College of Saint Elizabeth
Encyclopedia
The College of Saint Elizabeth (CSE) is a private Roman Catholic
, four-year, liberal arts college
for women. It is located in an unincorporated community called Convent Station
, in Morris Township
, New Jersey
. A large portion of the college's campus extends into the neighboring town of Florham Park
.
There are about 500 part-time undergraduate, 650 full-time undergraduate, and 300 graduate students. About 50 men attend the college part-time. As of the 2004–2005 academic year, 1,976 total students were enrolled, with 668 in the Women's College.
and is the oldest women's college
in New Jersey and one of the first Catholic colleges in the United States to award degrees to women. It is named for Elizabeth Ann Seton
(1774–1821), who founded the Sisters of Charity and who, after her death, was canonized as the United States' first native-born saint. (Seton Hall University
in New Jersey and Seton Hill University
in Pennsylvania are also named after Elizabeth Ann Seton.)
, including the Villa of Saint Ann, the campus classical Greek amphitheater built into a hillside, and the original dairy farm for the complex.
At the college's front gate, the New Jersey Transit rail station
provides frequent daily services to New York City
, and the journey by train is approximately one hour.
The College of Saint Elizabeth consists of 8 buildings:
The campus also houses a Greek Theater used for concerts and performances, the Shakespeare Garden, completed in 1931, and a greenhouse, built in 1911 and a popular site for visitors.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, four-year, liberal arts college
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
for women. It is located in an unincorporated community called Convent Station
Convent Station, New Jersey
Convent Station is an unincorporated area within Morris Township, Morris County, New Jersey, east of Morristown.-History:The community is named after, and contains, the railroad station established during the 1870s to serve the complex of the Academy of Saint Elizabeth, a Catholic school operated...
, in Morris Township
Morris Township, New Jersey
Morris Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, USA. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 21,796. It is known as the "doughnut" around Morristown since it completely encapsulates it, and has at least five times the area...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. A large portion of the college's campus extends into the neighboring town of Florham Park
Florham Park, New Jersey
Florham Park is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 8,857, which had grown to 12,389 as of the Bureau's 2008 estimate....
.
There are about 500 part-time undergraduate, 650 full-time undergraduate, and 300 graduate students. About 50 men attend the college part-time. As of the 2004–2005 academic year, 1,976 total students were enrolled, with 668 in the Women's College.
History
The college was founded in 1899 by the Sisters of Charity of Saint ElizabethSisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
The Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth are a Roman Catholic apostolic congregation of pontifical right, based in the Convent Station area of Morris Township, New Jersey. The stated purpose of the order is to show the love of Jesus Christ in serving those in need, especially the poor...
and is the oldest women's college
Women's colleges in the United States
Women's colleges in the United States are single-sex U.S. institutions of higher education that exclude or limit males from admission. They are often liberal arts colleges...
in New Jersey and one of the first Catholic colleges in the United States to award degrees to women. It is named for Elizabeth Ann Seton
Elizabeth Ann Seton
Saint Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton was the first native-born citizen of the United States to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church . She established Catholic communities in Emmitsburg, Maryland....
(1774–1821), who founded the Sisters of Charity and who, after her death, was canonized as the United States' first native-born saint. (Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
in New Jersey and Seton Hill University
Seton Hill University
Seton Hill University is a small Catholic liberal arts university of about 2100 students in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. Formerly a women's college, it became a coeducational university in 2002....
in Pennsylvania are also named after Elizabeth Ann Seton.)
Campus
The College of Saint Elizabeth is located on the campus of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. Portions of the 200 acre (0.809372 km²) wooded campus flow into Florham Park, New JerseyFlorham Park, New Jersey
Florham Park is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 8,857, which had grown to 12,389 as of the Bureau's 2008 estimate....
, including the Villa of Saint Ann, the campus classical Greek amphitheater built into a hillside, and the original dairy farm for the complex.
At the college's front gate, the New Jersey Transit rail station
Convent Station (NJT station)
Convent Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Morristown Line. It is located on the grounds of the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station, Morris Township....
provides frequent daily services to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and the journey by train is approximately one hour.
The College of Saint Elizabeth consists of 8 buildings:
- Santa Rita Hall (main college offices)
- Henderson Hall
- Saint Joseph Hall
- Santa Maria Hall
- Mahoney Library
- Annunciation Center (dedicated September 8, 2007)
- O'Connor Hall (student residence)
- Founders Hall (student residence)
The campus also houses a Greek Theater used for concerts and performances, the Shakespeare Garden, completed in 1931, and a greenhouse, built in 1911 and a popular site for visitors.
Athletics
The sports teams are called the Screaming Eagles.Notable alumni
- Sister Carmela Marie Cristiano
- Louise Currie WilmotLouise Currie WilmotRear Admiral Louise Currie Wilmot USN was the first woman to command a United States Naval base. When she retired after thirty years of service, she was the highest ranking female Naval officer.-Early life:...
,'64, Worked thirty years in the United States Navy. Received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (with three gold stars), the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Joint Service Commendations Medal. Her assignments included Commander of the U.S. Naval Base in Philadelphia; Vice Chief of Naval Education and Training in Pensacola; Commander of the Naval Training Center in Orlando; Executive Assistant and Naval Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; and Commander of the Navy Recruiting Area Five in Great Lakes, Michigan. When she retired in 1994 as a Rear Admiral, she was the highest-ranking woman and the highest-decorated woman in the Navy. - Shirley Hayes Tolentino,'65, Municipal Court judge in Jersey City from1976-1984. Became Superior Court judge in 1984. Received an honorary degree from CSE in 1980. In 1981, she received the Whitney Young Award from the Hudson County Urban League. In 1996 she became President of the National Association of Women judges.
- Nancy T. Delaney, '82, Presently employed as Senior Probation Officer in the Community Service Program for the Morris County Probation Department. She has served as President of the Board of Employment Horizons, an agency that provides workforce training and jobs to persons with disabilities.