Siena Heights University

Siena Heights University (SHU) is a private Roman Catholic university in Adrian, Michigan. It was founded by the Adrian Dominican Sisters in 1919.

Siena Heights University
Seal of Siena Heights University
Former names
St. Joseph's College (1919–1939)
Siena Heights College (1939–1998)
MottoCompetent, Purposeful, and Ethical
TypePrivate university
Established1919 (1919)
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic (Adrian Dominican Sisters)
Endowment$8.1 million[1]
PresidentSister Peg Albert, OP, PhD
Academic staff
80+ full-time
Administrative staff
70+ full-time
UndergraduatesApprox. 2,200 (About 1,000 on the Adrian Campus)
PostgraduatesApprox. 250
Location
Adrian
,
Michigan
,
United States
CampusRural
ColorsBlue & Yellow
   
NicknameSaints
Sporting affiliations
NAIA – WHAC
MascotHalo the Husky Dog
Websitewww.sienaheights.edu

History

The institution was founded for women in 1919 as St. Joseph's College by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. In 1939, it was renamed as Siena Heights College, after Saint Catherine of Siena.

In 1969, it became coeducational. In 1998, after expansion of graduate studies, it was renamed Siena Heights University. The sisters minister in 29 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and in seven countries outside the United States.[2]

Campuses
Siena Heights University campus

The main campus has 55 acres with 17 buildings in Adrian, Michigan. SHU is across town from Adrian College. The main campus has the distinction of being the first all wireless college or university in the state of Michigan. There are satellite campuses in Southfield, Dearborn, Benton Harbor, Monroe, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Jackson, and online.[3]

Affiliation

Siena Heights is affiliated with and sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan, and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.[3]

The college seal uses the Dominican Shield of the International Order of Preachers, consisting of four white and four black gyrons or triangles. These symbolize the unity of a body of people working together for the common good. The "cross fleury" (or cross with a fleur de lis at each end) superimposed on the gyrons, signifies victory, duty and self-sacrifice. The sable (or black of the shield) symbolizes wisdom, silence, fortitude and penance. The light color signifies peace, purity, charity and sincerity. The motto surrounding the shield, "Laudare, Benedicere, Praedicare," means "to praise God, to bless His people and to preach His gospel." The shield may also be surrounded by the six- or eight-pointed star that is the distinguishing symbol of St. Dominic.[4]

Academics

The university has more than 40 academic programs of study[5] between the College of Arts and Sciences, the College for Professional Studies and the Graduate College.[6] The undergraduate college is further divided into seven academic divisions: Business & Management; Computing, Mathematics & the Sciences; Humanities; Nursing; Social & Behavioral Science; Visual/Performing Arts & Teacher Education. Its most popular undergraduate majors, in terms of 2021 graduates, were:[7]

Business Administration & Management (95)
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (46)
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (38)
Community Organization & Advocacy (36)
Accounting (34)
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences (30)
Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer (30)

Siena Heights also provides classes for high school students through dual enrollment. This gives juniors and seniors who meet certain criteria to get college credit and experience while still in high school, getting students a step closer to going to college and learning about college life and class work. The student-to-faculty ratio is 12:1.[3]

Athletics

The Siena Heights athletic teams are called the Saints.[8] The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) for most of its sports since the 1992–93 academic year; while its football team competes in the Mideast League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) since the 2012 fall season.[9] Prior to the addition of women's lacrosse by the WHAC, the women's lacrosse team competed in the National Women's Lacrosse League (NWLL).[10]

Siena Heights competes in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, track & field, volleyball and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track & field, volleyball and wrestling; and co-ed sports include cheerleading, dance and eSports.[3]

Notable alumni

References
  1. Siena Heights University colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Retrieved 4 October 2021
  2. "About the Adrian Dominican Sisters". Archived from the original on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  3. Siena Heights: Facts
  4. "Saints Guide Student Code of Conduct 2008-2009" (PDF). Siena Heights University Doug Goodnough. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  5. "Programs for Online Education and On-Campus - Catholic College - Siena Heights University". Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  6. "Catholic College in Michigan - Siena Heights University - Academics". Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  7. "Siena Heights University". nces.ed.gov. U.S. Dept of Education. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  8. SHU Saints Archived 2009-01-16 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Saints Football Accepted Into MSFA". Siena Heights University. May 9, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  10. "NWLL announces addition of three new members". NWLL. April 26, 2011. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  11. "Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments to Boards and Commissions". Governor Gretchen Whitmer. 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  12. "Former Michigan State Representative Leslie Love Named Director of Government Affairs". Detroit Regional Chamber. 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2023-06-06.

41°54′20.4″N 84°00′56.5″W

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