St. Edward's University


St. Edward's University is a private, Catholic university in Austin, Texas. It was founded and operated in the Holy Cross tradition.

History

Founding and early 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. 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.
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.

Twentieth century

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 ; a professionally oriented Theater Arts curriculum ; an innovative degree program for adults called New College ; and Freshman Studies. 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 civic initiatives and capital improvements.
In 1999, George E. Martin became the 23rd president of St. Edward's University. St. Edward's endowment, as of 2015, stood at more than $92.4 million.

Expansion (1999present)

In Fall 1999, George E. Martin, PhD, became the institution's 23rd president, who oversaw a period of expansion for the university. During this time, undergraduate enrollment almost doubled; the size of the faculty increased and new academic programs were added. Local and global partnerships were formed to expand opportunities for students. A campus master plan guided the development of $150 million in new and renovated facilities while a 10-year fundraising initiative launched in 2007 drew more than $84 million in support of the university's mission. International recruitment and curricula grew, and the number of educational partnerships with international universities tripled. Fundraising during this time added $64 million to the university and the endowment for scholarships and student support grew to just over $95 million.

New buildings and renovations

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 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 academic facility, opened in fall 2002. Basil Moreau 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, Fleck Hall and Doyle Hall. 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. The Mundays also donated $20 million for university scholarships in 2013. Both donations were school records.

Academics

St. Edward's offers 8 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.

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

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.

Student life

As of fall 2018, undergraduate enrollment was 4,301 with a student body that was 62% female and 38% male. The percentage of applicants admitted in fall 2018 was 86%, with 17% of those admitted choosing to enroll.
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 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.

Topper Radio

In the fall semester of 2012, two freshmen students founded St. Edward's University's radio station, , 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.

Athletics

St. Edwards NCAA Division II varsity athletic teams, known as the Hilltoppers, include men's and women's baseball/softball, basketball, golf, soccer, track & field, cross country and tennis. Women also compete in Division II volleyball. St. Edward's was a founding member of the Heartland Conference. St. Edwards left the Heartland to join the Lone Star Conference in 2019.
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 2008–09, 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 has been very successful since 2006, posting winning records each season, and being selected to the NCAA Tournament 6 out of 7 years.
In April of 2020, St. Edward's abruptly discontinued five NCAA Division II programs: men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis and men’s soccer, while also downgrading its cheer squad to a club sport.

Residences

The following residence halls serve the university: