Our Lady of the Lake University

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), known locally as the Lake,[5] is a private Catholic university in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1895 by the Sisters of Divine Providence, a religious institute originating in Lorraine, France, during the 18th century. The Texas chapter of the institute still sponsors the university. Our Lady of the Lake University was the first San Antonio institution of higher education to receive regional accreditation and its Worden School of Social Service is the oldest Social Work school in Texas.

Our Lady of the Lake University
Former name
Academy of Our Lady of the Lake (1895-1911)
Our Lady of the Lake College (1911–1975)
Providence University of San Antonio (1975-1976)
Our Lady of the Lake University of San Antonio (1976-1986)[1][2]
TypePrivate liberal arts university
Established1895 (1895)
AccreditationSACS
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic (Congregation of Divine Providence)
Academic affiliation
Endowment$30.1 million
PresidentAbel A. Chavez
ProvostGeorge Williams (interim)
Students3,173
Undergraduates1,595
Postgraduates1,578
Location
San Antonio
,
Texas
,
United States

29.4263°N 98.5444°W / 29.4263; -98.5444
CampusLarge city[4], 72 acres (0.29 km2)
Other campuses
NewspaperThe Lake Front Media
ColorsBlue, white, and black
     
NicknameSaints
Sporting affiliations
NAIA – RRAC
MascotSaints
Websitewww.ollusa.edu

Our Lady of the Lake University offers Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees, and two doctoral degree programs across its main campus and its satellite campuses in The Woodlands and in the Rio Grande Valley. The university's athletic team, the Saints, compete in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) as part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

History

In 1895, construction began on the main campus of what would become Our Lady of the Lake College. By 1896, high school educational programs were under way. The first college program began in 1911 as a two-year curriculum for women. In 1919, the curriculum was expanded to four years and the institution was admitted to membership in the Texas Association of Colleges. Graduate study began in 1942 and was coeducational from its inception; all programs became fully coeducational in 1969. In 1975, the name of the institution was changed from Our Lady of the Lake College to Our Lady of the Lake University of San Antonio.

Our Lady of the Lake University was the first San Antonio institution of higher education to receive regional accreditation. It has been accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1923. In 1927, it became the third Texas school to be approved by the American Association of Universities.

As part of its mission to provide education to those with limited access, the university introduced the Weekend College concept at the San Antonio campus in 1978. OLLU began offering "weekend degree" programs at Lone Star College - North Harris in 1986. The Houston program would move to the Lone Star College University Center in 2012, and construction would be completed on its own stand-alone campus, located off Beltway 8 near Interstate 45, in 2018.[6]

In 2008, the university began a partnership with school districts in the Rio Grande Valley that would eventually evolve into its satellite campus in La Feria, Texas.[7]

University president Tessa Martinez Pollack resigned on March 1, 2013. She began her presidency in 2002. Her resignation followed what the San Antonio Express-News characterized as "months of tumult in which students and faculty protested Pollack's decision to eliminate a dozen degree majors, including religious studies and Mexican American studies, which some considered at the core of the Catholic school's mission and identity."[8] Sister Jane Ann Slater, CDP served as interim president until Diane Melby was appointed to the post in July 2015.

On May 27, 2021, Melby announced her intention to retire after the 2021–22 school year in an open letter to the OLLU community. A search committee for her successor was formed, and Abel A. Chavez was chosen as the university's 10th president. Chavez began his tenure in July 2022.[9][10]

2008 fire

On May 6, 2008, a fire was reported on the campus at 7:44 p.m. CDT. The fire affected all four floors of the main building. The fire quickly changed from a three- to four-alarm fire after an hour's time with five pumper trucks battling the blaze. No injuries or deaths occurred. The fire consumed the roof and one spire had collapsed. Much of the damage to the building was due to the amount of water poured into the building to contain the blaze. While the firefighters struggled with the fourth floor, some of the university's IT staff went in and protected the servers that were located on the first floor of the same building. Operations were coordinated from the Library building located across 24th Street from Main. A bomb threat the day before the fire had caused some concern that the incident was arson-related.[11] Firefighters suspect that the fire started on the fourth floor of the Main building due to an electrical short.[12]

The community quickly rallied to raise funds for reconstruction, and the project was completed in fall 2010. It hosted its first class since the fire in January 2011.

Roof going up

Academics
St. Anne's Courtyard

Our Lady of the Lake University currently offers Bachelor's degrees in 33 areas of study, Master's degrees in 14 areas of study, and two doctoral degree programs. Classes are offered through traditional weekday, weekend and online formats. Our Lady of the Lake University also offers classes on its satellite campuses in The Woodlands, near Houston, and in the Rio Grande Valley in La Feria, Texas.

Athletics

The Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) athletic teams are called the Saints (formerly known as the Armadillos until 2009). The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) since the 2009–10 academic year. The Saints previously competed as an NAIA Independent within the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) from 2007–08 to 2008–09.

OLLU competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include competitive cheer and competitive dance.

History

OLLU began its athletics program in 2007 with volleyball and men's soccer; followed by women's soccer, men's tennis, and men's golf in 2008; later softball, men's and women's basketball, and men's and women's cross-country in 2009, and finally baseball and men's and women's track and field in 2014.[13] The university added women's golf, women's tennis, competitive cheer and dance for the 2020–21 school year, and began a drumline in 2022-23.[14][15]

On December 12, 2020, the Saints men's basketball team defeated NCAA Division I member Texas State 61–58.[16][17]

In 2021–22, the women's basketball team won their eighth RRAC regular-season title and fourth conference tournament title, going undefeated in conference play. They also made their ninth appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, losing to Wayland Baptist in the opening round.[18] OLLU's softball team finished with the best overall record in the conference and advanced to the championship game of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round's Gulf Shores bracket.[19] The Saints' women's 4x100 relay team also made an appearance in the national championships.[20]

On February 12, 2022, university play-by-play announcer Michael Thompson fell down the bleachers at a women's basketball game after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was rushed to the hospital and died shortly thereafter.[21]

In 2022-23, the volleyball team reached their fourth consecutive RRAC tournament championship game.[22] The softball team won its fourth RRAC regular season title and second conference tournament title, and achieved its highest-ever ranking in the NAIA national coaches' poll.[23] The Saints also won the San Antonio Bracket of the NAIA Softball World Series Opening Round to advance to the first NAIA Softball World Series in program history.[24]

On April 29, 2023, the Saints men's track and field team won their first conference championship in school history.[25]

Campus

The university's historic Main Building was completed in 1895. Today, it is home to the university cafeteria, several classrooms and offices, and the Veronica Salazar Media Center.[26]

Sacred Heart Convenual Chapel, completed in 1923, was designed by architect Leo M. J. Dielmann.

The University Wellness and Activities Center (UWAC) and adjacent athletic fields are home to the university's athletic teams, as well as exercise facilities for student use.[27]

The university has four residence halls. Three of these (Ayres, Centennial, and Flores) are traditional dorm-style housing, with the Slater Apartments providing apartment-style housing.[28]

Students are served by the VIA Metropolitan Transit system for free with student IDs.[29]

Student life

In 2007, the university hosted an initial event to kickstart San Japan, a local anime convention.[30]

The campus has the following fraternities and sororities: two multicultural sororities Delta Xi Nu and Theta Nu Xi, Latina sorority Kappa Delta Chi, service sorority Epsilon Sigma Alpha, and Christian fraternity Sigma Theta Epsilon.[31]

The university also hosts over 50 clubs and organizations.[32]

Former operations

OLLU previously hosted weekend classes at Brookhaven College in Farmers Branch, Texas, near Dallas. The Dallas Weekend College (DWEC) began operations in fall 1994 and moved to Brookhaven in 1997.[33]

Notable people

Alumni

People

References
  1. "How OLLU Got Its Name". 4 December 2021.
  2. "SACSCOC-OLLU".
  3. ACCU Member Institutions Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "IPEDS-Our Lady of the Lake University".
  5. "Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 11 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)". Government Publishing Office. February 12, 1998. p. E137. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  6. "History and Values". houston.ollusa.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  7. "History and Values". rgv.ollusa.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  8. Jennifer R. Lloyd (February 8, 2013). "OLLU's president out as of March 1". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
  9. "President Melby announces July 2022 retirement". www.ollusa.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  10. "Announcing OLLU's 10th President". www.ollusa.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  11. MySA.com: Metro | State
  12. MySA.com: Metro | State
  13. OLLU History
  14. "OLLU athletics will add competitive cheer and dance, women's golf and tennis teams - Our Lady of the Lake University Athletics". www.ollusaintsathletics.com. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  15. "OLLU welcomes first member of Drumline team - Our Lady of the Lake University Athletics". www.ollusaintsathletics.com. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  16. https://www.wralsportsfan.com/naia-member-our-lady-of-the-lake-stuns-texas-state-61-58/19427114/
  17. OLLU men's basketball stuns NCAA D1 Texas State University with late-game heroics - Our Lady of the Lake University Athletics
  18. "OLLU women's basketball ends magical season with loss to WBU at nationals - Our Lady of the Lake University Athletics". www.ollusaintsathletics.com. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  19. "OLLU softball's magical season ends in extra innings in championship game - Our Lady of the Lake University Athletics". www.ollusaintsathletics.com. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  20. "Saints women conclude spring season, relay team will prepare for nationals - Our Lady of the Lake University Athletics". www.ollusaintsathletics.com. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  21. Cienfuegos, Alicia Barrera, Luis (2022-02-15). "San Antonio university sports announcer passes away during game, OLLU confirms". KSAT. Retrieved 2022-05-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. "Saints Volleyball Loses Marathon Championship Match to XULA". 12 November 2022.
  23. "OLLU is No. 2 in the Second Regular-Season NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll". 22 March 2023.
  24. "OLLU Softball Makes History with NAIA Opening Round Title, Punches Ticket to World Series". 17 May 2023.
  25. "Saints Men Win RRAC Track and Field Championships". 29 April 2023.
  26. "About the Salazar-Escobedo School". www.ollusa.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  27. "Fitness and Recreation". www.ollusa.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  28. "Residence Halls and Dining". www.ollusa.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  29. "Ride VIA with your new U-PASS". VIA Metropolitan Transit. Retrieved 2019-02-16.
  30. "The Animation and Gaming Convention of San Antonio". San Japan. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  31. "Greek Life". www.ollusa.edu. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  32. "Get Involved". www.ollusa.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  33. "Introduction". Our Lady of the Lake University Dallas Weekend College. 1999-11-14. Archived from the original on 1999-11-14. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  34. "BRIGADIER GENERAL BERNARD ARDISANA". The Official Web site of the United States Air Force. United States Air Force. October 1977. Archived from the original on March 31, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  35. "Bishop Robert A. Brucato, 87". Catholic New York. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  36. "Castro twins' mom pretty impressive herself". ExpressNews.com. 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
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  41. "Bishop Charles V. Grahmann". Diocese of Victoria. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  42. Beltran, Jacob (2014-12-08). "A vision from the barrio (Part I): A&M-San Antonio's inaugural president shares educational lessons and priorities | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | TAMUSA". Mesquite-News - Texas A&M University San Antonio. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  43. Schoolenberg, Julia H.; Abigail, R. Matt (6 July 2016). "LÓPEZ, ARCADIA HERNÁNDEZ". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  44. Telgen, Diane (1993). Notable Hispanic American Women. VNR AG. p. 199. ISBN 0810375788.
  45. Office of the Press Secretary (June 21, 2016). "President Obama to Award the Medal of Honor". whitehouse.gov. Washington, D.C. Retrieved July 19, 2016 – via National Archives.
  46. Katherine Rodriguez (9 November 2010). "Jonathan Joss Actor and OLLU Alumnus.mov". Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 11 December 2017 – via YouTube.
  47. "Sister M. Claude Lane Award – Society of Southwest Archivists". Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  48. "State Representative".
  49. "Ciro Rodriguez's Biography - The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  51. "Sister Elizabeth Anne Sueltenfuss, CDP, inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame". Congregation of Divine Providence. Sisters of Divine Providence. January 25, 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  52. D'angelo Wallace Calls Into The H3 Podcast. H3 Podcast Highlights. 16 January 2021. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021 – via YouTube.
  53. Cisneros, Sandra (2015-07-30), About Sandra Cisneros, sandracisneros.com, archived from the original on 2009-01-19, retrieved 2008-02-23
  54. "Interview With Zine Maker - Suzy González". Los Angeles Public Library. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  55. "James J. Kelly". lewisfuneralhome.com. Lewis Funeral Home. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
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