Loyola University Maryland

Loyola University Maryland is a private Jesuit university located in Baltimore, Maryland. It was established in 1852 by John Early and other members of the Society of Jesus, making it the ninth-oldest Jesuit college in the United States and the first to be named after St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus.

The university's main campus in Baltimore is known for its Collegiate Gothic architecture and features a pedestrian bridge across Charles Street. Loyola is organized into three schools: the Loyola College of Arts and Sciences, the Loyola School of Education, and the Sellinger School of Business and Management. It also operates a Clinical Center in Belvedere Square, Baltimore.

Loyola University has around 4,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students from 39 states and 44 countries. About 84% of undergraduate students live on campus, and the average class size is 20 students. Notable alumni include author Tom Clancy, known for books like The Hunt for Red October, and Mark Bowden, author of Black Hawk Down. The university's sports teams, called the Greyhounds, are famous for their men's and women's lacrosse teams, with a big rivalry against nearby Johns Hopkins University known as the "Battle of Charles Street". The school colors are green and grey.

History

See also: List of presidents of Loyola University Maryland

Founding

Loyola College in Maryland began in 1852, started by John Early and eight other members of the Society of Jesus (also called Jesuits). It was the first college in the United States to use the name of St. Ignatius of Loyola. It is also the ninth-oldest Jesuit college in the country.

The college first started in two big houses in downtown Baltimore. Just three years later, in 1855, it moved to a new building on North Calvert Street, close to St. Ignatius Church in the Mount Vernon-Belvedere area. In 1922, it moved again to its current campus on North Charles Street in north Baltimore. Evening classes began in 1942.

Expansion

In the early 1930s, the high school part of the college moved to a place called Towson, north of Baltimore. In 1949, the college started offering graduate programs in education. Over the years, it added more graduate programs in areas like business, speech pathology, finance, psychology, and computer science.

In 1971, Loyola became coeducational after joining with Mount Saint Agnes College, a women’s college that closed due to money problems. That same year, the college’s leaders chose its first non-Jesuit chairperson. From its small beginnings, Loyola grew into a college with over 4,000 students living on campus. In 1981, it started a separate business school called The Rev. Joseph A. Sellinger, Jr., School of Business and Management, which later opened centers in Timonium and Columbia, Maryland.

Designation change

On August 20, 2008, the college’s leaders decided to change its name to Loyola University Maryland. The state approved this change on March 25, 2009, and it officially happened on August 19. The Reverend Brian F. Linnane, SJ, the university’s president, said the old name didn’t reflect all the school’s many programs and levels of study.

Jesuit tradition

Loyola University Maryland was founded following the traditions of the Society of Jesus. This group works by a rule called Ad maiorem Dei gloriam, meaning to do what brings “greater glory to God.” This idea guides students to use their education to help others and honor God. Loyola focuses on educating the whole person, not just the mind. Students must take courses in many subjects such as English, philosophy, theology, and science.

In 1950, Loyola received an award for supporting equal rights for African Americans in Maryland after admitting Charles Henry Dorsey Jr..

Endowment

Loyola’s money is used to support the school’s work today and in the future. As of May 31, 2018, the school’s funds were worth $228.2 million. Big fundraising efforts have helped grow this money. A recent campaign called Bright Minds, Bold Hearts raised over $100 million. This money created new scholarships, improved sports facilities, and supported programs in peace studies, global studies, and a special living-learning program for first-year students called Messina. It also helped the school’s work in the local community and its York Road Initiative.

Academics

Loyola University Maryland gives students a strong foundation in many subjects like humanities, math, science, and social sciences. This helps balance general learning with focused study in a chosen field. Students can earn undergraduate degrees in three main areas: Loyola College, the School of Education, and the Sellinger School of Business and Management. The university uses a semester system.

Loyola College offers many subjects to study, such as biology, chemistry, communication, computer science, and more. The Sellinger School of Business and Management, named after Reverend Joseph A. Sellinger, offers programs in accounting, finance, marketing, and other business fields. The School of Education began in 1946 and now offers degrees for teaching at different levels.

Each year, Loyola receives over 10,000 applications for about 1,000 spots. Recently, the university started a program where students can choose not to send their SAT scores.

Campus

Loyola University's Evergreen campus covers 79 acres in northern Baltimore. It also has a retreat center in western Maryland and clinical centers nearby. The campus includes a beautiful chapel with stained-glass windows and a Tudor-style building called the Humanities Center, which now holds many important offices and departments.

The Sellinger School of Business and Management opened in 2000 and has a modern design with Spanish influences. There are also science buildings, dorms, and a fitness center with many activities like swimming, rock climbing, and group exercises. The library is shared with Notre Dame of Maryland University and has many resources for students.

The university is working hard to be environmentally friendly. It has solar panels, a green residence hall, and offers a major in Sustainability Management. Students also have clubs to help protect the environment.

Student life

Loyola University Maryland has about 3,580 undergraduate students. Most students live in university housing. The student body includes people from many different backgrounds.

The university has many clubs and organizations for students to join. It also has its own television and radio stations, and a student newspaper. Students can join ROTC classes, which teach about the U.S. Army. Many students also have the chance to study in other countries during their junior year.

Traditions

Loyola has many fun traditions. Every spring, there is a festival called Loyolapalooza with games, food, and music. There is also a special dinner called Midnight Breakfast served late at night. Other traditions include a lacrosse game against a rival team and concerts by student music groups.

Activism

Students at Loyola often work together to support good causes. One big event is Relay For Life, where they raise money for cancer research.

Center for Community Service and Justice

More than half of the students at Loyola University Maryland take part in community service projects. The Center for Community Service and Justice helps students learn by doing good in their community. They plan events and service activities that go along with classroom learning. Students can choose from nearly 40 regular service programs, over 15 special events each year, and several programs where they live and work in other places for a short time. They can also combine service with their schoolwork through special classes.

The center works on many important projects. For example, the Beans and Bread Center gives meals to 300 people in need in Baltimore each day, and Loyola students help once a month. The Our Daily Bread Employment Center offers meals, learning programs, help finding jobs, and support for people working through difficult times. Students help with meals there on certain Saturdays. Other activities include talks and events about fair treatment for workers, improving neighborhoods, and supporting local schools and children. During Spring Break, students can travel to places like El Salvador to live with families and learn about different cultures, or stay in Baltimore to explore the city's neighborhoods and learn about the challenges people face there.

Athletics

Main article: Loyola Greyhounds

Loyola University Maryland has 17 varsity teams and 22 club teams. The varsity teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. In 2013, they joined the Patriot League. Before that, most teams played in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The men's and women's lacrosse teams are especially well known. The men's team even won the NCAA Division I National Championship in 2012.

The men's soccer team has also been very successful. They won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1976 and have done well in Division I since 1982. In 2021, they won the Patriot League tournament title for the first time and went to the NCAA tournament.

Some famous athletes have been part of Loyola's teams. Philip Scholz, who is blind, set records in Paralympic swimming and was part of the men's swimming team. Katie Hoff, an Olympic medal winner, also coached swimming at Loyola before moving to Fullerton, California. The basketball team had an amazing run recently, making it to the Patriot League Championship game. The men's and women's rugby teams are also highly ranked.

Notable faculty

Loyola University Maryland has many talented teachers. Kelly DeVries, a history professor, is known for his expertise in medieval times and has shared his knowledge on The History Channel. Diana Schaub teaches political science and explores big ideas in government and American history. Karsonya "Kaye" Wise Whitehead is an educator and filmmaker who leads a special institute focused on fairness and peace. Robert J. Wicks is a teacher of pastoral counseling and has written important books about faith and the mind, even receiving a special award from the Pope.

Notable alumni

Main article: List of Loyola University Maryland people

Loyola University Maryland has about 70,000 alumni around the world. Some well-known graduates include Mark Bowden, who was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1999 for his book Black Hawk Down; Tom Clancy, famous for writing the Jack Ryan book series; and Michael D. Griffin, who served as the top leader of NASA. Other notable alumni are Harry Markopolos, who helped uncover a big financial scam; Jim McKay, a well-known sports host; and Jerry Parr, who worked with the US Secret Service protecting the White House. Also, Santi Aldama plays for the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team, and Herbert O'Conor was the 51st Governor of Maryland.