Loras College
Encyclopedia
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
located in Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
, with a general attendance of approximately 1,700 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It is one of four four-year post-secondary institutions in the City of Dubuque, and is one of three Catholic colleges in the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
History
Loras College, a liberal arts collegeLiberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
, was founded in 1839 by the Most Rev. Mathias Loras
Mathias Loras
Bishop Mathias Loras was an immigrant French priest to the United States who later became the first bishop of the Dubuque Diocese in what would become the state of Iowa.-Early Life & Ministry:...
, first bishop of Dubuque, who established Saint Raphael's Seminary to educate young men for the priesthood with the expressed intention of also providing an opportunity for higher education to the citizens of the area. The college has functioned under several names: Saint Raphael's Seminary, Mount St. Bernard's College and Seminary, St. Joseph's College, Dubuque College, and Columbia College. The present name was adopted during the school's centennial in 1939. That same year, the national Catholic honor society, Delta Epsilon Sigma
Delta Epsilon Sigma
Delta Epsilon Sigma is a national scholastic honor society that was established in 1939 for students of Catholic universities and colleges in the United States. The society was founded at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa in 1939 by Father Fitzgerald. Requirements for membership are as follows...
was founded at the college, by Father Fitzgerald. From the time of its founding, the college has devoted its faculty and facilities to an undergraduate program; it conferred the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees.
In 1963, when The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
decided to discontinue its branch program of graduate study on the Loras campus, Loras College, realizing the growing need in the locale for study beyond the baccalaureate degree, initiated its Graduate Division offering the Master of Arts degree in some fields.
The College became coeducational in the fall of 1971. In 1973, the Associate of Arts and the Associate of Science degrees were introduced. The Division of Community Education was initiated in 1975.
Both the Undergraduate College and the Graduate Division of Loras College are accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The teacher education program, both at the graduate and undergraduate level, is accredited by the Iowa Department of Education. The undergraduate teacher education program is also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
has approved the undergraduate chemistry program. Loras College is also approved by the Association of American Universities
Association of American Universities
The Association of American Universities is an organization of leading research universities devoted to maintaining a strong system of academic research and education...
and New York Board of Regents. The Council of Social Work Education has accredited the social work major at the baccalaureate level.
Athletics
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
scribe in 1924. The school fields 21 men’s and women’s varsity teams in the NCAA
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...
Division III. They are a member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is an College Athletic Conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. As the name implies, member teams are located in the state of Iowa.-History:...
(IIAC). Loras’ colors are Royal Purple and Gold, colors exemplified by the home football uniform of purple jerseys, gold pants and gold helmets with purple face masks.
Campus
Loras sits on a 65 acres (263,045.9 m²) campus located atop several hills in Dubuque. The grounds are bounded by Loras Boulevard on the south, Kirkwood Street on the north, Henion Street on the east, and Alta Vista Street on the west. The campus is surrounded by residential neighborhoods on all sides, some of which are among the most historic in the city. The college consists of 23 buildings, 2 athletic fields, a stadium, and 5 tennis courts. Because of its high location, several of the buildings provide excellent views of Downtown Dubuque and the Mississippi RiverMississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
Some of the more notable buildings include:
- Athletic Wellness Center: Built in 2007-2008, the athletic wellness center provides a home to the men's and women's basketball teams as well as the women's volleyball team. In addition, a cardio-vascular center, upgraded weight room and training room, as well as state-of-the-art locker rooms makes the 'AWC' a great improvement from "The Fieldhouse."
- Academic Resource Center: Among Loras' newest buildings, the Academic Resource Center is home to the campus' main library, including some 355,000 items. The building also includes the bookstore and some academic uses.
- Alumni Campus Center: At the center of campus, the Alumni Campus Center is a multi-function building, and includes the student unionStudent activity centerA student activity center is a type of building found on university campuses. In the United States, such a building is more often called a student union, student commons, or student center...
, dining hall, and meeting rooms.
- Christ the King Chapel: The main chapel on campus, at which is held daily Mass, Thursday night Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Reconciliation, and Mass Sunday night with student lectors, cantors, musicians, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, greeters, acolytes, and sacristans. The building connects to Keane Hall via a bridge between the two buildings.
- Hoffmann Hall: Hoffmann Hall is Loras' oldest building, established in 1909. It includes a tall clock tower, and houses various academic uses, along with an auditorium.
- Keane Hall: Keane Hall is the most visible building on campus, sitting at the peak of one of the highest hills in the city. Designed by celebrated architect Emmanuel Louis MasquerayEmmanuel Louis MasquerayEmmanuel Louis Masqueray was a Franco-American preeminent figure in the history of American architecture, both as a gifted designer of landmark buildings and as an influential teacher of the profession of architecture.-Biography:...
, the building is multi-use, and includes administrative offices, academics, and faculty offices.
- The Visitation: The Visitation is a former convent that now houses the school's classes in art and music. Gallagher Hall is where most recitals take place, and the building houses an art museum and practice space for musicians. It also is a residence hall, the south side for girls, the north for males.
Expansion
The college has been expanded in recent years, starting with the Alumni Campus Center in 1992, and added a new library in 2001. This new Academic Resource Center contains a collection of approximately of 355,000 items and 11,000 magazine subscriptions. In addition to its broad general collection, the library contains a rich heritage in its special collections of rare books, as well as the photographs and manuscripts in the Center for Dubuque History located in the library. The library is also an official document depository for both the United States government and the state of Iowa. The old library, Wahlert Memorial Library, was recently remodeled into classroom space.The college recently purchased Cox Street which runs through campus from the city of Dubuque for $50,000. The school has since shut the street down and will tear it up to replace it with a pedestrian friendly walking trial to improve the aesthetics of campus and also improve pedestrian safety.
Additionally the Physical Plant on campus will be moving to an off campus location and replaced possibly with fast-food and other student friendly businesses.
Graduates
A notable graduate of Loras College was Father Aloysius SchmittAloysius Schmitt
Father Aloysius H. Schmitt was a Roman Catholic priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque, who served as a chaplain in the United States Navy during World War II. -Early life and ordination:...
. He was one of those killed on board the USS Oklahoma
USS Oklahoma (BB-37)
USS Oklahoma , the only ship of the United States Navy to ever be named for the 46th state, was a World War I-era battleship and the second of two ships in her class; her sister ship was . She, along with her sister, were the first two U.S...
during the Japanese attack
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
on December 7, 1941.
Other notable graduates of Loras College include:
- Clarence Enzler (class of 1931), author of several religious books, including a Stations of the Cross book titled Everyone's Way of the Cross.
- Raymond RoseliepRaymond RoseliepRaymond Roseliep was a poet and contemporary master of the English haiku and Catholic priest. He has been described as "the John Donne of Western haiku."- Early life :...
(class of 1939), American poet famous for haikuHaiku' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...
. - John Joseph PaulJohn Joseph PaulJohn Joseph Paul was a Roman Catholic bishop.Bishop Paul was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He graduated from Aquinas High School in 1935. In 1939, he graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. John Joseph Paul was ordained to the Roman Catholic Priesthood on January 24, 1943, by Auxiliary...
(class of 1939), Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse. - David Rabe (class of 1962), playwright and screenwriter.
- Greg GumbelGreg GumbelGreg Gumbel is an American television sportscaster. He is best known for his various assignments on the CBS network...
(class of 1967), CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sportscaster. - Bill Bolster (class of 1967), retired CEO of CNBC International.
- Dennis SchmitzDennis Schmitz-Life:He grew up in Dubuque, Iowa. He graduated from Loras College and the University of Chicago. He married Loretta D'Agostino in 1960. He taught at Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and California State University, Sacramento.His students include Raymond...
, contemporary American poet. - James V Ball, (class of 1958), retired, well known attorney Memphis, TN, Loras College HOF 2002.
- Thomas Tauke ( class of 1972), US congressman from Iowa, 1979–1991.
- Al Ruffalo (class of 1969), CEO of RuffaloCODY.
- Edward Grace (class of 1988), Deputy Chief, US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2002 and 2010 Clark R. Bavin Law Enforcement Award winner.
- Michael M. MihmMichael M. MihmMichael Martin Mihm is an incumbent United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, with chambers in Peoria, Illinois. He became a judge in 1982 by way of nomination by President Ronald Reagan...
(class of 1964), US District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois. - Mike Ferrin (class of 1998), Sirius/XM radio baseball broadcaster.
- Stephen R. Sieck ( class of 2001), Professor of Chemistry at Grinnell College.
Although not a graduate, Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Red Faber
Red Faber
Urban Clarence "Red" Faber was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from through , playing his entire career for the Chicago White Sox. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964....
attended Loras in 1909. Faber set a college record by striking out 24 St. Ambrose batters in a 1909 game before moving on to a 20-year Major League career with the Chicago White Sox. Faber-Clark Field on Loras’ lower campus bears his name today. Film actor Don Ameche
Don Ameche
Don Ameche was an Academy Award winning American actor with a career spanning almost sixty years.-Personal life:...
was known to have attended during the 1920s. Although not frequently mentioned due to his controversial religious ideas later in life, Creation Spirituality founder Matthew Fox
Matthew Fox (priest)
Matthew Fox is an American priest and theologian. Formerly a member of the Dominican order within the Roman Catholic Church, Fox is now a member of the Episcopal Church....
attended Loras in 1958. He was eventually ordained as a Dominican priest but then silenced for a year (forbidden to teach theology) by Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
) of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
in 1988. In 1993, he was expelled from the Dominican order and effectively from the Catholic Church at the order of Cardinal Ratzinger. In 1994, he became an Episcopal priest. Another controversial graduate is William Schnoebelen
William Schnoebelen
Rev. William Schnoebelen is an American Messianic Christian apologist, author, teacher and lecturer. He is best known as a strong critic of Mormonism, Freemasonry and Wicca. Once primarily published by Chick Publications, he has authored publications in over 14 countries...
, who obtained a degree in music and education from Loras in 1971. Schnoebelen went on to found With One Accord Ministry, an organization which strongly denounces Catholicism and Catholic teachings (among other things).
See also
- Dubuque, IowaDubuque, IowaDubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of DubuqueRoman Catholic Archdiocese of DubuqueThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northeastern quarter of the state of Iowa in the United States. It includes all the Iowa counties north of Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Iowa, Johnson, Cedar, and Clinton counties. ...
- St. Pius X Seminary (Dubuque, Iowa)St. Pius X Seminary (Dubuque, Iowa)St. Pius X Seminary is associated with Loras College, Dubuque Iowa, and run under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The seminary prepares Minor Seminarians for the priesthood, specifically preparing candidates for entrance into Major Seminary & Theological studies...