St. Edward's University

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 Notre Dame, 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. The high school section later separated to become St. Edward's High School but closed during the 1970s. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross.[3]

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.

Main entrance

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.[4]

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.[5] In 1990, enrollment reached 3,000 for the first time. This decade also ushered in civic initiatives and capital improvements.[6]

St. Edward's endowment, as of 2015, stood at more than $92.4 million.[7][8]

George E. Martin, PhD, served as the institution’s 23rd president. From Fall 1999–Summer 2021, Dr. Martin oversaw a period of expansion for St. Edward’s that included transforming the campus through the construction of many new buildings, doubling enrollment, growing the endowment, building global partnerships and founding the Holy Cross Institute [9] to sustain the mission of the Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross.[10] In February 2022, Dr. Montserrat ‘Montse’ Fuentes was inaugurated as the 24th president and first Hispanic president of St. Edward’s University. As part of her presidential inaugural address, Dr. Fuentes unveiled the university’s Strategic Plan 2027, [11] a roadmap that articulates how St. Edward’s will continue its mission [12] of serving as a destination university known for academic distinction, inclusive excellence and a commitment to social justice.

From 2015 to 2017, the university focused its efforts on preparing students for the demands of accelerating technological, economic and cultural changes. More partnerships within the Austin business community and with other colleges were developed to expand avenues for real-world learning, research and degree programs. The Campaign for St. Edward's University ended in 2017, topping $100 million in donations[13] and raising the endowment to $110 million. The conclusion of the 1999 campus master plan achieved more than $300 million in campus and technology improvements.

Trustee Hall, a 33,000-square-foot (3,100 m²) academic facility, opened in fall 2002. In 2003, Basil Moreau Hall, a co-ed freshmen residence hall opened.[14] 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, and 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 opened in 2009. 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.[15] The Mundays also donated $20 million for university scholarships in 2013. Both donations were school records.[16]

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 and environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr. brought his play, César & Ruben, to St. Edward's University for its Texas premiere.[22]

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.[23]

The St. Edward's in Angers, France program is in partnership with the Catholic University of the West.[24]

Hilltop Views is the student newspaper published by the School of Humanities at the 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.[28]

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 2013 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.

The university has an on campus church. The Catholic institution holds a Sunday mass every week and on Catholic religious holidays. The chapel was restored in 2014 and is now equipped with a meditative garden as well as a restored alter, crucifix, and baptismal font.