Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University is a private, non-profit, Roman Catholic liberal arts university established in 1889 and located in Saint Leo, Florida, 35 miles north of Tampa. The University is associated with the Holy Name Monastery, a Benedictine convent, and Saint Leo Abbey, a Benedictine monastery. Saint Leo University operates 17 continuing education centers in seven states, including California, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia, as well as dozens of military base centers and the University's Center for Online Learning.^[3] Worldwide Saint Leo University had a total enrollment of 15,565 students in 2010, a majority of which were military-related students and of which 1,862 were enrolled at the main Florida campus.^[4]

Saint Leo University offers over 40 associate, baccalaureate and master's degree and certificate programs in the liberal arts. The University utilizes no teaching assistants, but employs 906 full-time and adjunct faculty members.^[5] One of the first American universities to provide distance learning opportunities to students, Saint Leo began educating military men and women in 1973 during the Vietnam era at the height of the anti-war movement.^[6]

History

Saint Leo was founded as the first Catholic college in Florida, chartered on June 4, 1889 by a group of Benedictine monks from Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.^[7] The University opened its doors on September 14, 1890 with an enrollment of 32 students.

Saint Leo ended racial segregation on their campus in 1898, before it was legal to do so in Florida, and totally integrated their campus in the Deep South.^[8] In 1920, the College was temporarily phased out to become an English-style prep school. A year later, in 1921, Saint Leo became accredited by the Southern Educational Association. After several name changes, the institution settled on Saint Leo College Preparatory School in 1929, a name which lasted until 1964. Saint Leo opened again as a college in 1959, receiving assistance from the Benedictine sisters at Holy Name Monastery, its neighboring community. Operating first on the associate's level, the College moved quickly to a four-year program and conferred its first bachelor's degree on April 23, 1967, on 51 men and 13 women. The college was accredited by the Southern Educational Association on November 29, 1967.

In 1973, the College responded to requests from the armed services to offer degree programs on military bases at home and abroad. Today Saint Leo University is one of the largest providers of higher education to military-related personnel in the United States.^[9] Continuing in the tradition of distance learning, the Saint Leo University Center for Online Learning was established in 1999, as one of the first online schools in the country.

Growth continues rapidly at St. Leo, and on August 24, 1999, Saint Leo was upgraded from "college" to "university" status. Several new centers have been established nationwide in recent years. In July 2011, the University opened its Channelside Tampa Education Center, a facility which houses five classrooms.^[10] Classes are offered at night and on evenings for continuing education students. There is also a student support center for students attending classes online.

Dr. Arthur F. Kirk, Jr. has been the president of the University since January 1997.

Center for Online Learning

The Center for Online Learning, established in 1999, offers classes for non-traditional students to complete their associate's, bachelor's or master's programs online.^[11] The site is geared toward adult learners and military personnel.^[12] In 2011, the University launched its new public-facing website for online learners, ^[13] who remain the largest segment of Saint Leo's student population.

Awards and Recognition

In 2011, Saint Leo University was named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the "Top Universities in the South."^[14][15] In 2010 the University was listed in the magazine G.I. Jobs' as a "Military Friendly School."^[16][17] Saint Leo was also a finalist in 2011 for the Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award presented by the Association of Teacher Educators.^[18] The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) named Saint Leo among its 2010 Community Service Honor Roll.^[19]

Accreditation

Saint Leo University is a fully accredited university in the United States and the State of Florida. The Saint Leo School of Business received initial accreditation by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education in September 1999. Saint Leo University's degree program in social work is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education (BSW level). Saint Leo University's undergraduate Sport Business program and MBA Sport Business Concentration are accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). Saint Leo University has Teacher Education Programs approval by the Florida Department of Education.

Affiliations

The University's many affiliations include the American Council on Education (ACE), the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF), the American Association of Adult and Continuing Education, the National Collegiate Honor Society, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA), the National Association of Institutions for Military Education Services (NAIMES), Service Members Opportunity Colleges, National Catholic Education Association, and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU).

Student Life

Students are active on campus through a variety of associations, clubs and societies, including the Computer Science Association^[20] and the International Tourism Club, an official organization of the Student Government Union.^[21]

Campus Activities Board

The Saint Leo Campus Activities Board is headed by the elected Student Government Union Vice President of Activities. Among other duties, the Board plans a calendar of events focused on student entertainment and education. In the past events have included Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, campus laser tag, and a "Spring Fling" weekend featuring artists such as Lonestar and Everclear.^[22]

Greek Life

There are currently six fraternities and four sororities on campus. Greek life is an active part of campus life. Chapters must meet requirements of a certain amount of social activities, educational programs, and philanthropy/community service each year.^[23]

• Fraternities
  • Tau Kappa Epsilon
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon
  • Alpha Phi Alpha
  • Kappa Alpha Psi
  • Kappa Theta (Local)
  • Sigma Lambda (Local)

• Sororities
  • Alpha Sigma Tau
  • Theta Phi Alpha
  • Sigma Sigma Sigma
  • Gamma Upsilon (Local)

Virtual Campus

The Saint Leo University Second Life Virtual Campus is a place where all students, staff, faculty, parents, and friends can come together to explore, interact and collaborate in Second Life. The island is always in a constant state of development; all are invited to visit daily and look for recent changes.^[24]

Notable Alumni & Attendees

Saint Leo University has produced thousands of alumni over the years. Perhaps the most notable alumni of Saint Leo University are Anastasio Somoza Debayle the former President of Nicaragua, his brother Luis (also a Nicaraguan President), Charles Henri Baker a Haitian industrialist and presidential candidate, musicians Steven Stills and Desi Arnaz, the former General Manager of the Toronto Blue Jays J. P. Ricciardi, the Academy Award -Winning actor Lee Marvin, and Major League Baseball player Bob Tewksbury.

Major League Baseball Alumni

Saint Leo University has a long history of athletic achievement. The following is a list of Saint Leo University alumni who played Major League Baseball:^[25]

References