St. Edward's University

History

St. Edward's University was founded by the Reverend Edward Sorin, CSC, Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, who also founded the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Father Sorin established the institution on farmland south of Austin in 1877 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, 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. 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 1903, a 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 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 endowment, as of 2014, stood at more than $95,000,000.

Strategic plans and growth

In 1999, St. Edward’s University, under the leadership of President George E. Martin and the Board of Trustees, developed a 10-year strategic plan to bring the university recognition as one of the best small universities in the country. By 2010, significant change was implemented across the campus in support of this vision, including:

In Fall 2010, the university unveiled Strategic Plan 2015 and a new vision: to educate students for the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century world. To achieve this vision, the plan focused all the efforts of the university on four elements: academic challenge, global preparedness, resource development and Holy Cross, Catholic heritage. Since the launch of the 2010 and 2015 strategic plans, the university has raised more than $148 million. This record generosity includes $83 million for the university's endowment, which exceeds $95 million, and more than $200 million for new buildings and capital improvements.

Buildings completed under the 2010 and 2015 strategic plans

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 facility that opened in fall 2006, was the first of a two-building science complex and houses the biology and chemistry programs in the School of Natural Sciences. The John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center–South opened in fall 2013. It houses the computer science, mathematics and physics programs, features 13 classrooms, advanced computer and math labs, and a 126-seat auditorium.

A 756-car parking garage opened in 2007. Major renovations of existing campus buildings include Premont Hall (2006), Fleck Hall (2007) and Doyle Hall (2009). A new residential village, which opened in January 2009, evokes a sense of urban living in the heart of campus. A renovated campus library, formerly the Scarborough-Phillips Library, opened in fall 2013 as The Munday Library. The library features global digital classrooms for video conferencing, revamped reading, study and meeting spaces, an expanded digital collection, and writing and media centers. The library renovation was funded in 2011 by a $13 million donation from Bill and Pat Munday. The Mundays also donated $20 million for university scholarships in 2013. Both donations were school records.

Plans for renovations to Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel were drawn up by Pollen Architecture and Design. Renovations will include more space for mass, construction of new Campus Ministry offices and an all-faiths meditation garden. The chapel renovation will be concluded in fall 2014.

Student body

Nearly 5,000 students attend St. Edward's, with undergraduates coming from 44 states and 51 countries. Nearly 55% of incoming freshmen rank in the top 25% of their high school class. The acceptance rate for freshmen applicants is 62%.

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 125 campus organizations, including student government, service organizations, academic honor societies, cultural clubs and intramural sports. 28 languages and 40 faith traditions are represented on campus.

Hilltop Views

Hilltop Views is the student newspaper published by the School of Humanities at St. Edward’s University. The print edition is available Wednesdays on newsstands across campus during the academic year, and can be accessed online. The newspaper has been printed since 1987.

Topper Radio

In the fall semester of 2012, two freshmen students founded St. Edward's University's radio station, Topper Radio, which operates exclusively online. The media organization launched its official broadcast in September 2014 on Live365, the largest internet radio host in the world. In October through December, Topper Radio was acknowledged for its #1 rank in Live365's "Non-Commercial College Radio" category and #10 rank in "College Radio" overall.

Programs

St. Edward's offers 10 master's degree programs and bachelor's degrees in more than 50 areas of study through the schools of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Education, Humanities, Natural Sciences and The Bill Munday School of Business. 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.

Fulbright Scholars

St. Edward’s has been among the top producers of U.S. Fulbright Students for the last five years. In 2014, five students were awarded Fulbright Student Scholarships. Since 2004, St. Edward’s University students have won 27 Fulbright scholarships.

St. Edward's has a Theater Arts program, featuring 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. In 2005, actor Ed Begley, Jr. brought his play, César & Ruben, to St. Edward's University for its Texas premiere. Broadway veteran Robert Westenberg directed The Secret Garden in 2013 at the university's Mary Moody Northen Theatre.

Campus in France

Beginning in September 2008, St. Edward's started a portal campus in Angers, France to provide educational opportunities for European and American students. Faculty members at St. Edward's travel to Angers each semester to teach courses.

The St. Edward's in Angers, France program is in partnership with the Catholic University of the West.

Athletics

St. Edwards NCAA Division II varsity athletic teams, known as the Hilltoppers, include men's and women's baseball/softball, basketball, golf, soccer and tennis. Women also compete in Division II volleyball. St. Edward's is a founding member of the Heartland Conference.

As of Fall 2014, the Hilltopper varsity athletic teams made 28 NCAA Tournament appearances over the last five seasons. Since joining the NCAA in 1999, the Hilltopper teams have won 55 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. St. Edward's men's soccer team was the Heartland Conference Champions in 2009. The women's soccer team has been very successful since 2006, posting winning records each season, and being selected to the NCAA Tournament 6 out of 7 years.

Residences

The following residence halls serve the university:

The Casa and two Casitas, for upperclassmen, serve as "house-style living." The Casa residents use the facilities of Dujarié Hall.

The residential village, which is made up of three residence halls, (Hunt, LeMans, and Lady Bird Johnson halls) opened for residents at the start of the Spring 2009 semester, housing 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.

Notable alumni

Notable professors