Marian University (Wisconsin)

Marian University is a private Roman Catholic university in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It was founded in 1936 by the Congregation of Sisters of Saint Agnes, which continues to sponsor the university today.

Marian University
Academic Seal
Former names
Marian College of Fond du Lac (1936–2008)
Mottosicut lilium inter spinas
Motto in English
As a lily among thorns
TypePrivate university
Established1936; 88 years ago (1936)
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic
PresidentAaron Sadoff[1]
Academic staff
270
Administrative staff
160
Students2,180
Undergraduates1,680
Postgraduates500
Location,
U.S.

43°46′39″N 88°25′17″W / 43.7775°N 88.4214°W / 43.7775; -88.4214
Campus78 acres (32 ha)
Colorsblue and white
NicknameThe Sabres
Sporting affiliations
NCAA DIII -
MascotSammy the Sabre
Websitewww.marianuniversity.edu
Dorcas Chapel
Agnes Hazotte Hall

Marian University has an enrollment of approximately 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Seventy-one percent of students are women. Ninety-four percent of students receive financial aid. Approximately 32% of undergraduate students live on campus.[2]

History

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Marian University opened as Marian College of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on September 8, 1936, with 17 full-time and 25 part-time students and eight faculty. The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes founded the college in response to a Wisconsin Department of Instruction decision that nuns were not allowed to teach in public schools while wearing their religious habits.

Marian became accredited to offer an undergraduate degree in elementary education in 1941. The first graduating class in August 1941 had eight nun graduates. The first lay students graduated in 1942. Although Marian was founded as a women's college, the male superintendent of Fond du Lac schools attended art and music classes with his wife in 1940. Marian had 86 full-time and 145 part-time students in 1950 who attended classes in a convent next to St. Agnes Hospital. Increasing enrollment caused the college to move to its current 100 acres (40 ha) campus on Fond du Lac's east side in the mid-1960s. The college became co-educational in 1970.

The school became accredited by the North Central Association for a Master of Arts program in 1987.

On May 1, 2008, Marian College of Fond du Lac changed its name to Marian University to reflect an expansion of its programs and classes and to position the institution for continued growth.[3]

In 2021, the college was sanctioned by the American Association of University Professors "for infringement of governance standards".[4]

Academics

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Marian University consists of two colleges, namely the College of the Professions and the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters.

Marian University offers the BA, BS, and MA degrees, as well as a variety of licensures and certificates. It also offers an RN to BSN degree. Degrees can be obtained on campus or online.[5]

Marian University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Specific programs or academic units are also accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, National League for Nursing, Council on Social Work Education, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Marian's curriculum has been approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and Wisconsin State Board of Nursing and certified by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Law Enforcement Standards Board Training and Standards Bureau.

Catholic environment

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Undergraduate students are required to take six credits (2 courses) in Theology and three credits (1 course) in Philosophy. Graduate-level programs include courses that are grounded in Catholic teaching.

The Campus Ministry at Marian University provides many activities for students to deepen their understanding of the Catholic tradition: weekly Mass, retreats, sacraments, Scripture study, Rosary, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and outreach to the local area.

Publications

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45 South is Marian University's literary magazine. The Sabre is its online newspaper.

Athletics

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Marian University's athletic team's nickname is the Sabres. Its colors are blue and white.

Students participate in sports at the NCAA Division III level in women's basketball, golf, hockey, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball, and men's baseball, basketball, golf, hockey, soccer, men's volleyball, tennis, and lacrosse. Teams have held membership in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference since 2006, after holding membership in the Lake Michigan Conference from 1974 to 2006. Marian University's men's hockey team participates in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. Women's hockey is a member of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association, and the men's volleyball team competes in the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League. Since starting an intercollegiate athletic program in 1972, the Sabres have won 62 conference titles. Since joining the NCAA in 1997, seven different programs have competed in the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

Marian University plays its home baseball games at Herr-Baker Field, which has also been the home of the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders since 2017. The Dock Spiders play collegiate summer baseball in the Northwoods League.

Notable alumni

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  • Sr. Dianne Bergant, CSA (1961) - author and scripture scholar[6]
  • Patrick G. Coy (1979) - author and scholar in the field of conflict resolution[7]
  • Amy Sue Vruwink (1997) - member of the Wisconsin State Assembly[8]

References

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  1. ^ Lemke, Daphne (April 18, 2024). "Marian University appoints former educator and Marian alum as 18th president". FDL Reporter.
  2. ^ University Profile at Official Website
  3. ^ "Marian College Becomes a University - The Business Journal of Milwaukee". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-08-23.
  4. ^ "Sanctioned Institutions". AAUP. July 21, 2006. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  5. ^ Academic Bulletin 2014-15. Fond du Lac, Wisconsin: Marian University of Wisconsin. p. 18. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  6. ^ "Sr. Dianne Bergant, CSA, Ph.D." Archived from the original on 2017-09-28. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Patrick G. Coy | Kent State University". Archived from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  8. ^ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 2011-2012,' Biographical Sketch of Amy Sue Vruwink, pg 67
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