
In the National Survey of Student Engagement, St. Edward's exceeded the national average in all five areas: academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, educational experiences, and supportive campus environment.
In 2006, The New York Times included St. Edward's in its "Colleges of Many Colors" list.
In his book Lifelong Learning at Its Best, William Maehl describes the St. Edward's New College one of the "Top 30" adult education programs in the United States.[9]
U.S. News and World Report describes St. Edward's University's admissions criteria as "selective".[10]
Student Lore and Traditions
Bronze Plaque of Father Paul Foik
To receive good grades on exams, a tradition is to rub the nose of the bronze plaque located outside Scarborough-Phillips Library. Although the rest of the bronze plaque has developed a dark brown patina over the years, the nose has remained highly polished and shines like new.
St. Edward's University Presidential Award
St. Edward's University Presidential Awards are prestigious awards presented each year to a select group of graduates from Undergraduate College, New College and the graduate programs who have excelled in leadership, scholarship and service.
Recipients of the Presidential Award have participated fully in the life of the university and have been a positive influence in promoting the mission and values of St. Edward's and the Congregation of Holy Cross.
Students are nominated for Presidential Awards by members of the St. Edwards University community. Nominees submit comprehensive applications to the Presidential Awards Committee, which is coordinated by the Student Life Office and composed of students, faculty and staff. The committee makes recommendations to the president of St. Edward's University.
NCAA Division II athletic teams include men's and women's baseball/softball, basketball, golf, soccer and tennis. Women also compete in Division II volleyball. Over the past three years, Hilltopper varsity athletic teams have won 19 Heartland Conference championships. In 2008-2009, five St. Edward's athletes were named All-American and 56 individuals were named to the All-Heartland Conference Team.
The university's student-athlete graduation rate of 88% is fourth highest in the nation out of 270 Division II institutions. The university mascot is the Hilltopper. St. Edward's is a founding member of the Heartland Conference.
The university's official spirit group is the HillRaisers.
The Dallas Cowboys football team has used the campus for pre-season training, from 1990 to 1997.[11]
St. Edward's Men's Soccer was the Heartland Conference Champions in 2009.
In addition to varsity programs, the University also supports several club-level programs including:
Campus Recreation
In 2009, the University added a Campus Recreation program to meet the growing needs of the student population. Campus Recreation is designed to provide physical and social opportunities for the St. Edward's University community in an effort to enhance the vibrant campus community.
Campus Recreation oversees the Recreation and Convocation Center Fitness Center, Pool, Recretion Field (next to Teresa Hall), and Open Recreation (pick up basketball, racquetball, volleyball, weightlifting, cardio machine use, etc) in the RCC.
Additionally, all Club Sports (16 total clubs) are housed within the Campus Recreation office.
Intramural Sports offered through Campus Recreation include Flag Football, Basketball, Dodgbeall, Kickball, Volleyball, Racquetball, Tennis, Golf, and Fantasy Sports games.
In 2010, Campus Recreation introduced Fitness Programming, including a GroupX program for Fitness Classes. Classes offered in 2010-2011 included Yoga, Zumba Fitness, Abs and Tone, Kickboxing, and Boot Camps. Additionally, faculty/staff/students are able to purchase personal training sessions at a rate far below industry standards.
Swim Lessons are available at the RCC Pool.
SEU Fight Song
March On:
March on and win for SEU.
March on with joy and pride!
March on and win the victory
We're cheering at your side!
March on and win for SEU
Hilltoppers all are we!
March on for good old SEU and
Bring home the victory!
Mascot
Legend tells that during a basketball game, some time ago, a few of the baseball players showed up with a live ram. They proceeded to race it around the gym during time-outs and slow periods. The ram was such a success that eventually it became the St. Edward’s University mascot. Today, the athletic teams are known as the Hilltoppers, and the ram is named Topper. In the Spring semester of 2010, a real goat named Pax started attending athletic events. Lieutenant Dan Beck owns the goat, as well as other "Topper" goats.
The following residence halls serve the university[12]:
The Casa and two Casitas, for upperclassmen, serve as "house-style living." The Casa residents use the facilities of Dujarié Hall.[17]
The residential village, which is made up of three residence halls, (Hunt, LeMans, and Lady Bird Johnson) opened for residents at the start of the Spring 2009 semester, containing freshmen in suite-style rooms in Hunt and Le Mans, as well as upperclassmen in LBJ's single rooms. In addition, the new residential village has multiple dining venues and a convenience store located on the ground floor.
St. Edward's maintains two apartment communities, Maryhill Apartments (Buildings 1-11) and Hilltopper Heights Apartments (Buildings 12-17) for students.[18]
On September 13 2010, The Austin American-Statesman published a story stating that St. Edward's University had banned gay rights group, Equality Texas, from participating in the University volunteer fair, because the group's views on same sex marriage conflicted with St. Edward's Catholic traditions.[19]
25. National Small College Rugby Organization: http://www.eteamz.com/NSCRO/news/index.cfm?id=5110016&cat=0
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