Lourdes University

"Lourdes College" redirects here. For the college in the Philippines, see Lourdes College (Cagayan de Oro).
Lourdes University
Former names
Lourdes Junior College, Lourdes College
Type Private
Established 1958
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic
Endowment $11.5 Million
President Mary Ann Gawelek
Academic staff
151
Students 1,530
Undergraduates 1,237
Postgraduates 293
Location Sylvania, Ohio, U.S.
41°42′35″N 83°42′22″W / 41.709839°N 83.706132°W / 41.709839; -83.706132Coordinates: 41°42′35″N 83°42′22″W / 41.709839°N 83.706132°W / 41.709839; -83.706132
Campus 127 acres (0.51 km2) Suburban
Colors Terracotta and Black[1]
         
Mascot Gray Wolves
Sporting affiliations
NAIAWHAC
Website www.lourdes.edu

Lourdes University is an independent, Roman Catholic and Franciscan university located on 127 acres (0.51 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.[2]

Academics

As a Franciscan university, Lourdes students benefit from the liberal arts curriculum and professional studies focus.[3] Lourdes has a diverse community of students and an 11:1 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 several pre-professional programs and graduate degrees.

Committed to its Franciscan values of community, learning, reverence, and service,[6] Lourdes undergraduate students complete 20-40 service learning hours before receiving their bachelor's degrees.[7] In addition to educational activities, Lourdes provides a variety of social, recreational and athletic activities to further enrich the campus life experience, and offers campus ministry programming.[8]

Accreditations

Lourdes University is proud to have earned and to hold the following accreditations, authorizations and approvals.[9]

Recognition [10]

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.[12] For nearly 50 years, she cultivated the Sylvania Franciscan community establishing thriving ministries including the Catholic and Franciscan institution known today as Lourdes University.[13]

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. In 1964, the liberal arts institution was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. As time passed and there were fewer candidates in formation, Lourdes began admitting lay students with women enrolling in 1969 and men in 1975.[14]

Recent history

While Lourdes College continued to grow and evolve throughout its history, the institution experienced the most change in recent years. In 2010, Lourdes embarked on a growth period which culminated in its transition to Lourdes University.[15] Today, Lourdes offers students a unique residential campus experience with apartment-style on-campus housing. In addition to its robust National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) program, Lourdes offers a fun and eclectic array of student activities and recreation and campus ministry programming.[16][17]

Campus

Lourdes University is located in the charming suburban city of Sylvania, Ohio, just minutes from Toledo and part of the famed Great Lakes region. Designated a “Tree City U.S.A.” town,[18] Sylvania is noted for its gorgeous parks and active community.[19] A collaborative neighbor and partner in the region, Lourdes University has been recognized by the Princeton Review as a safe campus receiving 96 out of 100 possible points.[20] Ideally situated just minutes from the cultural and recreational offerings of Toledo, it is also within driving distance of metropolitan cities including Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland and Columbus.

Campus life

Student life

Lourdes University offers an energized and rewarding student life experience. A full complement of academic, cultural community, honorary, professional, social and special interest student organizations are available.[21] The Student Government Association (SGA) is the governing body of students.[22] The student newspaper The Vitruvian offers insightful articles on current events and topics.[23] Recent National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) results indicate continued high levels of content with the full Lourdes educational experience.

Housing

Lourdes students enjoy suite-style student housing on the 127 acre wooded campus in Sylvania, Ohio. Residential students choose from 1 and 2 bedroom apartment-style living spaces in six separate residence buildings (Pioneer, Justinian, Bonaventure, Ambrose, Rosaria and Emmanuel). Each residential apartment offers a living room, kitchen with dining area, bedroom, bathroom and shower, air conditioning, and internet access. [24]

Athletics

Main article: Lourdes Gray Wolves

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).[25] Offering 18 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. [26]

Campus ministry

Offering a wide variety of activities, Campus Ministry helps create a community whose faith is alive, informed and active. Steeped in its Catholic and Franciscan traditions, campus ministry serves the entire University community regardless of faith tradition. 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 activities.[27]

Opportunities for civic engagement include weekly liturgy, soup and scripture, and Toledo Labre projects; annual Habitat for Humanity Spring Break Alternative, national and international outreach efforts, and Franciscan pilgrimages that follow in the footsteps of the institution’s patron – St. Francis of Assisi. Based on student responses to the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) 2015 Catholic College Consortium (CCC) Mission Perception Inventory, Lourdes University outperformed against the average of the CCC consortium in 18 out of 19 categories.

References

  1. "Identity – Lourdes University". Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  2. "Our Mission and Values". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  3. "Academics". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  4. "Fast Facts". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  5. "Lourdes University – Sylvania, Ohio". The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  6. "Learning Outcomes". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  7. "Service Learning". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  8. "Campus Life". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  9. "Accreditations". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  10. "Fast Facts: Awards". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  11. "Lourdes University". U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  12. "History". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  13. "Our History". Sylvania Franciscans. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  14. "History". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  15. "Lourdes Changes Name to University; holds convocation". The Blade. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  16. "Student Activities & Recreation". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  17. "Campus Ministry". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  18. "Sylvania Once Again Designated Tree City USA". The Blade. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  19. "Recreation". City of Sylvania. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  20. "Lourdes University: Campus Life". The Princeton Review. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  21. "Student Organizations". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  22. "Student Government Association". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  23. "The Vitruvian". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  24. "Housing". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  25. "The Official Athletic Site of Lourdes University". Lourdes Athletics. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  26. "Athletics: Lourdes University Mascot". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  27. "Campus Ministry". Lourdes University. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
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