Our Lady of the Lake University
Encyclopedia
Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) is an independent Catholic
, co-ed university located in San Antonio, Texas
, United States
. It was founded in 1895 by the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence
, a religious order
originating in Lorraine
, France
, during the 18th century. The Texas chapter of the order still sponsors the university.
Our Lady of the Lake University was the first San Antonio institution of higher education to receive regional accreditation. It has been accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1923. In 1927 it became the third Texas school to be approved by the American Association of Universities.
As part of its mission to provide education to those with limited access, the University introduced the Weekend College concept at the San Antonio campus in 1978. OLLU began offering "weekend degree" programs in Houston in 1986.
s in 33 areas of study, Master’s degrees in 14 areas of study, and two doctoral degree programs. Classes are offered through traditional weekday, weekend and online formats. Our Lady of the Lake University also offers weekend classes on campuses in Houston and Harlingen.
in San Antonio, Texas. OLLU realizes this purpose through the development of every student who enrolls, through the assurance of quality in every academic program, through unwavering service to the communities of which it is a part, and through the continuing strong spirituality, charism and sponsorship of the Sisters of Divine Providence."
The community quickly rallied and help raise funds to reconstruct the building and reconstruction was completed in Fall 2010 and hosted its first class since the fire in January 2011.
29.4271513°N 98.5436296°W
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, co-ed university located in San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was founded in 1895 by the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence
Congregation of Divine Providence
The Congregation of Divine Providence was founded by Father Jean-Martin Moye, a French priest who saw the lack of educational opportunities for females in his parish in Lorraine, France....
, a religious order
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
originating in Lorraine
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, during the 18th century. The Texas chapter of the order still sponsors the university.
History
In 1895, construction began on the main campus of Our Lady of the Lake College. By 1896, educational programs were under way. The first college program began in 1911 as a two-year curriculum for women. In 1919, the curriculum was expanded to four years and the institution was admitted to membership in the Texas Association of Colleges. Graduate study began in 1942 and was coeducational from its inception; all programs became fully coeducational in 1969. In 1975 the name of the institution was changed from Our Lady of the Lake College to Our Lady of the Lake University of San Antonio.Our Lady of the Lake University was the first San Antonio institution of higher education to receive regional accreditation. It has been accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1923. In 1927 it became the third Texas school to be approved by the American Association of Universities.
As part of its mission to provide education to those with limited access, the University introduced the Weekend College concept at the San Antonio campus in 1978. OLLU began offering "weekend degree" programs in Houston in 1986.
Present
Our Lady of the Lake University currently offers Bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
s in 33 areas of study, Master’s degrees in 14 areas of study, and two doctoral degree programs. Classes are offered through traditional weekday, weekend and online formats. Our Lady of the Lake University also offers weekend classes on campuses in Houston and Harlingen.
Mission statement
As a Catholic university sponsored by the Sisters of Divine Providence, Our Lady of the Lake University is a community whose members are committed to serve students by:- Ensuring quality, innovative undergraduate and graduate learning experiences,
- Fostering spiritual, personal, and professional growth, and
- Preparing students for success and continued service.
Statement of purpose
"Our Lady of the Lake University exists for the purpose of providing undergraduate and graduate programs that are rooted in the tradition of Catholic higher education and inspired by the Congregation of Divine ProvidenceCongregation of Divine Providence
The Congregation of Divine Providence was founded by Father Jean-Martin Moye, a French priest who saw the lack of educational opportunities for females in his parish in Lorraine, France....
in San Antonio, Texas. OLLU realizes this purpose through the development of every student who enrolls, through the assurance of quality in every academic program, through unwavering service to the communities of which it is a part, and through the continuing strong spirituality, charism and sponsorship of the Sisters of Divine Providence."
2008 Fire
On May 6, 2008, a fire was reported on the campus at 7:44 p.m. CDT. The fire affected all four floors of Main, the often said "main image" of Our Lady of the Lake University. The fire quickly changed from a three- to four-alarm fire after an hour's time with five pumper trucks battling the blaze. No injuries or deaths occurred. The fire consumed the roof and one spire had collapsed. Much of the damage to the building was due to the amount of water poured into the building to contain the blaze. While the firefighters struggled with the fourth floor, some of the University's IT staff went in and protected the servers that were located on the first floor of the same building. Operations were coordinated from the Library building located across 24th Street from Main. A bomb threat the day before the fire had caused some concern that the incident was arson-related. Firefighters suspect that the fire started on the fourth floor of the Main building due to an electrical short.The community quickly rallied and help raise funds to reconstruct the building and reconstruction was completed in Fall 2010 and hosted its first class since the fire in January 2011.
External links
29.4271513°N 98.5436296°W