Fairfield University - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield

Fairfield, Connecticut

Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...

, Connecticut, in the New England

New England

New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...

region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus

Society of Jesus

The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...

in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities

Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities

The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities is a consortium of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities and two theological centers in the United States committed to advancing academic excellence by promoting and coordinating collaborative activities, sharing resources, and advocating and...

. The primary objectives of a Fairfield University education are to develop the creative intellectual potential of its students and to foster in them ethical

Ethics

Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...

and religious

Philosophy of religion

Philosophy of religion is a branch of philosophy concerned with questions regarding religion, including the nature and existence of God, the examination of religious experience, analysis of religious language and texts, and the relationship of religion and science...

values and a sense of social responsibility

Social responsibility

Social responsibility is an ethical ideology or theory that an entity, be it an organization or individual, has an obligation to act to benefit society at large. Social responsibility is a duty every individual or organization has to perform so as to maintain a balance between the economy and the...

. All schools of the university are committed to a liberal humanistic

Humanism

Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....

approach to education, which encourages interdisciplinary learning.

About 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students study in Fairfield's six schools and colleges: The Fairfield College of Arts and Sciences

Fairfield College of Arts and Sciences

The Fairfield College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest schools within Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut. The College is host to 15 departments and 19 programs, led by roughly 150 full-time faculty and serving approximately 2,000 students...

, The Charles F. Dolan School of Business, The School of Engineering

Fairfield University School of Engineering

The Fairfield University School of Engineering is a graduate and undergraduate engineering school and one of the professional schools of Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut...

, The School of Nursing

Fairfield University School of Nursing

The Fairfield University School of Nursing is a graduate and undergraduate nursing school and one of the professional schools of Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut...

, The Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions

Fairfield University Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions

The Fairfield University Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions is a graduate education school and one of the professional schools of Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut...

, and The University College. Fairfield academics are notable for its science programs which have produced a MacArthur Fellow and a Guggenheim Fellow and its international programs which have produced fifty-nine Fulbright Scholars since 1993. In addition, two Fairfield faculty members were named consecutive Connecticut Professors of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 2009 and 2010 in recognition of their extraordinary dedication to undergraduate teaching.

History

Fairfield University was founded in 1942 by the Society of Jesus

Society of Jesus

when the Jesuits acquired the two contiguous estates of the Brewster Jennings

Brewster Jennings

Benjamin Brewster Jennings was a founder and president of the Socony-Vacuum company, which became, in 1955, the Standard Oil Company of New York , which would later become Mobil Oil, and then merged to become part of ExxonMobil.-Early life and family:Jennings was born in 1898 to Oliver Gould...

and Walter Lashar families. In the same year the Rev. James H. Dolan, S.J., the Provincial Superior of the New England Jesuit Province appointed the Rev. John J. McEleney, S.J. the first President of the "Fairfield University of Saint Robert Bellarmine, S.J." and Vicar of the Fairfield College Preparatory School

Fairfield College Preparatory School

Fairfield College Preparatory School is a Jesuit Prep School located on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is an all male school of about 900 students, first founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942...

. In 1944, the Rev. James H. Dolan, S.J. became the second President. During his tenure, Fairfield University was chartered by the State of Connecticut to grant degrees in 1945; the first class of 303 male students was admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences in 1947; the College of Arts and Sciences was accredited by the State of Connecticut and the first summer session of undergraduate courses was held in 1949.

Presidents of Fairfield
Years	President
1942–1944	Rev. John J. McEleney, S.J.
1944–1951	Rev. James H. Dolan, S.J.
1951–1958	Rev. Joseph D. FitzGerald, S.J.
1958–1964	Rev. James E. FitzGerald, S.J.
1964–1973	Rev. William C. McInnes, S.J.
1973–1979	Rev. Thomas R. Fitzgerald, S.J.
1979–2004	Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J.
2004 -	Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.

In 1971, Fairfield University won a significant legal victory at the Supreme Court of the United States

Supreme Court of the United States

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...

in Tilton vs. Richardson establishing an important legal precedent concerning the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment

Establishment Clause of the First Amendment

The Establishment Clause is the first of several pronouncements in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, stating, Together with the Free Exercise Clause The Establishment Clause is the first of several pronouncements in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution,...

and government financial assistance to religious-based colleges and universities. This landmark court case questioned the legality of Fairfield and three other Connecticut religious-based institutions securing federal construction grants under the Higher Education Facilities Act of 1963. An appeal by the plaintiffs was denied by the Supreme Court on June 28, 1971, ensuring Fairfield a significant amount of federal money which contributed to the construction of the Nyselius Library

DiMenna-Nyselius Library

DiMenna–Nyselius Library is located on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA.- History :In 1948, the library at Fairfield University under the leadership of Librarian Robert Gaffney, boasted over 5,000 books and a panoramic view of the Long Island Sound from the windows...

(1968) and Bannow Science Center (1971). In the majority opinion, the Court upheld, 5–4, the federal construction grants as long as the facilities were not to be used for sectarian instruction or places of worship. The Court held that the church-related institutions in question had not used their federally funded facilities for religious activities, and that the facilities were "indistinguishable from a typical state university facility."

Fairfield has been a frequent stop of candidates for President of the United States throughout several Presidential campaigns. During the 1984 presidential election

United States presidential election, 1984

The United States presidential election of 1984 was a contest between the incumbent President Ronald Reagan, the Republican candidate, and former Vice President Walter Mondale, the Democratic candidate. Reagan was helped by a strong economic recovery from the deep recession of 1981–1982...

, President of the United States Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....

visited Fairfield on October 26, 1984. During the 1988 Presidential election

United States presidential election, 1988

The United States presidential election of 1988 featured no incumbent president, as President Ronald Reagan was unable to seek re-election after serving the maximum two terms allowed by the Twenty-second Amendment. Reagan's Vice President, George H. W. Bush, won the Republican nomination, while the...

, George H. Bush visited the university and delivered a speech in Alumni Hall

Alumni Hall (Fairfield University)

Alumni Hall is a 2,479 seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut. The facility opened on December 5, 1959 and is one of the earliest prestressed concrete structures of its kind ever attempted...

attacking the tax-and-budget policies of then Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis

Michael Dukakis

Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...

days before being elected the 41st President

President of the United States

The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

. Alumnus J. Michael Farren '77

J. Michael Farren

John Michael Farren is an American attorney who served as Deputy White House Counsel in the Office of Counsel to the President under the 43rd President of the United States George W. Bush from 2007 to 2009. Mr...

served as deputy director to President-elect George H. Bush's transition team and later served as deputy campaign manager for the Bush-Quayle Re-election Committee during the 1992 presidential election

United States presidential election, 1992

The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....

. During the 2000 United States Presidential Election

United States presidential election, 2000

The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....

, Texas Governor George W. Bush

George W. Bush

George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....

scheduled and controversially cancelled at the last moment a large student rally at Fairfield following a visit to Bob Jones University

Bob Jones University

Bob Jones University is a private, for-profit, non-denominational Protestant university in Greenville, South Carolina.The university was founded in 1927 by Bob Jones, Sr. , an evangelist and contemporary of Billy Sunday...

, a school which has been characterized as anti-Catholic. Alumnus Thomas J. Josefiak

Thomas J. Josefiak

Thomas J. Josefiak is an American lawyer who was Chief Counsel of Republican National Committee and Chairman of the Federal Election Commission during the 1988 U.S. presidential election...

served as general counsel to both the 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee

George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2004

This article is about the presidential campaign of George W. Bush, the former President of the United States and winner of the 2004 Presidential Election. See George W. Bush for a detailed biography and information about his full presidency, and George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000 for a...

and later served as general counsel to the Bush presidential campaign

George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2004

during the 2004 election

United States presidential election, 2004

The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...

.

A detailed account of the history of Fairfield University was written by the late Rev. Joseph MacDonnell, S.J. in his book entitled If these Stones Could Speak. Further, a brief history of The Jesuits in Fairfield can be found on The Fairfield Jesuit Community website.

During the American Revolutionary War

American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...

in 1779, the "Battle of Round Hill" took place on the present day Bellarmine Hill on the campus of the university where the Americans under the command of Colonel Samuel Whiting (whose third-generation grandson Andrew Whiting graduated in 2005) repelled the British invaders under the command of Major-General William Tryon

William Tryon

William Tryon was a British soldier and colonial administrator who served as governor of the Province of North Carolina and the Province of New York .-Early life and career:...

, but not before the British laid ruin to the Town of Fairfield.

Recent history

In September 2000, Charles F. Dolan H'04

Charles Dolan

Charles F. Dolan is an American billionaire and founder of Cablevision and HBO.-Biography:A John Carroll University drop out, Dolan is married and has six children, including Cablevision Systems Corporation and Madison Square Garden, Inc. chairman James L. Dolan.The Charles F...

, founder of HBO and chairman of Cablevision, donated $25 million to the renamed Charles F. Dolan School of Business, which still represents one of the largest donations from a single source to a business school

Business school

A business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in Business Administration. It teaches topics such as accounting, administration, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, marketing, organizational behavior, public relations, strategy, human resource...

.

In July 2004, the Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.

Jeffrey P. von Arx

Jeffrey Paul von Arx is the 8th President of Fairfield University. Previously, von Arx served as Chair of the History Department at Georgetown University and Dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill.-Biography:He graduated from the Locust Valley Schools in 1965 and Princeton University in 1969 and...

, a graduate of Princeton University

Princeton University

Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....

, former Chair of the History Department at Georgetown University

Georgetown University

Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...

, and former Dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill

Fordham University

Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...

, became the eighth Jesuit President of Fairfield University succeeding the Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J.

Aloysius P. Kelley

Aloysius Paul Kelley, S.J. was the 7th President of Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut from 1979 to 2004. During his 25 year tenure Father Kelley increased the full-time faculty from 151 to 220, and increased the institution's endowment from under $2 million in 1979 to $131...

, the longest tenured and most accomplished President of the University.

In September 2004, the Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.

Jeffrey P. von Arx

announced that the capital campaign, "Our Promise: The Campaign for Fairfield University," launched and led by the Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J.

Aloysius P. Kelley

, raised a record $137.9 million. The capital raised resulted in the construction and renovation of seven buildings, the creation of four new academic chairs, and the significant increase in the University's endowment.

In October 2006, the Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.

Jeffrey P. von Arx

, the Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J.

Aloysius P. Kelley

, and Paul J. Huston '82, chairman of the Board of Trustees, dedicated the Aloysius P. Kelley. S.J. Center, a new environmentally friendly

Environmentally friendly

Environmentally friendly are terms used to refer to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies claimed to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment....

, state-of-the-art welcoming center for prospective students and a "one-stop shopping" administrative center for current students.

In March 2008, the Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.

Jeffrey P. von Arx

, announced the Bridgeport Tuition Plan offering full tuition scholarships to admitted students who are graduates of a Bridgeport, Connecticut high school whose family earns less than $50,000 a year.

Roman Catholic and Jesuit tradition

As one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, Fairfield belongs to an elite group that continues the dedication Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Ignatius of Loyola

Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation...

(1491–1556) to developing the whole person. The university's environment invites students of all traditions to a maturing of faith, self knowledge, respect for the dignity of themselves and others, a devotion to justice, a commitment to serving the poor, and a passion for truth, reflection, and lifelong learning.

Alma Mater

Fairfield! See the stag with cross of Gold

Rears once more its undefeated head.

Fair our field, as any field of old,

Bids our banners, like our blood, be red.

"Through faith, unto total truth," our cry

Swells from the sea to spire and sky;

Hear, Alma Mater, hear! Fairfield, hail!

Mem'ries fold away the thought of thee:

Autumn roses crimson on the bough,

Bright snow breaking to the dogwood tree

Keeps spring singing, then as now.

"Through faith, unto total truth," our cry

Swells from the sea to spire and sky;

Hear, Alma Mater, hear! Fairfield, hail!

Alma Mater of Fairfield University by Rev. John L. Bonn, S.J.

Listen to the Alma Mater, as performed by the Fairfield University Glee Club
Fairfield University Glee Club
The Fairfield University Glee Club is a mixed chorus of more than 100 undergraduate and graduate singers at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. The Glee Club has performed in churches, schools and recital and concert halls throughout Europe, singing from Galway to Rome and Florence to...

.

Seal of the University

Fairfield's seal combines elements of its several traditions. The gold pinecones come from the coat of arms of the family of Saint Robert Bellarmine, S.J., for whom the university was originally named. Superimposed on the cones is the badge of the Society of Jesus

Society of Jesus

– the letters IHS surmounted by the cross and surrounded by the instruments of Christ's passion – to indicate that the University is in the care of members of the same religious family.

There are three compartments in the upper portion of the shield, because "the school is dedicated and exists in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit." The central compartment portrays a hart crossing a ford, a part of the coat of arms of the Diocese of Hartford

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford is a particular church of the Latin Rite in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut. The archdiocese includes about 700,000 Catholics, more than 500 priests, 216 parishes and almost 300 deacons. This is roughly one-half the population of...

, whose boundaries encompassed the Town of Fairfield

Fairfield, Connecticut

, when the University was founded. Finally, the two outer compartments show clusters of grapes, charges taken from the town seal and symbolic of the fertility of the verdant fields of the Town and County of Fairfield.
When the University was founded in 1942, the official name of the University was "Fairfield University of St. Robert Bellarmine". Three of the original seals with this name still exist on campus – in the main lobby of Alumni Hall, on the exterior of the Barone Campus Center, and on the glass front of Regis Hall facing the Quad.

Academic programs

Fairfield's Jesuit ethos trains students in scholarship, prepares them for leadership, encourages them to engage in service projects; and develops graduates with strong social concerns for the common good. The university is an intellectual, social, spiritual, and cultural destination of choice for students and faculty from a diversity of backgrounds.

Fairfield University offers 35 undergraduate majors and 16 interdisciplinary minors, 35 graduate programs leading to a Master's degree or certification, as well as more than 350 credit and 250 non-credit courses in University College. The Fiske Guide to Colleges recognized Fairfield's strongest programs to include Biology

Biology

Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...

, International Studies

International studies

International Studies generally refers to the specific University Degrees and courses which are concerned with the study of ‘the major political, economic, social, cultural and sacral issues that dominate the international agenda’...

, Art History

Art history

Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...

, Religious Studies

Religious studies

Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...

, Sociology

Sociology

Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...

, Accounting and Finance, and Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering

Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...

. The innovative New Media

New media

New media is a broad term in media studies that emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. For example, new media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community...

major is the first of its kind among Jesuit universities and features Cinefest Fairfield

Cinefest Fairfield

Cinefest Fairfield is an annual film festival since 2005 featuring short films by students, alumni and faculty of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut held in association with the Fairfield Community Theatre...

, an annual film festival showcasing student work created in production courses. And Fairfield's new 5-Year Bachelor's/Master's Teacher Program allows students to begin their teacher education program requirements as undergraduates and complete them as graduate students in the University's graduate degree programs in secondary

Secondary education in the United States

In most jurisdictions, secondary education in the United States refers to the last six or seven years of statutory formal education. Secondary education is generally split between junior high school or middle school, usually beginning with sixth or seventh grade , and high school, beginning with...

, elementary

Primary education in the United States

Primary education in the United States typically refers to the first six years of formal education in most jurisdictions. Primary education may also be referred to as elementary education and most schools offering these programs are referred to as elementary schools...

, or TESOL education.

The Fairfield College of Arts and Sciences
Fairfield College of Arts and Sciences
The Fairfield College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest schools within Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut. The College is host to 15 departments and 19 programs, led by roughly 150 full-time faculty and serving approximately 2,000 students...
The Charles F. Dolan School of Business
The School of Engineering
Fairfield University School of Engineering
The Fairfield University School of Engineering is a graduate and undergraduate engineering school and one of the professional schools of Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut...
The School of Nursing
Fairfield University School of Nursing
The Fairfield University School of Nursing is a graduate and undergraduate nursing school and one of the professional schools of Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut...
The Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions
Fairfield University Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions
The Fairfield University Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions is a graduate education school and one of the professional schools of Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut...
The University College

Academic achievement

Fairfield students and graduates have been the recipients of numerous nationally acclaimed fellowships and scholarships including the MacArthur Fellowship, Guggenheim Fellowship

Guggenheim Fellowship

Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...

, Fulbright Scholarship, Goldwater Scholarship, Clare Booth Luce Scholarship, McGowan Scholarship and Udall Scholarship.

Phi Beta Kappa: Fairfield is the second youngest institution to gain membership in Phi Beta Kappa (ΦΒΚ), the nation's oldest and most prestigious academic honor society. When the Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was chartered at the university in 1994, Fairfield joined a select company of 262 colleges and universities. Nationwide, only one percent of college seniors are invited to join Phi Beta Kappa annually. As of 2007, forty-three faculty and staff members on campus, including University President Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, are members of Phi Beta Kappa.

USA Today All-USA College Academic Team: Two Fairfield students, Chris Pilkerton '95 and Michael Franz '99, were selected to the USA Today All-USA College Academic Team which honors full-time undergraduates who excel in scholarship and also extend their intellectual abilities beyond the classroom to benefit society.

Centers of distinction

The Center for Catholic Studies promotes an understanding and appreciation of the Catholic intellectual tradition by supporting academic programming exploring the Catholic and Jesuit mission and identity and the Minor in Catholic Studies. The Center sponsors the Voices of Others video series in which Dr. Paul Lakeland
Paul Lakeland
Dr. Paul Lakeland is the Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Professor of Catholic Studies and Chair of the Center for Catholic Studies at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and was the 2005 Fairfield University Teacher of the Year.Dr...

sits down with scholars, theologians and social activists to discuss issues surrounding the theme “Listening to the Voices of Others.” Past special guests include Loung Ung
Loung Ung
Loung Ung is a Cambodian American human-rights activist, an internationally-recognized lecturer, and the national spokesperson for the Campaign for a Landmine-Free World...

, Rev. Gregory Boyle, S.J., Dr. Paul Farmer
Paul Farmer
Dr. Paul Edward Farmer is an American anthropologist and physician. He is currently the Kolokotrones University Professor at Harvard University, formerly the Presley Professor of Medical Anthropology in the Department of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, an attending physician and Chief...

and Archbishop Demetrios of America. The Center is directed by the holder of the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Chair in Catholic Studies, currently Dr. Lakeland.

The Center for Faith and Public Life provides a cross-disciplinary forum for students, scholars, policy makers, and religious leaders to converse and reflect on issues where religion intersects with civic life. Through academic research, teaching, publications and public initiatives, the Center provides a focus for viewing the role of religion in the public square. The Center sponsors the Politics Meets Faith video series in which American politicians such U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman, U.S. Representative Christopher Shays
Christopher Shays
Christopher H. Shays is an American politician. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives and represented the 4th District of Connecticut....

and U.S. Representative Jim McGovern
Jim McGovern
James Patrick "Jim" McGovern is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party....

have gone on record in front of an audience of students for such conversations. The Center is home to the Office of Service Learning which incorporates the service learning teaching methodology into the Fairfield curriculum, providing opportunities to combine academics studies with active community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....

to local organizations in nearby Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...

. For example, education and psychology students can participate in the Adrienne Kirby Family Literacy Project, business students can participate in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is an IRS program designed to help low and moderate-income taxpayers complete their annual tax returns at no cost. The program was originally founded 1971 by Gary Iskowitz at California State University Northridge...

program, and nursing students can work at the Health Promotion Center. The center is the current home for the Connecticut Campus Compact, providing state level support for the Campus Compact
Campus Compact
Campus Compact is a coalition of college and university presidents, committed to fulfilling the public purposes of higher education. Over 1,100 educational institutions, more than a third of all higher education providers in the United States, are members....

, a national coalition of more than 1,100 colleges and universities promoting community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....

, civic engagement
Civic engagement
Civic engagement or civic participation has been defined as "Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern."-Forms:...

, and service learning in higher education. The Center for Faith and Public Life was founded in 2005 and is directed by the Richard Ryscavage, S.J.
Richard Ryscavage
Richard Ryscavage S.J., a nationally-known expert on immigration and refugee policy and issues, is director of the Center for Faith and Public Life and a professor of sociology and international studies at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut....

The Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies provides students and the local community exposure to Jewish ideas, culture, and thinking. The Bennett Center has brought several lecturers to the University, including Nobel Prize-winner Elie Wiesel
Elie Wiesel
Sir Eliezer "Elie" Wiesel KBE; born September 30, 1928) is a Hungarian-born Jewish-American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He is the author of 57 books, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a prisoner in the Auschwitz, Buna, and...

, Former Ambassador Dennis Ross
Dennis Ross
Dennis B. Ross is an American diplomat and author. He has served as the Director of Policy Planning in the State Department under President George H. W...

, and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman
Thomas Friedman
Thomas Lauren Friedman is an American journalist, columnist and author. He writes a twice-weekly column for The New York Times. He has written extensively on foreign affairs including global trade, the Middle East, and environmental issues and has won the Pulitzer Prize three times.-Personal...

. The center was founded in 1994 with an initial endowment of $1.5 million from Carl and Dorothy Bennett of Greenwich, Connecticut and is directed by Dr. Ellen Umansky
Ellen Umansky
Dr. Ellen Umansky is the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Judaic Studies and Director of the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies at Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut....

.

The Center for Microfinance is engaged in the microfinance
Microfinance
Microfinance is the provision of financial services to low-income clients or solidarity lending groups including consumers and the self-employed, who traditionally lack access to banking and related services....

movement working to help develop self-sustaining business operations in developing countries. Dr. Winston Tellis
Winston Tellis
Dr. Winston Tellis is the Stephen and Camille Schramm Professor of InformationSystems and Operations Management at The Charles F. Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. He was a recipient of a Fairfield University Distinguished Faculty/Administrator Award in...

and Dr. Michael Tucker co-founded the Center in 2001, with a program in which the faculty and business students helped develop self-sustaining businesses in poor rural areas of Haiti and Nicaragua. The center was honored for its work for Haiti's poor by FONKOZE USA (F/USA) which supports Fonkoze (Fondasyon Kole Zepol), Haiti's only alternative bank for the poor. F/USA is one of only five non-profit organizations approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to solicit U.S. investments for foreign organizations.

International programs

The International Studies Program at the Fairfield College of Arts and Sciences and the International Business Program at the Dolan School of Business are associated with several programs:

Fulbright Scholars Program: Fairfield students have been successful in garnering Fulbright Scholarships, which fund students to go abroad for one year after graduation to engage in independent research, study and work. Since 1993, 59 Fairfield students have been awarded these scholarship. Fairfield has been ranked No. 1 among universities that grant master's degrees in the Fulbright 's list of colleges and universities that produced U.S. Fulbright Scholars since 2006. This was the fifth time in six years that Fairfield had the largest number of awards in its category. In the last nine years, eight faculty members have been awarded Fulbright Scholar Grants for postdoctoral research. Fairfield faculty members have published hundreds of scholarly articles and books in the past two years.
The Study Abroad Program: Fairfield offers summer, semester and year-long study abroad options in Florence, Italy at the Florence University of the Arts; Syracuse, Italy
Syracuse, Italy
Syracuse is a historic city in Sicily, the capital of the province of Syracuse. The city is notable for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace of the preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes. This 2,700-year-old city played a key role in...

at the Mediterranean Center for Arts and Sciences; Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...

, Ireland at the National University of Ireland, Galway
National University of Ireland, Galway
The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...

; Brisbane, Australia at the Australian Catholic University
Australian Catholic University
Australian Catholic University is a national public university. It has six campuses and offers programs in five faculties throughout Australia.-History:...

; Managua, Nicaragua at the Universidad Centroamericana; Granada, Spain at the University of Granada
University of Granada
The University of Granada is a public university located in Granada, Spain that enrolls approximately 80,000 students. The university also has campuses in Ceuta and Melilla. Every year, over 2,000 European students enroll in the UGR through the Erasmus Programme, making it the most popular...

; Madrid, Spain at the Complutense University of Madrid
Complutense University of Madrid
The Complutense University of Madrid is a university in Madrid, and one of the oldest universities in the world. It is located on a sprawling campus that occupies the entirety of the Ciudad Universitaria district of Madrid, with annexes in the district of Somosaguas in the neighboring city of...

; and Seville, Spain at the University of Seville
University of Seville
The Universidad de Sevilla or University of Seville, in English, is a top-ranked European university in Seville, Spain. Founded under the name of Colegio Santa María de Jesús in 1505, the University of Seville, with a student body of over 50,000, is one of the top-ranked universities in the country...

. In addition, MBA students can participate in the Doing Business in Europe program hosted by the ESC Rouen – Rouen School of Management
École Supérieure de Commerce de Rouen
The Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Rouen is a leading French business school.ESC Rouen's quality is recognized at European level through its EQUIS accreditation and its Financial Times' ranking 13th position best European Master in Management...

in Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...

, France.

The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies: Fairfield University students regularly study at the University of International Business and Economics
University of International Business and Economics
The University of International Business and Economics , is a university in Beijing, China. Currently, UIBE has over 11,000 students from China and over 2,500 international students from more than 100 countries....

in Beijing, China through a partnership with The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies
The Beijing Center for China Studies
The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies , originally The Beijing Center for Language and Culture, was established by Fr. Ron Anton, S.J., Ph.D. in 1998. TBC aims at educating the academic community about China...

, a Jesuit consortium program for study in China. Many of these students are winners of Freeman Awards for Study in Asia and ASIANetwork Freeman Student-Faculty Fellowships.

Rankings and ratings

BusinessWeek

Bloomberg Businessweek, commonly and formerly known as BusinessWeek, is a weekly business magazine published by Bloomberg L.P. It is currently headquartered in New York City.- History :...

ranks Fairfield 63rd in the United States and 2nd in Connecticut for Value based on the return on investment

Return on investment

Return on investment is one way of considering profits in relation to capital invested. Return on assets , return on net assets , return on capital and return on invested capital are similar measures with variations on how “investment” is defined.Marketing not only influences net profits but also...

(ROI) it provides to its students. The Center for College Enrollment Studies includes Fairfield in annual Guide to 101 of the Best Values in Colleges and Universities. The Fiske Guide to Colleges profiles Fairfield as one of the "country's best and most interesting" colleges and universities, stating that "Fairfield is one of the up-and-coming schools in the Roman Catholic universe" and "is moving into the same class as older, more revered East Coast Jesuit institutions." The guide ranks the Fairfield and its School of Business among "Small Colleges and Universities Strong in Business."

The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review is an American-based standardized test preparation and admissions consulting company. The Princeton Review operates in 41 states and 22 countries across the globe. It offers test preparation for standardized aptitude tests such as the SAT and advice regarding college...

ranks Fairfield amongst the "Best 361 Colleges;" and the Dolan School of Business among the "Best 237 Business Schools" and one of the top 15 accounting programs in the country based on "Student Opinion Honors for Business Schools" It ranks Fairfield among the "Best Northeast Colleges;" among "America's Best Value Colleges" in 2005 (the only Connecticut school and among 77 schools nationwide); and among "Top 25 Most Connected Campuses" in 2004. U.S. News America's Best Colleges

U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...

ranked Fairfield at number 2 on its Northeast Regional Universities chart for 2012; and amongst "Great Schools, Great Prices" based on academic ranking and the net cost of attendance for a student who receives the average level of need-based financial aid.

Quick Center For the Arts

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

There is also a Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, New York.The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is the major center of theatre and the arts at Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut. The Center includes events such as popular...

is the major center of theatre and the arts at Fairfield and recognized as the "cultural epicenter of Fairfield County" by Westport Magazine. The center opened in 1990 and hosts events such as popular and classical music, dance, theatre, and programs for young audiences. It houses the 740-seat Kelley Theatre, the 150-seat Lawrence A. Wien Experimental (Black Box) Theatre, and the Thomas J. Walsh, Jr. Art Gallery.

The center is home to the Open VISIONS Forum, which under the direction of Dr. Philip Eliasoph brings a wide range of speakers to campus to participate in an dialogue about topical issues. Past guests have included two-time Pulitzer Prize

Pulitzer Prize

The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...

-winning historian David McCullough

David McCullough

David Gaub McCullough is an American author, narrator, historian, and lecturer. He is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian award....

, prize-winning NBC Nightly News

NBC Nightly News

NBC Nightly News is the flagship daily evening television news program for NBC News and broadcasts. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is located in the center...

anchor Brian Williams

Brian Williams

Brian Douglas Williams is the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, the evening news program of the NBC television network, a position he assumed in 2004...

, former prime minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....

; documentary filmmaker Ken Burns

Ken Burns

Kenneth Lauren "Ken" Burns is an American director and producer of documentary films, known for his style of using archival footage and photographs...

; Forbes CEO and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes

Steve Forbes

Malcolm Stevenson "Steve" Forbes, Jr. is an American editor, publisher, and businessman. He is the editor-in-chief of business magazine Forbes as well as president and chief executive officer of its publisher, Forbes Inc. He was a Republican candidate in the U.S. Presidential primaries in 1996...

; former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke

Richard Holbrooke

Richard Charles Albert Holbrooke was an American diplomat, magazine editor, author, professor, Peace Corps official, and investment banker....

; United States Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky

Robert Pinsky

Robert Pinsky is an American poet, essayist, literary critic, and translator. From 1997 to 2000, he served as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. Pinsky is the author of nineteen books, most of which are collections of his own poetry...

; Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...

; and former hostage and author Terry Waite

Terry Waite

Terry Waite CBE is an English humanitarian and author.Waite was Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie's Assistant for Anglican Communion Affairs in the 1980s. As an envoy for the Church of England, he travelled to Lebanon to try to secure the release of four hostages including journalist John...

Cinefest Fairfield

is an annual film festival held in association with the Fairfield Community Theatre

Fairfield Community Theatre

The Fairfield Community Theatre Foundation in Fairfield, Connecticut, is a nonprofit organization that operates a 1920 landmark movie theater in downtown Fairfield, presenting mostly independent and second-run films. Ticket and snack prices are kept low, partly because the theater is staffed almost...

featuring short films by students, alumni and faculty. The film festival is sponsored by the Department of Visual and Performing Arts and showcases its innovative New Media major. "CineFest Fairfield will become a notable annual event for the University and for Fairfield County," Fr. James Mayzik, S.J., Director of the New Media major and Media Center said. "Fairfield students will emerge as leaders within the region and the nation for their creativity and talent in film, television and radio within this exciting new program."

Bellarmine Museum of Art

The Bellarmine Museum of Art
Bellarmine Museum of Art
The Bellarmine Museum of Art is an art museum located on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. The museum features Classical, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Celtic and Asian art and artifacts in three distinct galleries totaling of space.-History:The Bellarmine Museum of...

, opened in October 2010, is located the University's signature 1920s Tudor mansion and features four galleries with about 2700 square feet (250.8 m²) of space. Its main gallery, The Frank and Clara Meditz Gallery, is named in honor of the parents of the lead donor to the project, University Trustee John Meditz '70. Its evocative footprint – which resembles an early Christian basilica in plan – makes the Meditz Gallery an ideal space for displaying ten paintings from the Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods, works gifted to the University by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation via Bridgeport's Discovery Museum

Discovery Museum and Planetarium

The Discovery Museum and Planetarium is a hands-on science museum in Bridgeport, Connecticut that serves as both a tourist destination and an educational resource for area schools. The museum hosts three creative traveling exhibits each year and has permanent space, sound and electricity...

. In a smaller side gallery, highlights from the University's collection of plaster casts after exemplary works from ancient Rome and Greece (including eight recently donated to the University by the Acropolis Museum

Acropolis Museum

The Old Acropolis Museum was an archaeological museum located in Athens, Greece on the archeological site of Acropolis. It is built in a niche at the eastern edge of the rock and most of it lies beneath the level of the hilltop, making it largely invisible. It was considered one of the major...

in Athens) are displayed. The corridor adjacent to the Meditz gallery holds casts of significant pieces from the Parthenon

Parthenon

The Parthenon is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their virgin patron. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC, although...

. In addition to these objects, the museum houses a range of non-Western art artifacts (including pre-Columbian vessels, 19th-century South East Asian sculptures and African masks), and has pieces from the Celtic, Byzantine, Medieval and Romanesque periods on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...

's Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters

The Cloisters

The Cloisters is a museum located in Fort Tryon Park, New York City. The building, which is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was reconstructed in the 1930s from the architectural elements of several European medieval abbeys...

Theatre Fairfield

Theatre Fairfield is the resident production company

Production company

A production company provides the physical basis for works in the realms of the performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, and video.- Tasks and functions :...

of the Theatre Program

Theatre

Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...

of the Department of Visual

Visual arts

The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...

& Performing Arts

Performing arts

The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...

at the university. Theatre Fairfield's season includes professionally directed and designed productions; a Festival of student-written, directed, and designed plays; performances by On the Spot, an improv company

Improvisational theatre

Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...

; Director's Cut or A Class Act which features the work of advanced directing and acting students; and independent projects created by junior and senior theatre majors. The PepsiCo Theatre, a renovated 1922 carriage house

Carriage house

A carriage house, also called remise or coach house, is an outbuilding which was originally built to house horse-drawn carriages and the related tack.In Great Britain the farm building was called a Cart Shed...

, is the home to Theatre Fairfield. This theatrical facility

Theater (structure)

A theater or theatre is a structure where theatrical works or plays are performed or other performances such as musical concerts may be produced. While a theater is not required for performance , a theater serves to define the performance and audience spaces...

includes a 70-seat flexible black box theatre, coffeehouse

Coffeehouse

A coffeehouse or coffee shop is an establishment which primarily serves prepared coffee or other hot beverages. It shares some of the characteristics of a bar, and some of the characteristics of a restaurant, but it is different from a cafeteria. As the name suggests, coffeehouses focus on...

, dance studio

Dance studio

A dance studio is a space in which dancers learn or rehearse. The term is typically used to describe a space that has either been built or equipped for the purpose....

, , and costume shop/dressing room.

Fairfield on the screen

Five locations on the Fairfield University campus including McAuliffe Hall were utilized in the filming of All Good Things

All Good Things (film)

All Good Things is a 2010 romantic mystery film directed by Andrew Jarecki starring Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst. The film is inspired by the life of accused murderer Robert Durst. All Good Things was filmed between April and July 2008 in Connecticut and New York...

, an upcoming mystery-romance film written and directed by Andrew Jarecki

Andrew Jarecki

Andrew Jarecki is an American filmmaker, musician, and entrepreneur. He is best known for Capturing the Friedmans, which won eighteen international prizes including the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and the New York Film Critics Circle award, and was nominated for an Academy...

. Among the actors and actresses present on campus June 2 through June 5, 2008 were Academy Award-nominated actor Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Thomas Gosling is a Canadian actor and musician. He first came to public attention as a child star on the Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Club and went on to appear in other family entertainment programmes including Are You Afraid of the Dark? , Goosebumps , Breaker High and Young Hercules...

and actress Kirsten Dunst

Kirsten Dunst

Kirsten Caroline Dunst is an American actress, singer and model. She made her film debut in Oedipus Wrecks, a short film directed by Woody Allen for the anthology New York Stories...

. The movie is scheduled to be released in theaters nationally in 2009.

Two locations on the Fairfield University campus including Loyola Hall were utilized in the filming of Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom's For One More Day

Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom's For One More Day

For One More Day is a 2007 television film adaptation of the Mitch Albom's novel by the same title, which was a The New York Times Best Seller. Produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions, the film stars Michael Imperioli and Ellen Burstyn as leads. Director Lloyd Kramer, also directed the TV...

, an "Oprah Winfrey Presents"

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...

adaptation of Mitch Albom's

Mitch Albom

Mitchell David "Mitch" Albom is an American best-selling author, journalist, screenwriter, dramatist, radio and television broadcaster and musician. His books have sold over 30 million copies worldwide...

New York Times best-selling book, For One More Day. Among the actors and actresses present on campus on July 23 and 24, 2007 were Emmy Award-winning actor Michael Imperioli

Michael Imperioli

James Michael Imperioli , commonly known as Michael Imperioli, is an American actor and television writer. He is perhaps best known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2004. He also...

and Academy Award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn

Ellen Burstyn

Ellen Burstyn is a leading American actress of film, stage, and television. Burstyn's career began in theatre during the late 1950s, and over the next ten years she appeared in several films and television series before joining the Actors Studio in 1967...

. The made-for-television movie aired nationally on the ABC

American Broadcasting Company

The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...

television network on December 9, 2007.

A team of four Fairfield students won three consecutive matches on the GE College Bowl, a popular quiz game show broadcast live nationally on the NBC

NBC

The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...

television network. The wins brought national recognition to the University along with a total grant of $5,000. In the first match broadcast on September 29, 1963, the Fairfield four defeated a team from Creighton University

Creighton University

Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...

, 215–140. In the second match, broadcast on October 6, 1963, the Fairfield four defeated a team from Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIUC is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system...

, 220–190. In the third match, broadcast on October 14, 1963, the Fairfield four defeated a team from Clemson University

Clemson University

Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....

, 245–200. The four finally were defeated in their fourth match broadcast on October 20, 1963, falling to Polytechnic University, 145–160. The Fairfield four included John Horvath, John Kappenberg, Joseph Kroll and George Greller; and were coached by the Rev. Donald D. Lynch, S.J.

Dr. Kurt C. Schlichting '70

Kurt C. Schlichting

Dr. Kurt C. Schlichting is the E. Gerald Corrigan Endowed Chair in the Humanities and Social Sciences and professor of sociology and anthropology at Fairfield University in the United States. He was a recipient of a Fairfield University Distinguished Faculty/Administrator Award in 2003.Dr...

, the E. Gerald Corrigan

E. Gerald Corrigan

Edward Gerald Corrigan is an American banker who was the 7th President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Vice-Chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee...

Endowed Chair in the Humanities and Social Sciences at Fairfield, and a Fairfield alumnus, appeared as an on-screen interviewee and served as an Academic Advisor to the American Experience

American Experience

American Experience is a television program airing on the Public Broadcasting Service Public television stations in the United States. The program airs documentaries, many of which have won awards, about important or interesting events and people in American history...

documentary, "Grand Central

Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...

." The documentary aired nationally on the PBS

Public Broadcasting Service

The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....

television network on February 4, 2008. The documentary was based on his book Grand Central Terminal: Railroads, Architecture and Engineering in New York (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001), for which he received the 2002 Best Professional /Scholarly Book: Architecture & Urbanism Award from the Association of American Publishers

Association of American Publishers

The Association of American Publishers is the national trade association of the American book publishing industry. AAP has more than 300 members, including most of the major commercial publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly...

.

Tony Micelli, the lead fictional character played by actor Tony Danza

Tony Danza

Tony Danza is an American actor best known for starring on the TV series Taxi and Who's the Boss?, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and four Golden Globe Awards...

in the television sitcom Who's the Boss?

Who's the Boss?

Who's the Boss? is an American sitcom created by Martin Cohan and Blake Hunter, which aired on ABC from September 20, 1984 to April 25, 1992...

, which was set and filmed in Fairfield, Connecticut

Fairfield, Connecticut

, attended Fairfield and wore an official university sweatshirt during the Season 5 "Winter Break" episode. The episode aired nationally on the ABC

American Broadcasting Company

television network on February 14, 1989.

Athletics

Fairfield University is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...

(MAAC) and is classified as Division 1 in the National Collegiate Athletic Association

National Collegiate Athletic Association

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...

for a majority of its athletic programs. it sponsors 20 varsity sports – baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's crew, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, and women's volleyball. Men's lacrosse is a member of the ECAC Lacrosse League

ECAC Lacrosse League

The ECAC Lacrosse League is an NCAADivision I college athletic conference and part of the Eastern College Athletic Conference. This part of the conference only sponsors men's lacrosse. The league was founded in 2000...

and field hockey is an associate member of the America East Conference

America East Conference

The America East Conference is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located mainly in the northeastern United States. The conference was known as the ECAC North from 1979 to 1988 and the North Atlantic Conference from the fall semester of 1988 to the end of the spring...

Scholar-athletes

Fairfield athletes are among the most academically successful in the nation, according to the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate

Academic Progress Rate

The Academic Progress Rate, sometimes also known as Academic Performance Rating and generally abbreviated as APR, is a metric established by the NCAA to indicate the success of collegiate athletic teams in moving student athletes towards graduation . It was instituted in February of 2005...

(APR). In the past several years the NCAA has honored many Fairfield sports teams for their academic performance with Public Recognition Awards. These teams posted multi-year APR scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports nationwide. In 2006–07, eight teams, and in 2007–08, seven teams received these awards. In recent years, twelve Fairfield student-athletes have been honored as Academic All-Americans or National Scholar-Athletes in recognition of their academic and athletic achievements.

Athletic success

The Stags' most notable success in athletics has been in basketball, lacrosse

Fairfield Stags men's lacrosse

The Fairfield Stags men's lacrosse team represents Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and competes in the ECAC Lacrosse League of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Lessing Field. The team was nationally ranked in 2005 , 2006 and 2007 and competed in the NCAA...

, soccer and volleyball. The men's basketball team held a half time lead over the number 1 seed University of North Carolina Tar Heels before falling short in the 1997 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament. Darren Phillip '00

Darren Phillip

Darren Phillip is an American professional basketball player with Ford Burgos in the Spanish LEB Oro. Phillip a.k.a. "Primal Fear" is also a well known streetball player on the basketball courts of the New York City summer leagues...

was the nation's top rebounder averaging 14 rebounds per game in 1999–00 and Deng Gai '05

Deng Gai

Deng Gai is a South Sudanese professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA. He plays as a power forward. Gai was the 2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball season blocks leader.-College basketball:...

was the nation's top shot blocker averaging 5.5 blocks per game in 2004–05. On March 16, 2010, during the first round of the 2010 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament

CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament

The CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament created in 2009 by College Insider.com. It now hosts 24 participating teams.-Champions:-2009:...

(CIT) men's basketball

Fairfield Stags men's basketball

The Fairfield Stags men's basketball team represents Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games in the 9,500 seat, state of the art Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut and plays...

set the national record for the largest comeback in division I college basketball postseason history by overcoming a 27-point deficit with under 16 minutes to play to defeat George Mason

George Mason Patriots men's basketball

The George Mason Patriots men's basketball team represents George Mason University and competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of NCAA Division I...

in overtime, 101–96. The Stags were led by Mike Evanovich who finished with a career-high 32 points and a school record nine three-pointers including one with 0.9 seconds in regulation to send the game into overtime. And at the conclusion of 2010 season, head coach Ed Cooley

Ed Cooley

Ed Cooley is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach of the Providence College Friars men's basketball team. Previously, Cooley had held the same position at Fairfield University from 2006–2011...

was named the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year

Ben Jobe Award

The Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding minority men's college basketball head coach in NCAA Division I competition...

. The former women's basketball head coach, Diane Nolan, achieved her 500th career win in 2005–06 and led the Stags to four post-season bids to the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship in 1988, 1991, 1998 and 2001.
The men's lacrosse team earned berths to the 2003 and 2005 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship

NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship

The annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top men's field lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....

tournaments while the women won 6 MAAC Regular Season Titles in the last decade and earned a berth to the 2009 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship

NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship

The annual NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top women's lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....

. On March 13, 2010, men's lacrosse

Fairfield Stags men's lacrosse

set the school record for the defeat of the highest ranked opponent when the Stags upset the then no. 3 nationally ranked (and eventual 2010 NCAA tournament runner-up

2010 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship

-First round:The biggest surprise of the first round was Army's double-overtime upset of No. 2 seed Syracuse at the Carrier Dome. Some analysts ranked it among the greatest upsets in the history of the tournament...

) Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's lacrosse

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's lacrosse team represents the University of Notre Dame in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's college lacrosse...

10–8 while competing in the inaugural 'Beating Cancer With A Stick Classic' at The Kinkaid School

The Kinkaid School

The Kinkaid School is a K-12 non-sectarian school in Piney Point Village, Texas, United States.The Kinkaid School is the oldest independent coeducational school in the Houston, Texas area . The student body is divided into the Lower School , the Middle School and the Upper School...

in Houston, Texas.

The men's soccer

Fairfield Stags men's soccer

The Fairfield Stags men's soccer team represents Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Lessing Field on the campus of Fairfield University...

team won the 2005 and 2006 MAAC Regular Season Championship as well as the 1999, 2006 and 2008 MAAC Tournament Championship. The 2006 MAAC Championship earned the team a First round NCAA Tournmant Game at in-state rival University of Connecticut

University of Connecticut

The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...

. Prior to the game, UConn had never lost an NCAA Tournament game on its home field. Fairfield secured a 2–1 first round victory, thanks to a late goal by star player James Gaughan. During the years of 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2007, the team was nationally ranked, rising as high as No. 15 in several polls. In 2007, the Men's Soccer team defeated national champion St. John's University 2–1. No other Fairfield athletic program has ever defeated a former National Championship team.The women's soccer team has advanced to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship

NCAA Women's Soccer Championship

NCAA Women's Soccer Championships are divided into three divisions. This article lists NCAA Women's soccer championships.-Division I:The NCAA began conducting a Women's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1982 with a 12-team tournament...

five times, most recently in 2005 and 2008, and has won the MAAC Championship seven times since 1993. And the women's volleyball team was nationally ranked in 1998 (24th) and 1999 (32nd) and competed in five straight NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship

NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship

The NCAA has contested team championships in women's volleyball since 1981. The following is a list of the champions of each division with their record for the year in which they won the championship, and the runner up, city, site and other final four participants for division I...

s between 1997 and 2001.

Sport clubs

Sport Clubs offer a competitive athletic opportunity for students including baseball, equestrian, men's and women's ice hockey, martial arts, men's and women's rugby, sailing, men's and women's skiing and snowboarding, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's track and men's

Fairfield University Men's Volleyball Club

Fairfield University Men's Club Volleyball Team is a men's college volleyball club based at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut...

and women's volleyball. The Men's Rugby Football Club
Fairfield University Men's Rugby Football Club
Fairfield University Men's Rugby Football Club or FURFC is a men's college rugby club based at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. The nickname for the FURFC is the Red Ruggers. The Red Ruggers compete in the Men's Collegiate Division II League of the Metropolitan New York Rugby Union...

or Red Ruggers, established in 1963, is the longest continuously running sport club at Fairfield University. The Red Ruggers won the 2008 MET NY Rugby Football Union

Metropolitan New York Rugby Union

The Metropolitan New York Rugby Football Union governs more than 80 men's and women's clubs, college, high-school, and youth rugby union teams in the Greater New York metropolitan area, which covers parts of the states of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. It is a member union of USA Rugby and...

Division II Title and have produced two USA Rugby

USA Rugby

USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States. It is divided into seven territorial Unions: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Coast, Southern California, South, and West...

Collegiate All-Americans. Former Red Ruggers Paul Sheehy

Paul Sheehy

Paul Sheehy was an American rugby player for the USA Eagles at the 1991 Rugby World Cup.Sheehy also played for the Washington Rugby Football Club from 1991 to 1993 and is now a member of the Washington Rugby Football Club Hall of Fame His position of choice was fullback.Sheehy was a four year...

'81 competed for the USA Eagles at the 1991 Rugby World Cup

1991 Rugby World Cup

The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...

and Will Brazier

Will Brazier

Will Brazier is an American rugby league footballer who plays for the United States national rugby league team, USA Falcons, Old Blue Rugby Football Club in the Rugby Super League and the Connecticut Wildcats in the American National Rugby League...

'05 competed for the USA Tomahawks at the 2004 Liberty Bell Cup. The Equestrian Club was Regional Champions in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, & 2003 and in 2007 seven Fairfield riders were invited to the elite Tournament of Champions, a horse show for the nation's top collegiate equestrian

Equestrianism

Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...

teams. The Men's Hockey Club (formerly an NCAA level Division I program of the now-defunct MAAC) competed in the 2007 MCHC

Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference

The Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference or MCHC is an ACHA Division III league made up of smaller colleges, universities, and community colleges in the Northeast United States.-Format:...

Championship game and the 2008 ACHA

American Collegiate Hockey Association

The American Collegiate Hockey Association is the national governing body of non-varsity college ice hockey in the U.S. The organization provides structure, regulations, promotes the quality of play, sponsors National Awards and National Tournaments....

National Tournament. The Men's Volleyball Club

Fairfield University Men's Volleyball Club

Fairfield University Men's Club Volleyball Team is a men's college volleyball club based at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut...

won the 2006 and 2007 New England Collegiate Volleyball League Division II Championship and competed in the 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008 National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Volleyball Championships. Historically, the 1979 Football Club led by All-America quarterback Craig Leach '81 played in the National Collegiate Football Association's championship game where the Stags fell 60–40 to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. The 1980 Football Club started the season ranked No. 1 in the pre-season NCFA Polls. The men's club baseball team was officially recognized as a sports club during the 2007–2008 academic year. The team competes in the New England Club Baseball Association.

Campus and region

The university is situated on a pastoral campus offering scenic views of Long Island Sound

Long Island Sound

Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...

and all the amenities of a major, comprehensive university in a setting of rolling hills, sprawling lawns, picturesque ponds, and bucolic wooded areas-a setting ideal for education. Fairfield's 200 acre (0.809372 km²) campus consists of 35 buildings anchored by the three manor homes of the original estates: Bellarmine Hall (1921), formerly the Lashar's 'Hearthstone Hall', re-named to honor Saint Robert Bellarmine, S.J,; McAuliffe Hall (1896), originally O.G. Jennings' 'Mailands', re-named for Bishop Maurice F. McAuliffe

Maurice F. McAuliffe

Maurice Francis McAuliffe was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hartford from 1934 until his death in 1944.-Biography:...

, who sanctioned the creation of Fairfield University; and David J. Dolan House, Lawrence Jenning's 'Larribee', dedicated to honor the uncle of Charles F. Dolan

Charles Dolan

who made the 1989 acquisition of Dolan Campus possible. Along with Bellarmine Hall, named in honor of Saint Robert Bellarmine, S.J, many of the buildings on the campus are named in honor of Jesuit priests. Behind each building name is a story of a Jesuit priest who was an exemplar of the Jesuit mission and their pursuit of educational and intellectual contributions, human rights and social justice.

Campus safety

The university received the 2008 Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Award, presented each year by Security On Campus Inc. (SOC). The national award, established in 1994 by Howard and Connie Clery in memory of their daughter who was murdered on a college campus in 1986, honors schools and individuals “that have done extraordinary things to make college and university students safer.” Fairfield was selected for the award based on "...its innovative programs, comprehensive emergency response plan, and overall commitment to...peer education and prevention programming, and a unique study abroad travel safety program."

DiMenna-Nyselius Library

Built in 1968, the DiMenna-Nyselius Library

DiMenna-Nyselius Library

originally was named the Nyselius Library in honor of benefactors Gustav and Dagmar Nyselius. They were Swedish immigrants who had settled in Stamford and wanted to make a donation to Fairfield University to repay in part the kindness of their adoptive country. In 2001, the Library underwent a major renovation and expansion and was renamed the DiMenna-Nyselius Library in recognition of a donation from alumnus Joseph A. DiMenna, Jr. '80.

The Library contains an extensive collection of print

Printing

Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....

and electronic resources

Computer file

A computer file is a block of arbitrary information, or resource for storing information, which is available to a computer program and is usually based on some kind of durable storage. A file is durable in the sense that it remains available for programs to use after the current program has finished...

which include over 300,000 bound volumes, 1800 journals

Academic journal

An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...

and newspapers, over 11,000 audiovisual items and the equivalent of 92,000 volumes in microform

Microform

Microforms are any forms, either films or paper, containing microreproductions of documents for transmission, storage, reading, and printing. Microform images are commonly reduced to about one twenty-fifth of the original document size...

. Its electronic resources provide online access to a wide variety of World Wide Web

World Wide Web

The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...

subscription databases that bring full text journals and statistical information to the desktop anywhere on campus. Throughout the Library, wireless access

Wireless network

Wireless network refers to any type of computer network that is not connected by cables of any kind. It is a method by which homes, telecommunications networks and enterprise installations avoid the costly process of introducing cables into a building, or as a connection between various equipment...

is available in designated areas. The Library also contains two open access computer labs featuring Macintosh

Macintosh

The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...

and Dell

Dell

Dell, Inc. is an American multinational information technology corporation based in 1 Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas, United States, that develops, sells and supports computers and related products and services. Bearing the name of its founder, Michael Dell, the company is one of the largest...

computers (one with 24-hour access for students), two dozen multimedia

Multimedia

Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...

workstations, an electronic classroom, a 90-seat multimedia

Multimedia

auditorium

Auditorium

An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...

, and study rooms.

In March 2010, a strong Nor'easter

Nor'easter

A nor'easter is a type of macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, so named because the storm travels to the northeast from the south and the winds come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada...

storm peeled back a roughly 120’ x 30–40’ section of the roof along the parking lot side of the library building, destroying 2,583 books—some of which were out of print. The worst-damaged sections were the ones on Shakespeare, film, modern languages, science and social science. The minimum estimated value of the books was $88,519.41.

Environmental Sustainability

In recent years, the university has implemented an institution-wide Green Movement, taking major steps to reduce its impact on the natural environment

Natural environment

The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....

and improve sustainability

Sustainability

Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...

. The university now builds facilities with an eye to energy efficiency

Efficient energy use

Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...

, recycling

Recycling

Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...

, and receives high marks from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....

(LEED), a rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council that promotes responsible building practices and sustainable design

Sustainable design

Sustainable design is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.-Intentions:The intention of sustainable design is to "eliminate negative environmental...

. These efforts have earned the university recognition as one of the nation's "Cool Schools" from the Sierra Club

Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...

and a "C-" grade on the Sustainable Endowments Institute's 2009 College Sustainability Report Card. And in 2010, the Princeton Review and U.S. Green Building Council included Fairfield in the "Guide to 286 Green Colleges"

In October 2007, U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman and U.S. Representative Christopher Shays joined the Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.

Jeffrey P. von Arx

in unveiling the University's new environmentally friendly

Environmentally friendly

Environmentally friendly are terms used to refer to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies claimed to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment....

Combined Heat and Power Plant

Cogeneration

Cogeneration is the use of a heat engine or a power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat....

(CHP) designed to reduce strain on the region's power grid and reduce the University's overall carbon footprint

Carbon footprint

A carbon footprint has historically been defined as "the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization, event, product or person.". However, calculating a carbon footprint which conforms to this definition is often impracticable due to the large amount of data required, which is...

by more than 10,000 metric tons per year. The United States Environmental Protection Agency

United States Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...

(EPA) honored the university with a 2010 Energy Star

Energy Star

Energy Star is an international standard for energy efficient consumer products originated in the United States of America. It was first created as a United States government program during the early 1990s, but Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union have also adopted...

CHP Award for its energy smart CHP.

In May 2008, the Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.

Jeffrey P. von Arx

signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, a high-visibility effort to address global warming

Global warming

Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...

by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the Earth's climate

Climate

Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...

.

On Earth Day

Earth Day

Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...

2008, a ground breaking took place for the new Fairfield Jesuit Community Center, an environmentally friendly

Environmentally friendly

Environmentally friendly are terms used to refer to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies claimed to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment....

home and retreat and meeting center that will feature a roof garden

Roof garden

A roof garden is any garden on the roof of a building. Besides the decorative benefit, roof plantings may provide food, temperature control, hydrological benefits, architectural enhancement, habitats or corridors for wildlife, and recreational opportunities....

and a geo-thermal heating and cooling system. Fairfield is also in the process of replacing its 125-vehicle fleet with biodiesel-powered buses

Biodiesel

Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids with an alcohol....

and hybrid vehicles.

Most recently, in August 2009, Fairfield University became the first university in the United States to install Tomra

Tomra

Tomra Systems ASA is a Norwegian company producing, selling and operating reverse vending machines, used to sort and collect empty beverage containers for recycling.The company was founded in 1972 by the brothers Petter and Tore Planke....

UNO reverse vending machines (RVM)

Reverse vending machine

A reverse vending machine is a device that accepts used beverage containers and returns money to the user . The machines are popular in places that have mandatory recycling laws or container deposit legislation. In some places, bottlers paid funds into a centralized pool to be dispersed to people...

, an all-in-one recycling machine, allowing students to deposit plastic, glass and aluminum beverage containers for a rebate of a nickel.

Region

The Town of Fairfield

Fairfield, Connecticut

was rated the ninth "best place to live" in the United States and the best place to live in the Northeast by Money Magazine

Money Magazine

Money Magazine is a business news and financial programme that is broadcast on Sundays at 7:00pm in Hong Kong by television channel TVB Pearl.-Producers and reporters:...

offering students Fairfield Beach

Fairfield Beach, Connecticut

-Location:Fairfield Beach is located to the south of downtown Fairfield, and the neighborhood extends south from Old Post Road to the Long Island Sound. The neighborhood originally held a variety of income levels, with small family farms such as the Hauser farm on the corner of Reef Road and...

along the scenic shoreline of Long Island Sound

Long Island Sound

and a vibrant downtown area which are both located just five minutes from campus. The University runs a shuttle between campus and downtown where students can catch a dinner and a movie

Fairfield Community Theatre

or hop on a Metro-North Train

Fairfield (Metro-North station)

The Fairfield Metro-North station is the main train station in Fairfield, Connecticut, serving commuters, students of Fairfield University and Fairfield Prep, and casual travelers via the New Haven Line. It is one of three stations in the town; the others being Southport and the yet-to-be-opened...

bound for Grand Central Station

Grand Central Terminal

and New York City.

The Black Rock neighborhood of the City of Bridgeport

Bridgeport, Connecticut

Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...

bordering on the Town of Fairfield

Fairfield, Connecticut

is located just ten minutes from campus and provides students a metropolitan village-like atmosphere that boasts some of the best restaurants and entertainment in Fairfield County

Fairfield County, Connecticut

Fairfield County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The county population is 916,829 according to the 2010 Census. There are currently 1,465 people per square mile in the county. It is the most populous county in the State of Connecticut and contains...

. Fairfield University students frequent the "Acoustic Cafe" which has been named "Best Place to Hear Alternative Music" three years in a row by Fairfield County Weekly's reader poll and helped launch Fairfield University's own award-winning Indie rock

Indie rock

Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...

band, The Alternate Routes

The Alternate Routes

The Alternate Routes are an American rock band out of Bridgeport, Connecticut formed by Tim Warren and Eric Donnelly in 2002 while studying at Fairfield University....

Notable alumni

Fairfield has approximately 40,000 living alumni. Despite the relative youth of the institution, the alumni are achieving considerable success in academia

Academia

Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...

, business, finance, journalism, law, government, medicine, science and social justice

Social justice

Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...

In academia
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...

and education, Fairfield alumni include: Donald Preziosi
Donald Preziosi
Donald Anthony Preziosi is an American art historian. Professor Preziosi is Emeritus Professor of Art History at the University of California, Los Angeles. In August 2007 he became the MacGeorge Fellow at the University of Melbourne...

, an art historian and former Slade Professor of Fine Art at Oxford University; Charles E. Schaefer
Charles E. Schaefer
Dr. Charles E. Schaefer is a world-renowned American psychologist considered by many to be the "Father of Play Therapy" who has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show and Good Morning America. He is Professor of Psychology and is Director of both the Center for Psychological Services...

, a psychology professor considered the "Father of Play Therapy"; Katherine Lapp
Katherine Lapp
Katherine Lapp is the executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Harvard University Previously, Lapp was executive vice president for business operations for the University of California....

, Executive Vice President of Harvard University; David J. McCarthy, Jr.
David J. McCarthy, Jr.
David J. McCarthy, Jr. is Dean Emeritus of the Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC, USA from 1975 to 1983. McCarthy received a bachelor's degree from Fairfield University, and a J.D. J.D., LL.M., and an honorary LL.D...

, Dean Emeritus of the Georgetown University Law Center; Francis J. Tedesco
Francis J. Tedesco
Francis J. Tedesco served as the President of the Medical College of Georgia from July 1, 1988, until his retirement on February 1, 2001....

, President Emeritus of the Medical College of Georgia.
In business and finance, alumni include: E. Gerald Corrigan
E. Gerald Corrigan
Edward Gerald Corrigan is an American banker who was the 7th President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Vice-Chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee...

, the 7th President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; William P. Egan
William P. Egan
William P. Egan is the founder and General Partner at Alta Communications, a venture capital firm, and Marion Equity Partners, a private equity firm, both based in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Egan also founded Alta's predecessor firm, Burr, Egan, Deleage & Co...

, venture capitalist; Kathleen Murphy, one of Fortune Magazine's 50 Most Powerful Business Women; Joseph DiMenna
Joseph DiMenna
Joseph A. DiMenna, Jr. is an American hedge fund manager and Managing Director of Zweig-DiMenna Associates with total assets under management exceeding $3.5 billion. He has been the Head Portfolio Manager of the Zweig-DiMenna partnerships and funds since he co-founded the first Zweig-DiMenna...

, hedge fund manager; Christopher McCormick
Christopher McCormick
Chris McCormick is the President and Chief Executive Officer of L.L. Bean based in Freeport, Maine. McCormick is the first non-family member to ever to hold this position at L.L. Bean...

, president & CEO of L.L.Bean; Eileen Rominger, Director of Investment Management at the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission.
In journalism and literature, alumni include: Pat Jordan
Pat Jordan (author)
Pat Jordan is a leading sports writer with his work included in the Best American Sports Writing anthology series seven times. He is also the acclaimed author of A False Spring, a bittersweet memoir about his minor league baseball career, which is ranked #37 on Sports Illustrated's Top 100 Sports...

, leading sports writer and acclaimed author of A False Spring; Bob Sullivan
Bob Sullivan (journalist)
Bob Sullivan is an award winning American online journalist, author and one of the founding members of msnbc.com...

, two time New York Times Best Seller author and founding member of MSNBC.com.
In law and government, alumni include: Raymond J. Dearie
Raymond J. Dearie
Raymond Joseph Dearie is a senior United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York. He was nominated by President Reagan on February 3, 1986, to a new seat created by 98 Stat...

, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York; Joseph P. Flynn
Joseph P. Flynn
The Honorable Joseph P. Flynn was the Chief Judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court. Flynn was appointed judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court on February 7, 2001 and Chief Judge on February 1, 2006. Judge Flynn subsequently assumed in 2010 and Judge Alexandra DiPentima succeeded him...

and William J. Lavery
William J. Lavery
The Honorable William J. Lavery is the Chief Court Administrator and former Chief Judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court...

, Chief Judges of the Connecticut Appellant Court; James G. Gilbert, Chief Administrative Law Judge, United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...

; Buddy Cianci, mayor of Providence, Rhode Island; Martin Looney
Martin Looney
Martin M. Looney is an American politician. Looney, a Democrat, has been a state senator from Connecticut since 1993. Since 2004, Looney has served as Majority Leader of the Senate....

, the Connecticut Senate Majority Leader; Jorge E. Pérez-Díaz
Jorge E. Pérez-Díaz
Jorge E. Pérez-Díaz served as Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1991 to 1992. He was appointed by former Governor Rafael Hernández Colón...

, Attorney General and Solicitor General of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
In medicine and science, alumni include: James Lewis Abbruzzese, Chairman of the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center; Peter Pronovost
Peter Pronovost
Peter J. Pronovost is an intensive care specialist physician at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.He is a Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Departments of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, and Surgery, Professor of Health Policy and Management...

, a 2008 Time 100 World's Most Influential People and MacArthur Fellow; John T. Lis
John T. Lis
John T. Lis is the Barbara McClintock Professor of Molecular Biology & Genetics at the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Dr. Lis was a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2000 for his research on protein templating in the propagation of gene activity.-Research:Dr...

, a Guggenheim Fellow and Barbara McClintock Professor of Molecular Biology & Genetics at Cornell University; Brian Monahan
Brian Monahan
Brian Monahan is the Attending Physician of the United States Congress and the United States Supreme Court and holds the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. Dr...

, the Attending Physician of the United States Congress.
In social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...

, alumni include: G. Simon Harak
G. Simon Harak
G. Simon Harak, S. J. is an American peace activist and professor of theology and Director of the Center for Peacemaking at Marquette University....

, a Pax Christi National Peacemaker of the Year; Paula Donovan
Paula Donovan
Paula Donovan is an American AIDS and women's rights activist. She is the co-executive director with Stephen Lewis of AIDS-Free World, an international advocacy organization that works to promote more urgent and effective global responses to HIV/AIDS...

, the founding executive director of AIDS-Free World; Joseph Moylan
Joseph Moylan
Joseph Anthony Moylan is Founder and President of Durham Nativity School in Durham, North Carolina. He is a former Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Duke University School of Medicine and Medical Director of the International Patient Center at the Duke University Medical Center. Moylan played...

, founder and president of Durham Nativity School.

See also: Fairfield University alumni

Notable benefactors

Among the large donors are: Rudolf F. Bannow, Swedish-American industrialist and namesake of the Rudolf F. Bannow Science Center.; E. Gerald Corrigan '63

E. Gerald Corrigan

Edward Gerald Corrigan is an American banker who was the 7th President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Vice-Chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee...

, former 7th President Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Federal Reserve Bank of New York

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is one of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks of the United States. It is located at 33 Liberty Street, New York, NY. It is responsible for the Second District of the Federal Reserve System, which encompasses New York state, the 12 northern counties of New Jersey,...

and namesake of the E. Gerald Corrigan Endowed Chair in the Humanities and Social Sciences; Charles F. Dolan '04

Charles Dolan

, founder of HBO and Cablevision and namesake of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business and Dolan Campus; Joseph A. DiMenna, Jr. '80

Joseph DiMenna

Joseph A. DiMenna, Jr. is an American hedge fund manager and Managing Director of Zweig-DiMenna Associates with total assets under management exceeding $3.5 billion. He has been the Head Portfolio Manager of the Zweig-DiMenna partnerships and funds since he co-founded the first Zweig-DiMenna...

, founding Managing Director of Zweig-DiMenna Associates; namesake of the DiMenna-Nyselius Library

DiMenna-Nyselius Library

; William P. Egan '67

William P. Egan

William P. Egan is the founder and General Partner at Alta Communications, a venture capital firm, and Marion Equity Partners, a private equity firm, both based in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Egan also founded Alta's predecessor firm, Burr, Egan, Deleage & Co...

, founding Partner at Alta Communications

Alta Communications

Alta Communications is a Boston-based private equity firm specializing in equity investments in media and telecommunications companies.Their equity funds are invested in about 100 companies with total market capitalization approximately $1.5 billion....

; namesake of the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius of Loyola; Steve Lessing '80, Managing Director of Barclays and namesake of Lessing Field

Lessing Field

Lessing Field is a multi-purpose lacrosse and soccer stadium on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is home to the Fairfield Stags men's and women's lacrosse and soccer teams...

; Roger Lynch '63, former Partner of Goldman Sachs and namesake of the Roger M. Lynch Professor of Economics; Gustav Nyselius, Swedish-American Industrialist and namesake of the DiMenna-Nyselius Library

DiMenna-Nyselius Library

.; Leslie C. Quick Jr. H'99

Leslie C. Quick Jr.

Leslie C. Quick Jr. was co-founder of Quick & Reilly. He graduated from Widener University and, in 1974, co-founded Quick & Reilly, the first New York Stock Exchange member firm to offer discounted commissions to individuals and one of the nation's leading brokerage firms, expanding the business...

, founder of Quick & Reilly and namesake of the Leslie C. Quick Jr. Recreational Complex and Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

; Fay Vincent Jr. '08

Fay Vincent

Francis Thomas "Fay" Vincent, Jr. is a former entertainment lawyer and sports executive who served as the eighth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from September 13, 1989 to September 7, 1992.-Early life and career:...

, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

and creator of the need-based Alice Lynch Vincent Scholarship.; and Thomas J. Walsh Jr., former President & Chairman of Colonial Wire and Cable and namesake of the Thomas J. Walsh, Jr. Athletic Center and Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery.

Publications and media

Campus Currents – The Official News Publication of Fairfield University
Fairfield Now – The Magazine of Fairfield University
Press Room – Fairfield University's Electronic News Room
In The News – News media highlights featuring Fairfield University
Fairfield University News – Fairfield University's YouTube news and information video center
The Mirror
Fairfield Mirror
The Fairfield Mirror is the student newspaper of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is financially and editorially independent of the University, and publishes weekly on Wednesday during the academic year with additional issues during commencement and orientation...

– The Independent Student Newspaper of Fairfield University
The Reluctant Environmentalist – Blogging about Earth-friendly living at Fairfield University
WVOF
WVOF
WVOF is the student-run college radio station at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. As of August 2008, the station has been a partner with Connecticut Public Radio and carries Connecticut Public Radio and NPR programming.-History:...

– Student operated radio station featuring the best blend of public radio and college programming
The Ham Channel
The HAM Channel (Fairfield University Student Television)
The HAM Channel is a student-operated closed-circuit Student television station channel offering a regular season schedule of original programming written by, starring, and produced by Fairfield University students under the direction of the Media Center.-Change in Format:To keep up with the...

– Fairfield University's student run television on YouTube

Academic journals

Mezzo Cammin
Mezzo Cammin
Mezzo Cammin is a semiannual online literary journal devoted to formalist poetry by contemporary women as well as to bring attention back to work that was more famous in previous eras. The journal's title comes from Judith Moffett's poem "Mezzo Cammin", which in turn takes its title from the...

– An online journal devoted to New Formalist
New Formalism
New Formalism is a late-20th and early 21st century movement in American poetry that has promoted a return to metrical and rhymed verse.-Origins and intentions:...

poetry by women, as well as to bringing renewed attention to female poets of the past who wrote in form. This journal was associated with Fairfield university until 2010, when its editor-in-chief and former Fairfield professor Kim Bridgford took a position at another university.
Mason's Road – An online literary and arts journal sponsored by Fairfield University's MFA in Creative Writing, accepting submissions in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, drama, art, and audio.

Media Center

The Media Center is a 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) facility located on the ground floor of Xavier Hall that houses the New Media: Film, Television, and Radio major, the Campus Television Network and the student run HAM Channel. It operates a 32 feet (9.8 m) television production satellite

Communications satellite

A communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...

uplink

Uplink

A telecommunications link is generally one of several types of information transmission paths such as those provided by communication satellites to connect two points on earth.-Uplink:...

truck that can transmit and receive digitally encoded television signals from geostationary domestic satellites. Fairfield is one of few colleges in the nation to have this technology allowing campus programming and international news organizations including CNN

CNN

Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...

, MSNBC

MSNBC

MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...

, Fox News and Bloomberg Television

Bloomberg Television

Bloomberg Television is a 24-hour global network broadcasting business and financial news. It is distributed globally, reaching over 200 million homes worldwide. It is owned and operated by Bloomberg L.P...

to be broadcast worldwide from the University.

The Media Center staff and New Media students have won national recognition for their programs and production of multimedia presentations for the university. The Media Center has received a Bronze Telly Award in 2001 and one Silver Telly Award and three Bronze Telly Awards in 2004. Other recent honors have included the Crystal Award of Distinction from the Communicator Awards 2005 Print Competition; two Awards of Excellence from the Videographer 2005 Awards; and the Platinum BEST of Show from The Aurora 2005 Awards.

Residence halls

Fairfield University guarantees first year students four years of campus housing and provides several housing options depending on their class. Most underclassman live on campus and live the typical residence hall life in the Quad or The Orient sections of campus. The Quad is located in the northwest corner of campus and consists of Campion Hall, Joques Hall, Gonzaga Hall, Loyola Hall, and Regis Hall. Students typically choose to live in The Quad in order to be close to the classroom buildings and to enjoy the annual battle of dorms water fights; and frisbee and wiffleball games during the warm weather. The Orient is located in the southeast corner of campus and consists of Kostka Hall and Claver Hall which is suite style living, and also the apartments, the newest on campus housing. This section earned its nickname because the original names of the residence halls located in that area were "Southeast" (now Kostka) and "Far East" (now Claver). Though the names were changed in the 1980s, the nickname survived as a non sequitur. Dolan Hall is located in the northeast corner of campus is the primary residence hall for students who request to live in singles housing. This building also holds some freshman doubles.

Residential Colleges

Loyola Hall is home to the Ignatian Residential College, which offers a unique residential college

Residential college

A residential college is an organisational pattern for a division of a university that places academic activity in a community setting of students and faculty, usually at a residence and with shared meals, the college having a degree of autonomy and a federated relationship with the overall...

experience for Fairfield sophomores. Funded by a $2 million grant from the Lilly Endowment

Lilly Endowment

Lilly Endowment Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana is one of the world's largest private philanthropic foundations and is among the ten largest such endowments in the United States....

, the program provides over 200 students with the opportunity to study and live together while pondering questions of identity, faith and purpose. In addition to living together and taking two classes together students meet once per month in groups of ten with a mentor, hear from weekly speakers, attend one overnight retreat per semester, and take cultural trips.

St. Ignatius House, the former Jesuit community house, will be home to the Just-Us Residential College. The program will allow up to 140 sophomores, committed to community service and social justice, to go beyond the small community service groups at Campus Ministry and live with a group of individuals concerned with life outside of Fairfield County. The program is not inherently religious, but should attract students of all faiths, races and socioeconomic backgrounds who want to do something to help the Fairfield community and beyond.

Upperclassmen alternatives

Upperclassmen choose between living at the Townhouse Complex , the Apartment Village, or Fairfield Beach

Fairfield Beach, Connecticut

. The 10 unit Townhouse Complex is a series of 104 two-story student townhouses for 469 juniors and seniors. There are between five and seven students living in each townhouse which has two or three bedrooms upstairs, a living and dining area, a kitchen and two bathrooms. In 2007, townhouse basements have been closed off to students, after an incident in which the administration and Fairfield fire department deemed the basements a fire hazard. During the warmer weather students enjoy their back porches and lawns with an occasional barbecue and wiffleball game. The Apartment Village was opened in September 2000. These apartment-style residences house 192 juniors and seniors. Each apartment contains four single bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a kitchen and a living room. Fairfield Beach is a unique Fairfield living experience for 200 eligible students to rent beach houses along the Long Island Sound. It historically has been the center of off-campus social life hosting such Fairfield traditions as the Clam Jam and Mock Weddings. However, as it has evolved from a part-time summer beach community into a more permanent residential community, Fairfield Beach has become a source of strain on town-gown relations leading to greater controls over student social life including a ban on large gatherings at Lantern Point since 2001 due to a court injunction.

Community service

The goal of Jesuit education is homines pro aliis, “men and women for others”. As a result, Fairfield students are involved in many community service

Community service

Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....

opportunities. Fairfield was among just 119 colleges in the nation named to the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement in 2008. Further, the University was named to the 2009 and 2010 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Learn and Serve America

Learn and Serve America

Learn and Serve America is a United States government program under the authority of the Corporation For National and Community Service. Its mission is to provide opportunities for students nation-wide to participate in service learning projects, and to gain valuable experience while helping...

Program of the Corporation for National and Community Service

Corporation For National and Community Service

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America, and other national service initiatives...

.

Locally, the award-winning Annual Hunger Clean Up is a one-day service-a-thon where the entire university community joins together to work at 40-plus local agency sites throughout Fairfield County and to raise money for local and national hunger

Hunger

Hunger is the most commonly used term to describe the social condition of people who frequently experience the physical sensation of desiring food.-Malnutrition, famine, starvation:...

and homelessness

Homelessness

Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...

causes. The Fairfield chapter of Colleges Against Cancer hosts an annual American Cancer Society

American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...

Relay for Life

Relay For Life

Relay For Life is the main volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. Originating in the United States, the Relay For Life event has spread to 21 countries. Relay events are held in local communities, campus universities, military bases, and in cyberspace...

, an overnight event designed to spread awareness of cancer prevention, treatments and cures, celebrate cancer survivors

Cancer survivors

A cancer survivor is an individual with cancer of any type, current or past, who is still living. About 11 million Americans alive today—one in 30 people–are either currently undergoing treatment for cancer or have done so in the past." Currently nearly 65% of adults diagnosed with cancer in the...

and raise money for cancer research

Cancer research

Cancer research is basic research into cancer in order to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure....

. The Adrienne Kirby Family Literacy Project
Family literacy
Family literacy is a method of education. Relatively new, family literacy is currently being put into practice in the United States and in South Africa.- Overview :...

, recognized as a model program by the Corporation for National and Community Service

Corporation For National and Community Service

, involves about 175 Fairfield student-volunteers a year in providing individual tutoring to preschool children at the Action for Bridgeport Community Development's Early Learning/Head Start Program.

Internationally, Ignatian Solidarity Corps volunteers annually participate in two-week international service trips during their spring and winter breaks traveling to Ecuador

Ecuador

Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

, Jamaica, Belize

Belize

Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...

and Haiti

Haiti

Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...

. In 2004, Mikaela Conley '06 and Aamina Awan '07 founded The Afghan Children's Project to raise awareness and funds for children who have suffered the effects of war, violence, and poverty in the heart of Afghanistan

Afghanistan

Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...

. Both were interviewed on CNN Daybreak

CNN Daybreak

CNN Daybreak was an early morning news television program on CNN, anchored from New York by Carol Costello. It debuted on June 1, 1980, the same day CNN went live....

in August 2005 for their work in funding the building of a water well

Water well

A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...

for Aloudine, a small village outside Kabul

Kabul

Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...

, desperate for clean drinking water. And in 2008, nine Fairfield students, inspired by 2006 Nobel Peace Prize

Nobel Peace Prize

The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...

recipient Muhammad Yunus

Muhammad Yunus

Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi economist and founder of the Grameen Bank, an institution that provides microcredit to help its clients establish creditworthiness and financial self-sufficiency. In 2006 Yunus and Grameen received the Nobel Peace Prize...

and the Grameen Bank

Grameen Bank

The Grameen Bank is a microfinance organization and community development bank started in Bangladesh that makes small loans to the impoverished without requiring collateral...

, started Sustainable Equity for Women, a micro-lending project designed to raise and invest money in small businesses run by women in developing countries in conjunction with
Kiva Microfunds

Kiva (organization)

Kiva Microfunds is an organization that allows people to lend money via the Internet to microfinance institutions in developing countries around the world and in the United States, which in turn lend the money to small businesses and students...

Diversity

In total, the student body hails from 32 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...

, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 45 foreign countries. 13% of undergraduate students are African American, Hispanic

Hispanic

Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...

, Asian American, Native American (AHANA

AHANA

AHANA is a term that refers to persons of African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American descent. The term was coined at Boston College in 1979 by two students, Alfred Feliciano and Valerie Lewis, who objected to the name "Office of Minority Programs" used by Boston College at the time...

), or multiracial

Multiracial

The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...

. Valuing a mix of experiences in the classroom and on campus, increasing diversity

Diversity (politics)

In the political arena, the term diversity is used to describe political entities with members who have identifiable differences in their backgrounds or lifestyles....

at Fairfield is a major goal of the University's Strategic Vision, and in 2005, during the University's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration and Convocation, the Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.

Jeffrey P. von Arx

, called on the university to join him in efforts to increase diversity

Diversity (politics)

In the political arena, the term diversity is used to describe political entities with members who have identifiable differences in their backgrounds or lifestyles....

at the institution. For this reason, the Office of Institutional Diversity Initiatives and the Office of Student Diversity Programs were created to pursue a number of initiatives to increase racial and socioeconomic diversity

Diversity (politics)

In the political arena, the term diversity is used to describe political entities with members who have identifiable differences in their backgrounds or lifestyles....

. These diversity

Diversity (politics)

In the political arena, the term diversity is used to describe political entities with members who have identifiable differences in their backgrounds or lifestyles....

initiatives are helped annually by the Fairfield Awards Dinner held in New York City in which funds are raised for The Alumni Multicultural Scholarship Fund. The 2008 Fairfield Awards Dinner raised a record-breaking $1.1 million.

Fairfield University Student Association

The Fairfield University Student Association (FUSA) is the official student association for full-time undergraduate students and is the largest student organization on campus. The association exists to represent student issues and concerns to the faculty and administration and to sponsor a multitude of student programs and activities. All full-time undergraduate students are members. The association is organized into three branches – legislative', executive, and judicial. The legislative branch consists of the Student Senate, comprising 40 elected representatives (10 from each undergraduate class year). The executive branch is headed by the popularly elected President of FUSA, who serves as the official spokesperson for undergraduate students in addition to administering the student association on a daily basis. In 2002, Karen Donoghue '03 became the first women elected President of FUSA. The FUSA President is assisted by a popularly elected Vice President, elected class officers, and a number of other appointed officers, including the Executive Director of Programming and the Executive Director of Clubs & Organizations. The judicial branch, known as the Student Court, serves as a hearing body in certain student conduct cases, as well as performing the judicial functions required for the student association.

Student activism

A central tenet of a Jesuit education is the promotion of the values of peace

Peace

Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...

and social justice

Social justice

. Fairfield University students have embraced and reflected these values in their own student activism

Student activism

Student activism is work done by students to effect political, environmental, economic, or social change. It has often focused on making changes in schools, such as increasing student influence over curriculum or improving educational funding...

. In 1988, 1989 and 1990, the Coalition for a Better World constructed "Cardboard City" and held a 36 hour vigil, and again in 2008, the Students for Social Justice similarly constructed "Homeless Village" and hosted the "Oxfam Hunger Banquet"

Oxfam

Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...

to raise awareness of the plight of the homeless in the United States. In 1999, students staged an 11-hour sit-in at the home of the university president and later a hunger strike

Hunger strike

A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...

to protest a contracting company used by the university that the students said was anti-union and paid janitors poorly. Each year, the Students for Social Justice travel to Columbus, Georgia

Columbus, Georgia

Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...

for the annual School of the Americas Watch

School of the Americas Watch

School of the Americas Watch is an advocacy organization founded by Maryknoll Father Roy Bourgeois and a small group of supporters in 1990 to protest the training of mainly Latin American military officers, by the United States Department of Defense, at the School of the Americas...

protest at a combat training school for Latin American soldiers now known as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation

Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation

The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation , formerly the United States Army School of the Americas is a United States Department of Defense educational and training facility at Fort Benning near Columbus, Georgia in the United States...

. The date of the protest marks the anniversary of the murder of six Jesuit priests, their maid, and her daughter in El Salvador

El Salvador

El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...

at the hands of soldiers trained at the School of the Americas. And in 2008, Fairfield for Peace NOW created "Hope Trail", a pathway of flags around campus symbolizing the cost in life and casualties from the Iraq War, and "A Cry For Peace", a play written and performed with Theatre Fairfield demonstrating the toll of the Iraq War on the families of soldiers back in the United States.

Student clubs & organizations

All student clubs and organizations comprise the Student Organization Board of Governors (SOBOG), which is governed by a board of governors and administered by a chairperson selected by members of student organizations. SOBOG exists to encourage student involvement and participation in approximately 80 clubs and organizations each year including the Glee Club, Jazz Ensemble, Pep Band, Dance Team, Stag in the Stands, Habitat for Humanity, Asian Student Association, mission volunteer trips, and Theater Fairfield. The oldest club on campus is the Fairfield University Glee Club

Fairfield University Glee Club

The Fairfield University Glee Club is a mixed chorus of more than 100 undergraduate and graduate singers at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. The Glee Club has performed in churches, schools and recital and concert halls throughout Europe, singing from Galway to Rome and Florence to...

which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2007. The Fairfield University Debate Team of Jason LaRue '99 and Courtney Darts '01 won first place at the 1998 Columbia University Parliamentary Debate Tournament

Parliamentary Debate

Parliamentary Debate is an academic debate event. Many university level institutions in English speaking nations sponsor parliamentary debate teams, but the format is currently spreading to the high school level as well...

beating 69 other teams, including teams from Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Yale and Williams.

Student media

The Cream Filling – The Student Artistic, Literary, and Cultural Special-Interest Magazine of Fairfield University
Dogwood – A Journal of Poetry and Prose
The HAM Channel – The Student Television Station of Fairfield University
The Mirror
Fairfield Mirror
The Fairfield Mirror is the student newspaper of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is financially and editorially independent of the University, and publishes weekly on Wednesday during the academic year with additional issues during commencement and orientation...

– The Independent Student Newspaper of Fairfield University
The Mirror Sports Blog – The Independent Student Sports Blog of Fairfield University Athletics
The Sound – The Student Literary Magazine of Fairfield University
WVOF
WVOF
WVOF is the student-run college radio station at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. As of August 2008, the station has been a partner with Connecticut Public Radio and carries Connecticut Public Radio and NPR programming.-History:...

– The Voice of Fairfield University

Traditions

Student life at the Fairfield is marked by a number of unique traditions and celebrations:

The Floating Naut – The Floating Naut is a weekly gathering of beach residents at student houses on the beach. The location rotates each week.
Stagstock – Stagstock is an all day, outdoor concert organized by the HAM Channel and WVOF each year. Stagstock brings together local bands, along with bigger, nationally recognized acts, and showcases them in a free concert. The concert is traditionally held in the Quad on the first weekend of the new school year.
Mock Weddings – Mock Wedding, created by Chris Tucker '96 and Steve Xeller '96, is a long standing Fairfield tradition in which senior class members select peers to be part of a faux wedding ceremony at The Point at Fairfield Beach
Fairfield Beach, Connecticut
-Location:Fairfield Beach is located to the south of downtown Fairfield, and the neighborhood extends south from Old Post Road to the Long Island Sound. The neighborhood originally held a variety of income levels, with small family farms such as the Hauser farm on the corner of Reef Road and...

followed by a wedding party at a local reception hall late in their final spring semester.
Powder Puff – Powder Puff is a senior beach event that usually takes place in early November each year.
Spring Week – Spring Week is a week full of Spring Events sponsored by various clubs and organizations culminating in May Day. Coordinated by IRHA (Inter-Residential Housing Association)
May Day – May Day sponsored by IRHA and is the last of Spring Week. Free food, cheap drinks, music and fun events take over Lessing Field for the day long event.
Clam Jam – Clam Jam is one of the final events held at the beach in late April. The Point at Fairfield Beach
Fairfield Beach, Connecticut
-Location:Fairfield Beach is located to the south of downtown Fairfield, and the neighborhood extends south from Old Post Road to the Long Island Sound. The neighborhood originally held a variety of income levels, with small family farms such as the Hauser farm on the corner of Reef Road and...

is jam packed with students celebrating the end of the school year.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.