Loras College

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Loras College
Loras College crest.svg
Latin: Collegium Loras
Former names
Saint Raphael's Seminary/Academy (1839–1850)
Mount St. Bernard's College and Seminary (1850–1873)
St. Joseph's College (1873–1914)
Dubuque College (1914–1920)
Columbia College (1920–1939)
MottoPro Deo Et Patria
Motto in English
For God And Country
Type Private college
Established1839;185 years ago (1839)
FounderBishop Mathias Loras
Religious affiliation
 Archdiocese of Dubuque
Academic affiliations
 Space-grant
Endowment $41.6 million (2019) [1]
Chancellor Archbishop Michael Jackels
President James E. Collins
Administrative staff
172
Students1,600 [2]
Location
Dubuque
,
Iowa
,
U.S.

42°30′18″N90°40′48″W / 42.50500°N 90.68000°W / 42.50500; -90.68000
Loras College Historic District
LorasCollegeKeaneHall.jpg
Keane Hall
NRHP reference No. 100005277 [3]
Added to NRHPJune 19, 2020
CampusUrban [4] , 64 acres (26 ha)
Colors Purple and Vegas Gold    
Nickname Duhawks
Sporting affiliations
MascotDewey
Website loras.edu
Loras College wordmark.svg

Loras College is a private Catholic college in Dubuque, Iowa. It has an enrollment of approximately 1,600 students and is the oldest post-secondary institution in the state of Iowa. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It is one of four four-year post-secondary institutions in the City of Dubuque, one of four Catholic colleges in the Archdiocese of Dubuque, and one of six Catholic colleges in the state of Iowa. The campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Loras College Historic District in 2020. [3]

Contents

History

Loras College, a liberal arts college, was founded in 1839 by Mathias Loras, first bishop of Dubuque, who established Saint Raphael's Seminary to educate young men for the priesthood with the expressed intention of also providing an opportunity for higher education to the citizens of the area. Loras later became president of the college. His statue on campus was removed on September 8, 2020 after it was discovered he was a slave owner from 1836 to 1852. [5] The college has functioned under several different names: Saint Raphael's Seminary and later Saint Raphael's Academy (1839–1850), Mount St. Bernard's College and Seminary (1850–1873), St. Joseph's College (1873–1914), Dubuque College (1914–1920), and Columbia College (1920–1939). [6] The present name was adopted during the school's centennial in 1939. That same year, the national Catholic honor society, Delta Epsilon Sigma was founded at the college, by Father Fitzgerald. From the time of its founding, the college has devoted its faculty and facilities to an undergraduate program; it conferred the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees.

In 1963, when The Catholic University of America decided to discontinue its branch program of graduate study on the Loras campus, Loras College, realizing the growing need in the locale for study beyond the baccalaureate degree, initiated its Graduate Division offering the Master of Arts degree in some fields.

The College became coeducational in the fall of 1971. In 1973, the Associate of Arts and the Associate of Science degrees were introduced. The Division of Community Education was initiated in 1975.

Both the Undergraduate College and the Graduate Division of Loras College are accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The teacher education program, both at the graduate and undergraduate level, is accredited by the Iowa Department of Education. The undergraduate teacher education program is also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The American Chemical Society has approved the undergraduate chemistry program. The Council of Social Work Education has accredited the social work major at the baccalaureate level.

Academics

Loras offers 49 majors, 11 stand-alone minors, and nine pre-professional programs for undergraduates. Undergraduates can also participate in summer classes, internships, field experience, study abroad, and other programs.

For graduate programs, Loras offers a Master of Arts in clinical or general psychology, school counseling, education STEM, and a master's degree Business Administration with a focus on business analytics. [7]

Athletics

Loras’ athletic teams are known as the Duhawks, a name bestowed upon the football team by a Detroit Free Press scribe in 1924 converging Dubuque and Hawks. The school fields 23 men's and women's varsity teams in the NCAA Division III. They are a member of the American Rivers Conference (ARC), Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference (MWLC), and the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL). Loras’ colors are Purple, Rah Rah Gold, and Metallic Gold. The men's soccer team has advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four five times since 2007, and once to the NCAA Division III Championship game in 2015. Denise Udelhofen ('90) serves as the director of athletics for the Duhawks and is assisted by head men's soccer coach and director of soccer operations, Dan Rothert ('96). Jim Naprstek ('13) serves as the director of athletic communications for the Duhawks after his hiring in March 2014.

The Rock Bowl with Christ the King Chapel spire in the background. (September 2004) Rockbowl1.jpg
The Rock Bowl with Christ the King Chapel spire in the background. (September 2004)
The Loras Athletic and Wellness Center (November 2007) Athletic Wellness Center.jpg
The Loras Athletic and Wellness Center (November 2007)
SportSeasonFacilities
BaseballSpringPetrakis Park
Men's BasketballWinterAWC/Lillis Court
Women's BasketballWinterAWC/Lillis Court
Men's GolfFall
Spring		The Meadows
Thunder Hills
Women's GolfFall
Spring		The Meadows
Thunder Hills
Cross CountryFallDubuque Soccer Complex
FootballFallRock Bowl/Biere Field
Men's SoccerFallRock Bowl/Biere Field
Women's SoccerFallRock Bowl/Biere Field
Women's LacrosseSpringRock Bowl/Biere Field
SoftballSpringFaber-Clark Field
Swimming & DivingWinterSan Jose Pool
Men's TennisFall
Spring		Tucker Tennis Courts
Women's TennisFall
Spring		Tucker Tennis Courts
Track & FieldWinter
Spring		Graber Sports Center
Rock Bowl
Men's VolleyballSpringLillis Court
Women's VolleyballFallLillis Court
WrestlingWinterGraber Sports Complex/AWC

Campus

Keane Hall, as seen from Heitkamp Planetarium LorasKeane.JPG
Keane Hall, as seen from Heitkamp Planetarium

Loras sits on a 65-acre (260,000 m2) campus located atop several hills in Dubuque. The grounds are bounded by Loras Boulevard on the south, Kirkwood Street on the north, Henion Street on the east, and Alta Vista Street on the west. The campus is surrounded by residential neighborhoods on all sides, some of which are among the most historic in the city. The college consists of 23 buildings, two athletic fields, a stadium, and five tennis courts. Because of its high location, several of the buildings provide excellent views of Downtown Dubuque and the Mississippi River.

Some of the more notable buildings include:

Interior of Christ The King Chapel Interior of Christ the King Chapel.jpg
Interior of Christ The King Chapel
The Academic Resource Center LorasARC.JPG
The Academic Resource Center
The ACC, as seen from Loras Blvd (Lower Campus), with the power plant in the foreground before the construction of the AWC LorasACC.JPG
The ACC, as seen from Loras Blvd (Lower Campus), with the power plant in the foreground before the construction of the AWC
Hoffmann Hall, as seen from Loras Parkway. St. Joseph's Adoration Chapel is in the foreground. LorasHoffman.JPG
Hoffmann Hall, as seen from Loras Parkway. St. Joseph's Adoration Chapel is in the foreground.
Beckman Hall, a residence hall, on the left and Hoffmann Hall on the right, as seen from the Alumni Campus Center before the construction of the AWC LorasCollegeDubSouthCampusJune2004.jpg
Beckman Hall, a residence hall, on the left and Hoffmann Hall on the right, as seen from the Alumni Campus Center before the construction of the AWC

Expansion

The college has been expanded over the years. The Alumni Campus Center was built in 1992, and added a new library in 2001. The Academic Resource Center contains a collection of approximately 355,000 items and 11,000 magazine subscriptions. In addition to its broad general collection, the library contains a rich heritage in its special collections of rare books, as well as the photographs and manuscripts in the Center for Dubuque History located in the lower level of the library. The library is also an official document depository for both the United States government and the state of Iowa. The previous library, Wahlert Memorial Library, was remodeled into classroom space.

The college has purchased Cox Street which runs through campus from the city of Dubuque for $50,000. The school has since shut the street down and replaced it with a pedestrian friendly walk way to improve pedestrian safety and help upgrade the area aesthetically. In 2015, a school spirit shop, The Duhawk Shop, and Einstein Bros. Bagels opened at the corner of Loras Boulevard and the new Loras Parkway.

St. Pius X Seminary

St. Pius X Seminary is run under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The seminary prepares Minor (College) Seminarians for the priesthood, specifically preparing candidates for entrance into Major Seminary & Theological studies. Through Loras, the seminary provides full training in Philosophical studies, while giving students the necessary religious studies courses required for entrance into Major Seminary. The seminary has operated under various names and conditions at Loras College since 1839 until adopting its present name in 1954. St. Pius X has prepared countless Seminarians across Iowa & surrounding states for the priesthood, counting over 30 Bishops as alumni. Currently, the seminary is housed at the Vianney House and serves Seminarians of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and the Diocese of Des Moines. The current rector of St. Pius X Seminary is Fr. David Schatz and the spiritual director is Fr. Tom McDermott.

Transportation

The college is located west of downtown Dubuque and served by The Jule transit system. The Blue Route, Orange Route and AM Commuter East Route stop on Loras Boulevard at the south edge of campus. [8] Lamers Bus Lines stops outside Keane Hall providing intercity bus service towards Madison and Milwaukee. [9]

Alumni and faculty

Loras College currently counts over 30 bishops as alumni. Notable graduates and faculty of Loras College include:

See also

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St. Pius X Seminary is associated with Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, and run under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The seminary prepares Minor (College) Seminarians for the priesthood, specifically preparing candidates for entrance into Major Seminary & Theological studies. Through Loras, the seminary provides full training in Philosophical studies, while giving students the necessary religious studies courses required for entrance into Major Seminary. Founded in 1839 by Bishop Mathias Loras as St. Raphael Seminary, the seminary has operated under various names and conditions at Loras College until adopting its present name in 1954. St. Pius X has prepared countless Seminarians across Iowa & surrounding states for the priesthood, counting over 30 Bishops as alumni. Currently, the seminary is housed at the Vianney House and serves Seminarians of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and the Diocese of Des Moines. The current rector of St. Pius X Seminary is Fr. David Schatz and the spiritual director is Fr. Tom McDermott.

References

  1. ↑ As of June 30, 2019. "U.S. and Canadian 2019 NTSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2019 Endowment Market Value, and Percentage Change in Market Value from FY18 to FY19 (Revised)". National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Loras at a Glance". Loras College. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "National Register of Historic Places Program: Weekly List". National Park Service. June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  4. ↑ U.S. Department of Education (2010). "College Navigator" . Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Loras College Removes Statue of Founder | Inside Higher Ed". www.insidehighered.com. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  6. ↑ Encyclopedia Dubuque. "COLUMBIA COLLEGE" . Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Majors and Programs". Loras College. Loras College.
  8. ↑ "The Jule Route Map" . Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Dubuque Madison Milwaukee Daily Route" . Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Edward Grace, Assistant Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service".
  11. ↑ "Edward Grace and the Operation Crash Team".
  12. ↑ "Sammie awards spotlight the best in government". September 21, 2016.
  13. ↑ Campbell, Clete (March 13, 2013). "College basketball: Mickey Marty lived life to fullest". Telegraph Herald . Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Biographical Directory of Federal JudgesPratt, Robert W.publisher= Federal Judicial Center" . Retrieved September 2, 2012.
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