Saint Joseph's University
Encyclopedia
Saint Joseph's University (also referred to as SJU or St. Joe's) is a private, coeducation
al Roman Catholic Jesuit university located partially in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia and partially in Lower Merion Township
and located in the Pennsylvania Main Line
, Pennsylvania
, United States.
The school was founded in 1851 as Saint Joseph's College by the Society of Jesus
. As of 2010, Saint Joseph's University is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities
. Saint Joseph's University educates over 8,500 students each year in over 60 undergraduate majors, 12 special-study options, 28 study-abroad programs, 53 graduate study areas, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. It has 17 centers and institutes. Saint Joseph's is one of the oldest Jesuit
, Catholic universities in the United States.
Saint Joseph's has grown in physical size and scope since 2001 with the addition of the Maguire Campus, construction of new campus buildings, and the addition of new majors and programs annually. For the 2012 U.S. News and World Report rankings, in the Master's Universities (North) category, Saint Joseph's was ranked number 8.
Credit for founding the college is given to Rev. Felix Barbelin
, S.J., who served as its first president. Barbelin and four other Jesuits formed the first faculty of Saint Joseph's College. On the morning of September 15, 1851, some 32 young men gathered in the courtyard outside Old St. Joseph's Church
, located in Willing's Alley off Walnut and Fourth Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania one block from Independence Hall. After attending High Mass and reciting the Veni Creator in the church, these men were assigned to their classes in a building adjacent to the church.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin-right:16pt;margin-top:2pt;float:left;"
!colspan=3|Presidents of Saint Joseph's University
|-
|Rev. Felix Barbelin, S.J.
|align="center" | 1851
|align="center" | 1856
|-
|Rev. James Ryder, S.J.
|align="center" | 1856
|align="center" | 1857
|-
|Rev. James A. Ward, S.J.
|align="center" | 1857
|align="center" | 1860
|-
|Rev. Felix Barbelin, S.J.
|align="center" | 1860
|align="center" | 1868
|-
|Rev. Burchard Villiger, S.J.
|align="center" | 1868
|align="center" | 1893
|-
|Rev. Patrick J. Dooley, S.J.
|align="center" | 1893
|align="center" | 1896
|-
|Rev. William F. Clark, S.J.
|align="center" | 1896
|align="center" | 1900
|-
|Rev. Cornelius Gillespie, S.J.
|align="center" | 1900
|align="center" | 1907
|-
|Rev. Denis T. O'Sullivan, S.J.
|align="center" | 1907
|align="center" | 1908
|-
|Rev. Cornelius Gillespie, S.J.
|align="center" | 1908
|align="center" | 1909
|-
|Rev. Charles W. Lyons, S.J.
|align="center" | 1909
|align="center" | 1914
|-
|Rev. J. Charles Davey, S.J.
|align="center" | 1914
|align="center" | 1917
|-
|Rev. Redmond J. Walsh, S.J.
|align="center" | 1917
|align="center" | 1920
|-
|Rev. Patrick F. O'Gorman, S.J.
|align="center" | 1920
|align="center" | 1921
|-
|Rev. Albert G. Brown, S.J.
|align="center" | 1921
|align="center" | 1927
|-
|Rev. William T. Tallon, S.J.
|align="center" | 1927
|align="center" | 1933
|-
|Rev. Thomas J. Higgins, S.J.
|align="center" | 1933
|align="center" | 1939
|-
|Rev. Thomas J. Love, S.J.
|align="center" | 1939
|align="center" | 1944
|-
|Rev. John L. Long, S.J.
|align="center" | 1944
|align="center" | 1950
|-
|Rev. Edward G. Jacklin, S.J.
|align="center" | 1950
|align="center" | 1956
|-
|Rev. J. Joseph Bluett, S.J.
|align="center" | 1956
|align="center" | 1962
|-
|Rev. William F. Maloney, S.J.
|align="center" | 1962
|align="center" | 1968
|-
|Rev. Terrence Toland, S.J.
|align="center" | 1968
|align="center" | 1976
|-
|Rev. Donald I. MacLean, S.J.
|align="center" | 1976
|align="center" | 1986
|-
|Rev. Nicholas S. Rashford, S.J.
|align="center" | 1986
|align="center" | 2003
|-
|Rev. Timothy R. Lannon
, S.J.
|align="center" | 2003
|align="center" | 2011
|-
|Mr. John Smithson
(Interim)
|align="center" | 2011
|align="center" | June 30, 2012
|-
|Rev. C. Kevin Gillespie, S.J. (Elect)
|align="center" | July 1, 2012
|align="center" | Present
|-
Before the end of the first academic year in 1851, the enrollment rose from fewer than 40 students to 98. In the following year, the college received its charter of incorporation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the enrollment grew to 126 students. The fledgling college soon outgrew an increasingly noisy and commercialized location on Willing’s Alley. The college moved into a building at 1234 Filbert Street in Philadelphia, then in a prosperous residential neighborhood near the future site of City Hall. In 1889, Saint Joseph’s inaugurated its third site at 17th and Stiles Streets in North Philadelphia, in the heart of Philadelphia’s booming industrial zone. In 1927, in recognition of population shifts toward the western part of the city and into the western suburbs, the college moved to its current location, 54th and City Avenue
, at the entrance to Philadelphia’s fashionable Main Line. After World War II, Saint Joseph’s began to acquire properties across City Avenue on the Main Line itself, propelling the institution physically as well as culturally into the suburbs proper.
In fall 1970, the undergraduate day college opened its doors to women. Saint Joseph's was recognized as a university by the Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on July 24, 1978. The corporate charter was formally changed to reflect university status on December 27, 1978.
currently serving as interim President of the University. Smithson took on the role when the University's 26th President, Rev. Timothy R. Lannon
, S.J., stepped down to assume the Presidency at his alma mater, Creighton University
. On January 24, 2011, the Board of Trustees elected Rev. Joseph M. O'Keefe, S.J. as the 27th President of the University, but O'Keefe later had to step down, citing health issues; the University subsequently selected Smithson, a former chair of the Board of Trustees, to serve as Interim President and directed its efforts to a Jesuit-only search. Under Smithson, the University began taking steps to complete its Plan 2020: Gateway to the Future.
On November 10, 2011, the University's Board of Trustees announced that it had selected Rev. C. Kevin Gillespie, S.J., Associate Provost of University Centers at Loyola University Chicago
, as the 27th President of the University. Gillespie is a member of the University's Class of 1972 and has served as a trustee since 2006. Gillespie is only the second President to also be an alumnus of the University, the first was Rev. Cornelius Gillespie, S.J., who served from 1900-1907 and again from 1908-1909. Gillespie was formally presented at a reception on November 11, 2011, and will formally assume the Presidency on July 1, 2012. Until this time, the University announced that John Smithson will continue his role as interim President.
Chuck D
, Desmond Tutu
, Michael Nutter, Chris Matthews
, James Cone
, Chelsea Clinton
, Caroline Kennedy
, Tim Russert
, Jonathan Weiner
, Pat Croce
, Tim Wise
, Ed Rendell
, Dan Marino
, Soledad O'Brien
, and Rick Santorum
have spoken various locations around campus, including the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse
.
|- bgcolor="#BBBBBB"
!| College/School
!| Dean
|-
|College of Arts & Sciences
|William Madges, PhD
|-
|Haub School of Business
|Joseph A. DiAngelo, Ed.D.
|-
|College of Professional and Liberal Studies
|Paul L. DeVito, PhD
|-
|}
About 98% of faculty hold the highest possible degrees in their fields. The 2008 graduation rate was 90% and the freshman retention rate is 89%. About 51% of undergraduates are enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences while 49% are enrolled in the Haub School of Business. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
has placed Saint Joseph's under the designation of "Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)".
Graduate degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences include biology, computer science, criminal justice, education, gerontological services, health administration, health education, nurse anesthesia, psychology, public safety and environmental protection, training and organizational development, and writing studies. Many of the programs offer post-master's certificates in a variety of areas. The College also offers a doctoral degree in education.
The MBA program offers concentrations in Accounting, Decision and System Sciences, Finance, Health and Medical Services, Human Resource Management, International Business, International Marketing, Management, and Marketing. An MBA from Saint Joseph's University is offered at SJU's campus or at Ursinus College
in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Courses at both locations are administered and staffed by Saint Joseph's.
Undergraduate programs include Accounting, Decision and System Sciences, Finance, Food Marketing, International Business and Marketing, Management, Marketing, and Pharmaceutical Marketing.
In addition to the MBA program, HSB offers graduate degrees in Human Resource Management, Financial Services, International Marketing, Decision & System Sciences, an Executive MBA, Executive MS in Food Marketing, Executive MBAs in Food Marketing and Pharmaceutical Marketing, and a number of China Programs. The school also offers post-MBA certificate programs.
The Haub School of Business
is one of only 15 business schools in the country to feature a Wall Street trading room
. The room provides access to electronic sources of financial and investment data, analytical tools, and trading simulations. Students in certain classes must trade stocks to prepare themselves for specific careers.
The HSB was awarded The Beta Gamma Sigma
2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 Silver Chapter Award, and the 2010 Gold Chapter Award. The HSB has been ranked in numerous reports and studies done by national companies, magazines, and websites.
(57th in the nation for its undergraduate program) and The Princeton Review
mentioned as one of "The Best 143 Business Schools" in 2007 and one of the best 290 in 2008). Saint Joseph's was also featured on Princeton Review's list of top 222 colleges in the Northeast. Barron's Profiles of American Colleges rate Saint Joseph's as "competitive" among colleges and universities nationwide. CampusExplorer calls St. Joe's "selective". and one of the best 290 in 2008 The Corporation for National and Community Service placed Saint Joseph's University on the 2007 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest honor a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement. US News and World report gives SJU a 80 out of 100 overall. US News and World Report named Saint Joseph's Haub School of Business among the best graduate programs in the country in its 2009 edition. The school's graduate education was also listed among the best. College Prowler
recently gave SJU high marks in Academics (B+), Local Atmosphere (A-), Athletics (B+), Nightlife (A-), Safety & Security (B+), and Facilities (B). In 2010, US News and World Report ranked the Haub School of Business' part-time MBA program as the best in Southeastern Pennsylvania and one of the top 25 in the nation. This is the 5th time in 6 years that the Part-Time MBA program has received this distinction from U.S. News. In 2008, for the third year in a row, the Haub School of Business was awarded the Silver Chapter Award by Beta Gamma Sigma. In 2010, Beta Gamma Sigma awarded SJU's chapter the Gold Award. The Princeton Review rated SJU an 85 out of 100 academically in its 2009 edition. In 2008, Forbes
ranked Saint Joseph's as the 201st best college in the country. The Haub School of Business and SJU's Marketing program were both ranked amongst the best in the country by the 2009 edition of US News and World Report. The undergraduate Marketing program was named one of the 24 best in the nation. In addition, the Haub School of Business was recognized by Beyond Grey Pinstripes, a biennial survey of business schools, for being one of the top 100 schools (at number 76) in the world at integrating ethical issues into graduate business curricula for the years 2009 to 2010; the ranking includes a component ranking of number 12 in the world for student exposure to ethics. In 2010, SJU's Executive MBA program was ranked 20th in the nation. In the same ranking, the graduate programs in Finance, Management, Marketing, Accounting were ranked 20th, 23rd, 23rd, and 24th in the nation respectively. CNN Money ranked SJU as the one the Top 10 least affordable colleges in 2011. The 2011 US News and World Report ranked SJU as the 8th best Master's University in the North. The publication also ranked SJU's Marketing, Accounting, and Insurance undergraduate programs as 16th, 25th, and 11th respectively. Lannon Hall (formerly Borgia) was named as the 2nd best dorm in the country by the Huffington Post.
Saint Joseph's University's campus, often referred to as Hawk Hill, is located on City Avenue, which splits the University between the northwestern edge of Philadelphia and Lower Merion Township
. A bridge which goes over City Avenue, connects the two sides of the campus. Its 103 acre (0.41682658 km²) are concentrated from Cardinal Avenue to 52nd Street and Overbrook Avenue to City Avenue, but also includes individual buildings separate from the main campus. With the acquisition of the Maguire Campus, 57 of the 103 acre (0.41682658 km²) are located on the Lower Merion side of City Avenue. It is within 15 miles (24.1 km) of La Salle University, Harcum College, Rosemont College, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
, Drexel University
, Temple University
, Bryn Mawr College
, Haverford College
, Philadelphia University
and Villanova University
. There are 650 work stations on campus and all of the dorms are wired for access to the campus-wide network. Two regional rail train stations on each side of campus provide students with easy access to Center City. St. Mary's, Gest, Claver, Neumann, and Wolfington are all lawns located on the Main Campus while there are two quadrangles, College Hall Quad and Barbelin Quad. There are two libraries on campus, the Campbell Collection in Food Marketing & the Francis A. Drexel Library which house approximately 355,000 volumes, 1,450 print journals, 15,000 full-text electronic journals, 2,800 e-books, 866,000 microforms, 4,975 audio-visual materials. Two shuttles operated by Saint Joseph's run along City Avenue and stop at Mandeville Hall for students.
, and Hagan Arena
. The Main Campus is located on the Philadelphia side of City Avenue between Cardinal and Overbrook Avenues and 52nd Street.
The athletic department is also taking full advantage of the acquisition as eight tennis courts, softball, baseball, soccer, and two multi-purpose fields already reside there. A gym and indoor pool will also be used for intramurals and recreation.
What was the old Episcopal Academy chapel will become a multi-use space which will house lectures, concerts, and social gatherings. There are talks of a small cafeteria and coffee shop being added to this space as well.
Along with all of the buildings and fields, the Maguire Campus adds over 300 parking spaces for faculty and students and a number of acres will be turned into green space. There are over 600 different species of trees on the Maguire Campus.
The Maguire Campus is also home to the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support established in 2009 which was made possible with donations totaling over $8 million. The Center is located in Connelly Hall.
, opened in 1927 when the University moved to its current location. The hall is known for its Gothic architecture
, particularly the gargoyles that mark what is called the Barbelin Quadrangle and the tall, four-spired bell tower that can be seen from miles away. The bell tower that sits atop Barbelin served as the University's logo for several years and is located upon Philadelphia's highest geographical location.
Barbelin was built by John McShain
who would later go on to construct many buildings in Washington, D.C. such as The Pentagon
and The Jefferson Memorial.
Barbelin, and adjacent Lonergan Hall, are two of eight dedicated classroom buildings on campus. Other class buildings include John R. Post Hall, Mandeville Hall, Bellarmine Hall, the Science Center, Cynwyd Hall, and Boland Hall, the University's fine arts building which features the University Gallery where paintings and other works of art are showcased to students and the public. Classes are also held in Claver Hall, the home of the Honors Program; McShain Hall, a residence center; and the ELS building for international students. A number of buildings on the Maguire Campus will be dedicated to classes especially those for the fine arts. One building will be solely dedicated to the music department.
The University has three dormitory-style residence halls: McShain, Sourin Hall, and LaFarge Residence Center. Students also live in several campus houses, including Hogan, Jordan, Quirk, St. Albert's, St. Mary's, Simpson, Sullivan, and Xavier Halls and the Morris Quadrangle Townhouses. Apartment-style living is available on campus at Ashwood, Merion Gardens, Rashford, and Wynnewood. Rashford and Lannon Halls are the newest campus residences, opened in 2004.
Many of the campuses houses are located on Lapsley Lane, which features a number of campus offices housed in the former homes of Lower Merion residents. These include Bronstein Hall, Regis Hall (Office of the President), and St. Thomas Hall.
The Campion Student Center is where students generally go to eat. It formerly included the Hawk's Nest, Campion C-Store, Quizno's, Bene Pizza, Ancho Grill, Hawk Wrap, Grille Works, Freshens Smoothie Co., and Jump Asian Station. Following a renovation in the summer of 2008 however, it only retained Quizno's, Hawk Wrap, and Grill Works, in the food court, along with the C-Store outside of it. They did this opting to expand a meal plan cafeteria. The Student Center also has a Theatre Forum where current movies are shown frequently. It also used to have an area called the Hawk Rock where students can play pool, watch movies, play videogames, or watch live bands or speakers. This area was removed during the 2008 renovation in favor of cafeteria expansion. A similar area was opened however in the former bookstore which is adjacent to Campion. This area is now referred to as the perch.
In all, there are 89 buildings on the university's campus.
About 60 percent of students at Saint Joseph's live on campus. Options for on campus housing include apartments, residence halls, campus houses, and townhouses.
, the University's athletic program. It fields teams in 20 varsity sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
. The Hawks are part of the Atlantic Ten Conference
; because the Atlantic 10 does not support men's lacrosse
, the Hawks play in the competitive Colonial Athletic Association
. Along with the Atlantic 10, Saint Joseph's is a member of the Philadelphia Big 5
, intensifying rivalries with Temple University
and Villanova University
along with another A-10 member LaSalle and of course the University of Pennsylvania. Saint Joseph's plays all of its "home" Big 5 games at The Palestra honoring the Big 5 Palestra traditions and encourages the other Big 5 schools to do so as often as possible. The Saint Joseph's school colors are crimson and gray. An impressive 89% of student athletes graduate.
. The 2003–2004 Saint Joseph's University Hawks were the last Division I College Basketball team to finish the Regular Season undefeated. Saint Joseph's ended the regular season with a 27–0 record and secured a No. 1 national ranking and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Saint Joseph's University's basketball team was ranked 43rd best of all-time by Smith & Street's magazine in 2005. Twenty-seven players from St. Joe's have been drafted into the NBA.
The Saint Joseph's basketball teams play most of their home games at Hagan Arena
on the school's campus, while some games are played at the Palestra
on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania
. During the 2008–09 basketball season, the Hawks will play all but one of their home games at the Palestra. Their first home game will be played against Rider University
at the Wachovia Center
in South Philadelphia. Saint Joseph's University also offers 30 intramural and recreational programs.
Their major rival is Villanova University
(the rivalry is known as the Holy War
). Fans of the Hawks often chant "The Hawk Will Never Die!". Since the school's undefeated regular season, this chant has gained familiarity with the team's opponents. In 2003, Sports Illustrated
listed that cheer among The 100 Things You Gotta Do Before You Graduate (Whatever the Cost), calling it "the most defiant cheer in college sports."
SJU's mascot, The Hawk
, has garnered numerous accolades in its 50-year history. It won a "Best of Philly" award from Philadelphia Magazine in 2003–04, has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference's best mascot, and has been selected as the nation's top mascot by The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Street & Smith's Basketball Yearbook, and ESPN College Basketball magazine. The Hawk continuously flaps its wings during all appearances.
Saint Joseph's is also a member of the City 6
. Similar to the Big 5, the City 6 comprises six local colleges who compete in various extramural sporting events. The schools who compete are Saint Joseph's, Villanova University
, University of Pennsylvania
, La Salle University
, Drexel University
, and Temple University
. About 75% of SJU men's basketball players graduate.
Saint Joseph's University hosted first and second round games of the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
. The games were played at the Wachovia Center
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 19 and March 21.
In 2009, the 2004 Hawks were named the best single-season team of the decade by Sports Illustrated.
The university also has a 240 by 120 four-court multi-purpose area for basketball, tennis, and volleyball, an indoor four-lane 200 yards (182.9 m) jogging track, an 8-lane 25-meter indoor pool with a 300 seat observation area, four racquetball courts, locker rooms and saunas, a large fitness center, and nine outdoor tennis courts. The Maguire Campus includes another two gyms, a pool, and a weight room, this has been renamed to the O'Pake Athletic Center.
, the school newspaper. Intramurals are popular on campus, especially thanks to the City 6
extramurals which pit all Philadelphia Division I schools against one another.
and the HawkEye.
The Villiger Debating Society, the school's 150 year-old, nationally recognized speech and debate team, has finished in the top twenty in the nation for the past ten years.
A number of community service organizations exist such as Up 'Til Dawn, Habitat For Humanity, Hand In Hand, Helping Hawks, Students Against Sweatshops, and Students For Peace and Justice. A campus-wide student activities organization, the Student Union Board, and a student government organization, the University Student Senate, also exist.
There are over 100 organizations in all at SJU.
is for students and written by students. Another online only newsletter is called Hawk Hill Online. The Crimson and Gray Literary Magazine showcases the best of student fiction, poetry, and artwork in an annual publication; students and faculty may download the magazine for free (available from the organization's website) or pick one up from select locations around campus. The university also has a magazine called SJU Magazine that is printed every season. The Drexel Library has its own newsletter called Library Lines. The Saint Joseph's University Press
prints books and articles written by faculty and other authors. The university's radio station is WSJR
and it is a member of the Philadelphia College Radio Collective
.
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
al Roman Catholic Jesuit university located partially in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia and partially in Lower Merion Township
Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Merion Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and part of the Pennsylvania Main Line. As of the 2010 census, the township had a total population of 57,825...
and located in the Pennsylvania Main Line
Pennsylvania Main Line
The Main Line is an unofficial historical and socio-cultural region of suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, comprising a collection of affluent towns built along the old Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad which ran northwest from downtown Philadelphia parallel to Lancaster Avenue , a road...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States.
The school was founded in 1851 as Saint Joseph's College 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...
. As of 2010, Saint Joseph's University 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...
. Saint Joseph's University educates over 8,500 students each year in over 60 undergraduate majors, 12 special-study options, 28 study-abroad programs, 53 graduate study areas, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. It has 17 centers and institutes. Saint Joseph's is one of the oldest Jesuit
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...
, Catholic universities in the United States.
Saint Joseph's has grown in physical size and scope since 2001 with the addition of the Maguire Campus, construction of new campus buildings, and the addition of new majors and programs annually. For the 2012 U.S. News and World Report rankings, in the Master's Universities (North) category, Saint Joseph's was ranked number 8.
History
As far back as 1741, a Jesuit College in Philadelphia had been proposed and planned by Rev. Joseph Greaton, S.J., the first resident pastor of Saint Joseph's Church. The suppression of the Jesuits (1773–1814) and lack of people and money delayed for over a hundred years the realization of Greaton's plans.Credit for founding the college is given to Rev. Felix Barbelin
Felix-Joseph Barbelin
Felix-Joseph Barbelin was a nineteenth century Jesuit influential in the development of the Catholic community in Philadelphia....
, S.J., who served as its first president. Barbelin and four other Jesuits formed the first faculty of Saint Joseph's College. On the morning of September 15, 1851, some 32 young men gathered in the courtyard outside Old St. Joseph's Church
Old St. Joseph's Church
Old St. Joseph's Church was the first Catholic church in Philadelphia. When it was founded in 1733, Old St. Joseph's Church was the only place in the English-speaking world where public celebration of the holy sacrifice of the Mass was permitted by law. In 1734, the right of Catholics to worship...
, located in Willing's Alley off Walnut and Fourth Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania one block from Independence Hall. After attending High Mass and reciting the Veni Creator in the church, these men were assigned to their classes in a building adjacent to the church.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin-right:16pt;margin-top:2pt;float:left;"
!colspan=3|Presidents of Saint Joseph's University
|-
|Rev. Felix Barbelin, S.J.
|align="center" | 1851
|align="center" | 1856
|-
|Rev. James Ryder, S.J.
|align="center" | 1856
|align="center" | 1857
|-
|Rev. James A. Ward, S.J.
|align="center" | 1857
|align="center" | 1860
|-
|Rev. Felix Barbelin, S.J.
|align="center" | 1860
|align="center" | 1868
|-
|Rev. Burchard Villiger, S.J.
|align="center" | 1868
|align="center" | 1893
|-
|Rev. Patrick J. Dooley, S.J.
|align="center" | 1893
|align="center" | 1896
|-
|Rev. William F. Clark, S.J.
|align="center" | 1896
|align="center" | 1900
|-
|Rev. Cornelius Gillespie, S.J.
|align="center" | 1900
|align="center" | 1907
|-
|Rev. Denis T. O'Sullivan, S.J.
|align="center" | 1907
|align="center" | 1908
|-
|Rev. Cornelius Gillespie, S.J.
|align="center" | 1908
|align="center" | 1909
|-
|Rev. Charles W. Lyons, S.J.
|align="center" | 1909
|align="center" | 1914
|-
|Rev. J. Charles Davey, S.J.
|align="center" | 1914
|align="center" | 1917
|-
|Rev. Redmond J. Walsh, S.J.
|align="center" | 1917
|align="center" | 1920
|-
|Rev. Patrick F. O'Gorman, S.J.
|align="center" | 1920
|align="center" | 1921
|-
|Rev. Albert G. Brown, S.J.
|align="center" | 1921
|align="center" | 1927
|-
|Rev. William T. Tallon, S.J.
|align="center" | 1927
|align="center" | 1933
|-
|Rev. Thomas J. Higgins, S.J.
|align="center" | 1933
|align="center" | 1939
|-
|Rev. Thomas J. Love, S.J.
|align="center" | 1939
|align="center" | 1944
|-
|Rev. John L. Long, S.J.
|align="center" | 1944
|align="center" | 1950
|-
|Rev. Edward G. Jacklin, S.J.
|align="center" | 1950
|align="center" | 1956
|-
|Rev. J. Joseph Bluett, S.J.
|align="center" | 1956
|align="center" | 1962
|-
|Rev. William F. Maloney, S.J.
|align="center" | 1962
|align="center" | 1968
|-
|Rev. Terrence Toland, S.J.
|align="center" | 1968
|align="center" | 1976
|-
|Rev. Donald I. MacLean, S.J.
|align="center" | 1976
|align="center" | 1986
|-
|Rev. Nicholas S. Rashford, S.J.
|align="center" | 1986
|align="center" | 2003
|-
|Rev. Timothy R. Lannon
Timothy R. Lannon
Timothy R. Lannon, S.J. is, since July 1, 2011, the current and 24th president of Creighton University. He was previously the president of Saint Joseph's University.-Early life:Timothy R. Lannon, S.J., is a native of Mason City, Iowa...
, S.J.
|align="center" | 2003
|align="center" | 2011
|-
|Mr. John Smithson
John Smithson (university president)
John W. Smithson is an American college administrator who has served as the interim President of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, since May 18, 2011. He is the first president of Saint Joseph's University who is not a member of the Jesuits.Smithson is a resident of...
(Interim)
|align="center" | 2011
|align="center" | June 30, 2012
|-
|Rev. C. Kevin Gillespie, S.J. (Elect)
|align="center" | July 1, 2012
|align="center" | Present
|-
Before the end of the first academic year in 1851, the enrollment rose from fewer than 40 students to 98. In the following year, the college received its charter of incorporation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the enrollment grew to 126 students. The fledgling college soon outgrew an increasingly noisy and commercialized location on Willing’s Alley. The college moved into a building at 1234 Filbert Street in Philadelphia, then in a prosperous residential neighborhood near the future site of City Hall. In 1889, Saint Joseph’s inaugurated its third site at 17th and Stiles Streets in North Philadelphia, in the heart of Philadelphia’s booming industrial zone. In 1927, in recognition of population shifts toward the western part of the city and into the western suburbs, the college moved to its current location, 54th and City Avenue
U.S. Route 1 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway, extending from the Florida Keys in the south to the Canadian border in the north. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, US 1 runs for from the Maryland state line near Oxford to the New Jersey state line near Trenton.-Maryland to Interstate...
, at the entrance to Philadelphia’s fashionable Main Line. After World War II, Saint Joseph’s began to acquire properties across City Avenue on the Main Line itself, propelling the institution physically as well as culturally into the suburbs proper.
In fall 1970, the undergraduate day college opened its doors to women. Saint Joseph's was recognized as a university by the Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on July 24, 1978. The corporate charter was formally changed to reflect university status on December 27, 1978.
President
Saint Joseph's University is technically without a President, with current Senior Vice President John SmithsonJohn Smithson (university president)
John W. Smithson is an American college administrator who has served as the interim President of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, since May 18, 2011. He is the first president of Saint Joseph's University who is not a member of the Jesuits.Smithson is a resident of...
currently serving as interim President of the University. Smithson took on the role when the University's 26th President, Rev. Timothy R. Lannon
Timothy R. Lannon
Timothy R. Lannon, S.J. is, since July 1, 2011, the current and 24th president of Creighton University. He was previously the president of Saint Joseph's University.-Early life:Timothy R. Lannon, S.J., is a native of Mason City, Iowa...
, S.J., stepped down to assume the Presidency at his alma mater, 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...
. On January 24, 2011, the Board of Trustees elected Rev. Joseph M. O'Keefe, S.J. as the 27th President of the University, but O'Keefe later had to step down, citing health issues; the University subsequently selected Smithson, a former chair of the Board of Trustees, to serve as Interim President and directed its efforts to a Jesuit-only search. Under Smithson, the University began taking steps to complete its Plan 2020: Gateway to the Future.
On November 10, 2011, the University's Board of Trustees announced that it had selected Rev. C. Kevin Gillespie, S.J., Associate Provost of University Centers at Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
, as the 27th President of the University. Gillespie is a member of the University's Class of 1972 and has served as a trustee since 2006. Gillespie is only the second President to also be an alumnus of the University, the first was Rev. Cornelius Gillespie, S.J., who served from 1900-1907 and again from 1908-1909. Gillespie was formally presented at a reception on November 11, 2011, and will formally assume the Presidency on July 1, 2012. Until this time, the University announced that John Smithson will continue his role as interim President.
Current developments and plans
Two construction projects are under way on campus which include: the Post Learning Commons, a state-of-the-art library multimedia center opening Spring 2012, and Villiger Hall, a six-story, 400 bed freshman residence hall opening Fall 2012. In addition, three NCAA Division I athletic fields are set for completion on the Maguire Campus for field hockey, softball, and baseball.Speakers
Many famous people including Vice-President Joseph Biden, Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
Chuck D
Chuck D
Carlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
, Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid...
, Michael Nutter, Chris Matthews
Chris Matthews
Christopher John "Chris" Matthews is an American news anchor and political commentator, known for his nightly hour-long talk show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, which is televised on the American cable television channel MSNBC...
, James Cone
James Cone
James Cone may refer to:* James Hal Cone * James Cone...
, Chelsea Clinton
Chelsea Clinton
Chelsea Victoria Clinton is a television journalist, currently serving as Special Correspondent for NBC News, and philanthropist, working through the Clinton Global Initiative. She is the only child of former U.S...
, Caroline Kennedy
Caroline Kennedy
Caroline Bouvier Kennedy is an American author and attorney. She is a member of the influential Kennedy family and the only surviving child of U.S. President John F...
, Tim Russert
Tim Russert
Timothy John "Tim" Russert was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News, Washington bureau chief and also hosted the eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview...
, Jonathan Weiner
Jonathan Weiner
Jonathan Weiner is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author of non-fiction books on his biology observations, in particular evolution in the Galápagos Islands, genetics, and the environment....
, Pat Croce
Pat Croce
Pasquale "Pat" Croce is an American entrepreneur, sports team executive and owner, author, and TV personality....
, Tim Wise
Tim Wise
Timothy Jacob Wise is an American anti-racist activist and writer. Since 1995 he has lectured at over 600 college campuses across the US...
, Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
, Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
, Soledad O'Brien
Soledad O'Brien
María de la Soledad Teresa O'Brien is an American Broadcast journalist. She is currently the host of the "In America" documentary unit on CNN, and is best known for anchoring the CNN marquee morning newscast American Morning from July 2003 to April 2007, with Miles O'Brien...
, and Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum
Richard John "Rick" Santorum is a lawyer and a former United States Senator from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Santorum was the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference -making him the third-ranking Senate Republican from 2001 until his leave in 2007. Santorum is considered both a social...
have spoken various locations around campus, including the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse
Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse
Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse was a 3,200-seat multi-purpose arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The arena, home to the Saint Joseph's University Hawks basketball opened in 1949 and was inaugurated on November 26 with a loss to the University of Rhode Island. The first women's varsity home game was...
.
Demographics
61% of the student population is from out of state. 83% of the students are white, 5% are black, 2% are Hispanic, 2% are Asian, and 1% are Native American. The student body is evenly split between men and women. There is also a nearly even split between students who study at the College of Arts and Sciences and the Haub School of Business. Sixty-one percent of traditional full-time students reside on campus. The university is considered to be moderately selective during its admissions process and its freshmen retention rate is 89% while 47% of applicants are admitted which is fourth among the nation's twenty-eight Jesuit institutions. 38 states and 30 countries are represented by the student body. The student-faculty ratio is 13:1 and the average class size is around 30 students. The middle 50% GPA is a 3.28–3.84 and the middle 50% on the SAT is 1110–1280. The class of 2012 is the largest in the school's history with nearly 1,500 students.Academics
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!| Dean
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|College of Arts & Sciences
|William Madges, PhD
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|Haub School of Business
|Joseph A. DiAngelo, Ed.D.
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|College of Professional and Liberal Studies
|Paul L. DeVito, PhD
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About 98% of faculty hold the highest possible degrees in their fields. The 2008 graduation rate was 90% and the freshman retention rate is 89%. About 51% of undergraduates are enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences while 49% are enrolled in the Haub School of Business. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is a framework for classifying, or grouping, colleges and universities in the United States. The primary purpose of the framework is for educational research and analysis, where it is often important to identify groups of roughly...
has placed Saint Joseph's under the designation of "Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)".
College of Arts and Sciences
The goal of education in the College of Arts and Sciences is to "stimulate the mind to think more critically and more imaginatively; the heart to feel more compassionately; and the spirit to be more attentive to the intimations of the divine in the world." The College of Arts and Sciences comprises 16 departments, offering a wide array of majors as well as many interdisciplinary minors. These programs include actuarial science, aerospace studies (Air Force ROTC), Asian studies, biology, chemistry, classics (Latin, Greek, and classical studies), computer science, criminal justice, economics, education, English, English-professional communications, environmental science, European studies, fine and performing arts, foreign languages and literatures, gender studies, history, interdisciplinary health services, international relations, labor studies, Latin American studies, mathematics, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, sociology, and theology.Graduate degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences include biology, computer science, criminal justice, education, gerontological services, health administration, health education, nurse anesthesia, psychology, public safety and environmental protection, training and organizational development, and writing studies. Many of the programs offer post-master's certificates in a variety of areas. The College also offers a doctoral degree in education.
Erivan K. Haub School of Business
The mission of the Haub School of Business is to "support the aspirations of students to master the fundamental principles and practices of business in a diverse, ethical, and globally aware context. All degree programs stress the development of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and values that prepare our graduates to assume leadership roles in organizations of all sizes and types." The largest undergraduate Jesuit business program in the country, the school is located in Mandeville Hall.Ursinus College
Ursinus College is a liberal arts college in Collegeville, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.-History:1867Members of the German Reformed Church begin plans to establish a college where "young men could be liberally educated under the benign influence of Christianity." These founders were hoping to...
in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Courses at both locations are administered and staffed by Saint Joseph's.
Undergraduate programs include Accounting, Decision and System Sciences, Finance, Food Marketing, International Business and Marketing, Management, Marketing, and Pharmaceutical Marketing.
In addition to the MBA program, HSB offers graduate degrees in Human Resource Management, Financial Services, International Marketing, Decision & System Sciences, an Executive MBA, Executive MS in Food Marketing, Executive MBAs in Food Marketing and Pharmaceutical Marketing, and a number of China Programs. The school also offers post-MBA certificate programs.
The Haub School of Business
Erivan K. Haub School of Business
The Haub School of Business is the business school at Saint Joseph's University. Located in Mandeville Hall in Philadelphia, PA on the corner of 54th Street and City Line Avenue, the program is considered one of the best in the Northeast region. The dean is Joseph A. DiAngelo, Ed.D...
is one of only 15 business schools in the country to feature a Wall Street trading room
Trading room
A trading-room gathers traders operating on financial markets.The trading-room is also often called the front office.The terms dealing-room and trading-floor are also used, the latter being inspired from that of a open outcry stock exchange....
. The room provides access to electronic sources of financial and investment data, analytical tools, and trading simulations. Students in certain classes must trade stocks to prepare themselves for specific careers.
The HSB was awarded The Beta Gamma Sigma
Beta Gamma Sigma
Beta Gamma Sigma or ΒΓΣ is an honor society for business students and scholars. Founded in 1913 at the University of Wisconsin, it has over 650,000 members, selected from over 500 chapters in AACSB-accredited business schools...
2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 Silver Chapter Award, and the 2010 Gold Chapter Award. The HSB has been ranked in numerous reports and studies done by national companies, magazines, and websites.
College of Professional and Liberal Studies
The PLS program is Saint Joseph's undergraduate continuing studies division. As early as 1852, the administration at Saint Joseph's organized educational opportunities for adults. A regular series of non-credit courses in several areas was offered beginning in 1942, and beginning in 1946, the Evening Division, which would eventually be known as College of Professional and Liberal Studies , was formally established. In addition to traditional on-campus programs and majors, PLS offers accelerated degree programs in English and professional communications, health administration, and leadership. PLS students wishing to pursue a degree during the day take advantage of the division's bridge program, and professionals in certain areas can take part in off-campus programs in professional communications, criminal justice, food marketing, and purchasing and acquisitions.Honors Program
The Honors Program offers an enriched curriculum that broadens cultural interests, integrates knowledge, sharpens writing skills and encourages student involvement in the learning process. Students may enroll in General Honors, which is awarded upon successful completion of eight Honors courses or Departmental Honors, which is awarded upon successful completion of a two-semester honors level research project. Students of an exceptional caliber may apply for the University Scholar designation. Those who qualify are freed from four to ten of their senior year course requirements in order to complete an independent project of unusual breadth, depth and originality.Rankings
The University has been ranked 8th among Best Universities-Master’s (North) in both U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2008" and "2009" editions (out of 173 schools). In addition, the publication ranks the Haub School of Business' part-time master's program 8th in the North region and the best in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. HSB is also ranked by BusinessWeekBusinessWeek
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 :...
(57th in the nation for its undergraduate program) and 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...
mentioned as one of "The Best 143 Business Schools" in 2007 and one of the best 290 in 2008). Saint Joseph's was also featured on Princeton Review's list of top 222 colleges in the Northeast. Barron's Profiles of American Colleges rate Saint Joseph's as "competitive" among colleges and universities nationwide. CampusExplorer calls St. Joe's "selective". and one of the best 290 in 2008 The Corporation for National and Community Service placed Saint Joseph's University on the 2007 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest honor a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement. US News and World report gives SJU a 80 out of 100 overall. US News and World Report named Saint Joseph's Haub School of Business among the best graduate programs in the country in its 2009 edition. The school's graduate education was also listed among the best. College Prowler
College Prowler
College Prowler is an American publishing company for guidebooks on top colleges and universities in the United States.The company creates guidebooks written by current college students, for prospective college students, giving an insider's view...
recently gave SJU high marks in Academics (B+), Local Atmosphere (A-), Athletics (B+), Nightlife (A-), Safety & Security (B+), and Facilities (B). In 2010, US News and World Report ranked the Haub School of Business' part-time MBA program as the best in Southeastern Pennsylvania and one of the top 25 in the nation. This is the 5th time in 6 years that the Part-Time MBA program has received this distinction from U.S. News. In 2008, for the third year in a row, the Haub School of Business was awarded the Silver Chapter Award by Beta Gamma Sigma. In 2010, Beta Gamma Sigma awarded SJU's chapter the Gold Award. The Princeton Review rated SJU an 85 out of 100 academically in its 2009 edition. In 2008, Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
ranked Saint Joseph's as the 201st best college in the country. The Haub School of Business and SJU's Marketing program were both ranked amongst the best in the country by the 2009 edition of US News and World Report. The undergraduate Marketing program was named one of the 24 best in the nation. In addition, the Haub School of Business was recognized by Beyond Grey Pinstripes, a biennial survey of business schools, for being one of the top 100 schools (at number 76) in the world at integrating ethical issues into graduate business curricula for the years 2009 to 2010; the ranking includes a component ranking of number 12 in the world for student exposure to ethics. In 2010, SJU's Executive MBA program was ranked 20th in the nation. In the same ranking, the graduate programs in Finance, Management, Marketing, Accounting were ranked 20th, 23rd, 23rd, and 24th in the nation respectively. CNN Money ranked SJU as the one the Top 10 least affordable colleges in 2011. The 2011 US News and World Report ranked SJU as the 8th best Master's University in the North. The publication also ranked SJU's Marketing, Accounting, and Insurance undergraduate programs as 16th, 25th, and 11th respectively. Lannon Hall (formerly Borgia) was named as the 2nd best dorm in the country by the Huffington Post.
Campus
Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Merion Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and part of the Pennsylvania Main Line. As of the 2010 census, the township had a total population of 57,825...
. A bridge which goes over City Avenue, connects the two sides of the campus. Its 103 acre (0.41682658 km²) are concentrated from Cardinal Avenue to 52nd Street and Overbrook Avenue to City Avenue, but also includes individual buildings separate from the main campus. With the acquisition of the Maguire Campus, 57 of the 103 acre (0.41682658 km²) are located on the Lower Merion side of City Avenue. It is within 15 miles (24.1 km) of La Salle University, Harcum College, Rosemont College, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
, Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
, Haverford College
Haverford College
Haverford College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia...
, Philadelphia University
Philadelphia University
Philadelphia University, founded in 1884, is a private university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Philadelphia University's student body consists of about 3,500 individuals from all 50 states and over 50 countries...
and Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
. There are 650 work stations on campus and all of the dorms are wired for access to the campus-wide network. Two regional rail train stations on each side of campus provide students with easy access to Center City. St. Mary's, Gest, Claver, Neumann, and Wolfington are all lawns located on the Main Campus while there are two quadrangles, College Hall Quad and Barbelin Quad. There are two libraries on campus, the Campbell Collection in Food Marketing & the Francis A. Drexel Library which house approximately 355,000 volumes, 1,450 print journals, 15,000 full-text electronic journals, 2,800 e-books, 866,000 microforms, 4,975 audio-visual materials. Two shuttles operated by Saint Joseph's run along City Avenue and stop at Mandeville Hall for students.
Main Campus
The Main Campus at Saint Joseph's contains the majority of academic buildings and freshmen dorms at SJU. Barbelin, Mandeville, Bellarmine, Post Halls, and the Science Center are all located there. It also includes the Campion Student Center, the Drexel Library, Chapel of Saint Joseph, Hawks' Landing parking facility, the bookstore, Finnesey FieldFinnesey Field
Finnesey Field is a multi-use sports facility on the Saint Joseph's University campus which opened in 1929 and was originally planned to be the centerpiece to a 70,000 seat football stadium in the natural bowl of the campus....
, and Hagan Arena
Hagan Arena
The Michael J. Hagan Arena of Saint Joseph's University is SJU's home court for Men's and Women's basketball. The new arena seats 4,200 which is 1,000 more than the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse seated...
. The Main Campus is located on the Philadelphia side of City Avenue between Cardinal and Overbrook Avenues and 52nd Street.
James J. Maguire '58 Campus
On August 8, 2008, Saint Joseph's completed the acquisition of the adjacent Episcopal Academy after purchasing the property in 2005. The new campus 38 acres (153,780.7 m²) was named the Maguire Campus for the lead donor, a Saint Joseph's alum, James Maguire. Many existing academic departments such as the English, Education, Sociology, and Fine and Performing Arts departments will relocate to the Maguire Campus effective Spring 2011. The first building to be in use has been named Connelly Hall. The Maguire Campus is located directly across from the Main Campus on the Lower Merion side of City Avenue.The athletic department is also taking full advantage of the acquisition as eight tennis courts, softball, baseball, soccer, and two multi-purpose fields already reside there. A gym and indoor pool will also be used for intramurals and recreation.
What was the old Episcopal Academy chapel will become a multi-use space which will house lectures, concerts, and social gatherings. There are talks of a small cafeteria and coffee shop being added to this space as well.
Along with all of the buildings and fields, the Maguire Campus adds over 300 parking spaces for faculty and students and a number of acres will be turned into green space. There are over 600 different species of trees on the Maguire Campus.
The Maguire Campus is also home to the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support established in 2009 which was made possible with donations totaling over $8 million. The Center is located in Connelly Hall.
Overbrook Campus
The Overbrook Campus is located about a mile from and Main Campus—near Overbrook Train Station, and overlaps both sides of City Avenue. It includes mostly upper-classmen residence halls, a freshman residence hall (Moore Hall), and Alumni House. The SJU shuttle that runs along City Avenue stops at the Overbrook Campus.Buildings
Saint Joseph's most recognizable building is Barbelin HallBarbelin Hall
Barbelin Hall is the most enduring and memorable building on the campus of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The structure was completed in 1927 and was the first building on the current City Avenue campus known as Hawk Hill. The building is known for its 165 foot tower which...
, opened in 1927 when the University moved to its current location. The hall is known for its Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
, particularly the gargoyles that mark what is called the Barbelin Quadrangle and the tall, four-spired bell tower that can be seen from miles away. The bell tower that sits atop Barbelin served as the University's logo for several years and is located upon Philadelphia's highest geographical location.
John McShain
John McShain was a highly successful American building contractor known as "The Man Who Built Washington."...
who would later go on to construct many buildings in Washington, D.C. such as The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
and The Jefferson Memorial.
Barbelin, and adjacent Lonergan Hall, are two of eight dedicated classroom buildings on campus. Other class buildings include John R. Post Hall, Mandeville Hall, Bellarmine Hall, the Science Center, Cynwyd Hall, and Boland Hall, the University's fine arts building which features the University Gallery where paintings and other works of art are showcased to students and the public. Classes are also held in Claver Hall, the home of the Honors Program; McShain Hall, a residence center; and the ELS building for international students. A number of buildings on the Maguire Campus will be dedicated to classes especially those for the fine arts. One building will be solely dedicated to the music department.
Many of the campuses houses are located on Lapsley Lane, which features a number of campus offices housed in the former homes of Lower Merion residents. These include Bronstein Hall, Regis Hall (Office of the President), and St. Thomas Hall.
The Campion Student Center is where students generally go to eat. It formerly included the Hawk's Nest, Campion C-Store, Quizno's, Bene Pizza, Ancho Grill, Hawk Wrap, Grille Works, Freshens Smoothie Co., and Jump Asian Station. Following a renovation in the summer of 2008 however, it only retained Quizno's, Hawk Wrap, and Grill Works, in the food court, along with the C-Store outside of it. They did this opting to expand a meal plan cafeteria. The Student Center also has a Theatre Forum where current movies are shown frequently. It also used to have an area called the Hawk Rock where students can play pool, watch movies, play videogames, or watch live bands or speakers. This area was removed during the 2008 renovation in favor of cafeteria expansion. A similar area was opened however in the former bookstore which is adjacent to Campion. This area is now referred to as the perch.
In all, there are 89 buildings on the university's campus.
About 60 percent of students at Saint Joseph's live on campus. Options for on campus housing include apartments, residence halls, campus houses, and townhouses.
Athletics
Saint Joseph's University is home of the HawksThe Hawk (Saint Joseph's University mascot)
The Hawk is the mascot of Saint Joseph’s University. The Hawk represents the University’s motto, “The Hawk Will Never Die” by flapping its wings non-stop throughout every basketball game...
, the University's athletic program. It fields teams in 20 varsity sports in Division I of 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...
. The Hawks are part of the Atlantic Ten Conference
Atlantic Ten Conference
The Atlantic 10 Conference is a college athletic conference which operates mostly on the United States' eastern seaboard. It also has two member schools in Ohio: Dayton and Xavier, located in Dayton and Cincinnati, respectively. Another member, Saint Louis is located in St. Louis, Missouri...
; because the Atlantic 10 does not support men's lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
, the Hawks play in the competitive Colonial Athletic Association
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
. Along with the Atlantic 10, Saint Joseph's is a member of the Philadelphia Big 5
Philadelphia Big 5
The Philadelphia Big 5 is an informal association of college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It is not a conference; indeed the five schools that are members of the Big 5 are members of three separate conferences: the Atlantic 10, the Big East, and the Ivy League.The five...
, intensifying rivalries with Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
and Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
along with another A-10 member LaSalle and of course the University of Pennsylvania. Saint Joseph's plays all of its "home" Big 5 games at The Palestra honoring the Big 5 Palestra traditions and encourages the other Big 5 schools to do so as often as possible. The Saint Joseph's school colors are crimson and gray. An impressive 89% of student athletes graduate.
Men's basketball
Men's basketball is the most popular sport at Hawk Hill. The team has competed in nineteen NCAA Tournaments (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008) and has won seven Atlantic 10 regular season titles and two A-10 tournament championships and ranks 33rd all time with a .605 winning percentage. The team is currently led by coach Phil MartelliPhil Martelli
Phil Martelli is an American college basketball coach and current coach of the Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball team. He maintains an impressive resume, having led Saint Joseph's to five NCAA Tournaments and four NITs. He has averaged 20 wins per season in his thirteen years with the...
. The 2003–2004 Saint Joseph's University Hawks were the last Division I College Basketball team to finish the Regular Season undefeated. Saint Joseph's ended the regular season with a 27–0 record and secured a No. 1 national ranking and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Saint Joseph's University's basketball team was ranked 43rd best of all-time by Smith & Street's magazine in 2005. Twenty-seven players from St. Joe's have been drafted into the NBA.
The Saint Joseph's basketball teams play most of their home games at Hagan Arena
Hagan Arena
The Michael J. Hagan Arena of Saint Joseph's University is SJU's home court for Men's and Women's basketball. The new arena seats 4,200 which is 1,000 more than the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse seated...
on the school's campus, while some games are played at the Palestra
Palestra
The Palestra, also known as the Cathedral of College Basketball, is a historic arena and the home gym of the University of Pennsylvania Quakers men's and women's basketball teams, volleyball teams, wrestling team, and Philadelphia Big 5 basketball. Located at 215 South 33rd St...
on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. During the 2008–09 basketball season, the Hawks will play all but one of their home games at the Palestra. Their first home game will be played against Rider University
Rider University
Rider University is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university located chiefly in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...
at the Wachovia Center
Wachovia Center
The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
in South Philadelphia. Saint Joseph's University also offers 30 intramural and recreational programs.
Their major rival is Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
(the rivalry is known as the Holy War
Holy War (Villanova vs. St. Joe's)
The Holy War is a basketball rivalry game in the Philadelphia Big 5 between Saint Joseph's University and Villanova University, which is considered the most intense of all the Big 5 games. It's called the "Holy War" because both universities have Roman Catholic religious affiliations: Villanova...
). Fans of the Hawks often chant "The Hawk Will Never Die!". Since the school's undefeated regular season, this chant has gained familiarity with the team's opponents. In 2003, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
listed that cheer among The 100 Things You Gotta Do Before You Graduate (Whatever the Cost), calling it "the most defiant cheer in college sports."
SJU's mascot, The Hawk
The Hawk (Saint Joseph's University mascot)
The Hawk is the mascot of Saint Joseph’s University. The Hawk represents the University’s motto, “The Hawk Will Never Die” by flapping its wings non-stop throughout every basketball game...
, has garnered numerous accolades in its 50-year history. It won a "Best of Philly" award from Philadelphia Magazine in 2003–04, has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference's best mascot, and has been selected as the nation's top mascot by The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Street & Smith's Basketball Yearbook, and ESPN College Basketball magazine. The Hawk continuously flaps its wings during all appearances.
Saint Joseph's is also a member of the City 6
City 6
The City 6 refers to an informal association of college athletic programs in the Philadelphia area. It is not a conference; in fact, the six schools that are members of the City 6 are members of four separate conferences: the Atlantic 10, the Big East, the Colonial Athletic Association , and the...
. Similar to the Big 5, the City 6 comprises six local colleges who compete in various extramural sporting events. The schools who compete are Saint Joseph's, Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, La Salle University
La Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
, Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
, and Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
. About 75% of SJU men's basketball players graduate.
Saint Joseph's University hosted first and second round games of the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
. The games were played at the Wachovia Center
Wachovia Center
The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 19 and March 21.
In 2009, the 2004 Hawks were named the best single-season team of the decade by Sports Illustrated.
Athletic facilities
- East Norriton Field: Located in East Norriton, Pa., East Norriton Field has served as Saint Joseph's University home softball field for the past 11 seasons. Prior to its move to East Norriton Field, SJU used nearby Belmont Plateau as its primary home field.
- Robert Gillin, Jr. BoathouseGillin Boat ClubGillin Boat Club is the rowing program for St. Joseph's University Rowing and St. Joseph's Prep Rowing. It is situated at the 1,000-meter mark of the Schuylkill River race course in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
: Saint Joseph's University celebrated its sesquicentennial anniversary in 2000–01. In conjunction with that celebration, the SJU Rowing Program, along with Saint Joseph's Prep, kicked off a capital campaign to finance the construction of a state-of-the-art boathouse on the Schuylkill River. The boathouse provides a permanent home for the Hawk rowing programs. In addition, it provides the University with a significant presence on Kelly Drive. Named in honor of Robert Gillin, Jr., groundbreaking for the facility took place in the fall of 2001. The total cost for the project was approximately $3 million dollars, plus an endowment fund to support ongoing operational costs. - Finnesey Field: Laid out in a natural bowl in the center of Saint Joseph's campus, Finnesey FieldFinnesey FieldFinnesey Field is a multi-use sports facility on the Saint Joseph's University campus which opened in 1929 and was originally planned to be the centerpiece to a 70,000 seat football stadium in the natural bowl of the campus....
has been the home of Hawk athletic teams since 1929. Originally constructed for football and opened in 1929 with plans for an eventual 70,000-seat stadium, the field has undergone numerous changes over the years. - Tennis Complex at the Maguire Campus: The tennis team moved to the six refurbished courts on the Maguire Campus in 2009 with the first SJU Invitational.
- Finnesey Courts: Adjacent to Finnesey Field stand the Finnesey Courts and home to the Hawk men's and women's tennis teams from the late 1940s until 2009. Prior to that SJU primarily played its home matches at the nearby Narberth courts. When courts were first built on campus, they were located where Bellarmine Hall now stands. Due to Bellarmine's construction in the summer of 1960, however, the Finnesey courts were torn down and rebuilt in their current location. These courts are still used by students.
- Michael J. Hagan Arena: The on-campus home of the Hawks basketball teams, originally named for the Saint Joseph's graduates who gave their lives in World War II. The building was officially dedicated on November 11, 1949 and two weeks later, played host to its first basketball game, a 62–46 loss to Rhode Island on November 26. Following that initial setback, SJU would go on to win the next 23 games in the friendly confines of the Fieldhouse. Overall, the Hawks have compiled an impressive 305–76 record (80.0 winning percentage) on Hawk Hill. Among the highlights of the Hawks' homecourt advantage was a 34-game winning streak from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, an 11–0 record in 2000–01 and the unbeaten 11–0 mark as the Hawks made their perfect season run in 2003–04. All told, SJU has had only two losing records in the Fieldhouse over 57 seasons. The Fieldhouse held 3,200 fans but the arena has a capacity of 4,200. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at the Fieldhouse in the 1960s.
The university also has a 240 by 120 four-court multi-purpose area for basketball, tennis, and volleyball, an indoor four-lane 200 yards (182.9 m) jogging track, an 8-lane 25-meter indoor pool with a 300 seat observation area, four racquetball courts, locker rooms and saunas, a large fitness center, and nine outdoor tennis courts. The Maguire Campus includes another two gyms, a pool, and a weight room, this has been renamed to the O'Pake Athletic Center.
Student life
All students receive a HawkCard which can be linked to banking services and is also used as a swipe card which then gives students access to residence halls or other areas of campus. Students can also use their HawkCards to pay for meals or snacks at various locations around campus. Student life is documented in The HawkThe Hawk (Saint Joseph's University Newspaper)
The Hawk is the weekly newspaper of Saint Joseph's University. It appears in print and online, which includes an e-mail edition. It features sections for sports, opinions, entertainment, and SJU exclusive news and events....
, the school newspaper. Intramurals are popular on campus, especially thanks to the City 6
City 6
The City 6 refers to an informal association of college athletic programs in the Philadelphia area. It is not a conference; in fact, the six schools that are members of the City 6 are members of four separate conferences: the Atlantic 10, the Big East, the Colonial Athletic Association , and the...
extramurals which pit all Philadelphia Division I schools against one another.
Organizations
The school offers many organizations for students to join. They include five national fraternities and four national sororities, a radio station, WSJR, and two newspapers, The HawkThe Hawk (Saint Joseph's University Newspaper)
The Hawk is the weekly newspaper of Saint Joseph's University. It appears in print and online, which includes an e-mail edition. It features sections for sports, opinions, entertainment, and SJU exclusive news and events....
and the HawkEye.
The Villiger Debating Society, the school's 150 year-old, nationally recognized speech and debate team, has finished in the top twenty in the nation for the past ten years.
A number of community service organizations exist such as Up 'Til Dawn, Habitat For Humanity, Hand In Hand, Helping Hawks, Students Against Sweatshops, and Students For Peace and Justice. A campus-wide student activities organization, the Student Union Board, and a student government organization, the University Student Senate, also exist.
There are over 100 organizations in all at SJU.
Greek life
Approximately 13% of men and 15% of women are in fraternities and sororities, respectively.Fraternities
- Tau Kappa EpsilonTau Kappa EpsilonTau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent...
ΤΚΕ - Sigma PiSigma PiSigma Pi is an international college secret and social fraternity founded in 1897 at Vincennes University. Sigma Pi International fraternity currently has 127 chapters and 4 colonies in the United States and Canada and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee...
ΣΠ - Lambda Chi AlphaLambda Chi AlphaLambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
ΛΧΑ - Sigma Phi EpsilonSigma Phi EpsilonSigma Phi Epsilon , commonly nicknamed SigEp or SPE, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College , and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue,...
ΣΦΕ - Delta Sigma PiDelta Sigma PiΔΣΠ ' is one of the largest co-ed professional business fraternities. Delta Sigma Pi was founded on November 7, 1907 at the School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance, New York University, New York, New York and is currently headquartered in Oxford, Ohio...
ΔΣΠ - Phi Sigma PiPhi Sigma PiPhi Sigma Pi is a national coeducational honor fraternity based in the United States. The fraternity is a 501 not-for-profit organization incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania, with the purpose of fostering the ideals of scholarship, leadership and fellowship...
ΦΣΠ
Sororities
- Alpha Gamma DeltaAlpha Gamma DeltaAlpha Gamma Delta is an international women's fraternity, who are mainly sluts, founded in 1904 at Syracuse University. The Fraternity promotes academic excellence, philanthropic giving, ongoing leadership and personal development, and a spirit of loving sisterhood. Also known as "Alpha Gam" and...
(ΑΓΔ) - Alpha PhiAlpha PhiAlpha Phi International Women's Fraternity was founded at Syracuse University on September 18, 1872. Alpha Phi currently has 152 active chapters and over 200,000 initiated members. Its celebrated Founders' Day is October 10. It was the third Greek-letter organization founded for women. In Alpha...
(AΦ) - Sigma Sigma SigmaSigma Sigma SigmaSigma Sigma Sigma , also known as Tri Sigma, is a national American women’s sorority with membership of more than 100,000 members. Sigma Sigma Sigma is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference and hosts chapters on more than 110 college campuses and 89 alumnae chapters in communities all...
(ΣΣΣ) - Alpha Omicron PiAlpha Omicron PiAlpha Omicron Pi is an international women's fraternity promoting friendship for a lifetime, inspiring academic excellence and lifelong learning, and developing leadership skills through service to the Fraternity and community. ΑΟΠ was founded on January 2, 1897 at Barnard College on the campus...
(ΑΟΠ)
Publications and Media
Saint Joseph's University has two newspapers, the HawkEye and The Hawk. The HawkEye is a newsletter for faculty and alumni while The HawkThe Hawk (Saint Joseph's University Newspaper)
The Hawk is the weekly newspaper of Saint Joseph's University. It appears in print and online, which includes an e-mail edition. It features sections for sports, opinions, entertainment, and SJU exclusive news and events....
is for students and written by students. Another online only newsletter is called Hawk Hill Online. The Crimson and Gray Literary Magazine showcases the best of student fiction, poetry, and artwork in an annual publication; students and faculty may download the magazine for free (available from the organization's website) or pick one up from select locations around campus. The university also has a magazine called SJU Magazine that is printed every season. The Drexel Library has its own newsletter called Library Lines. The Saint Joseph's University Press
Saint Joseph's University Press
Saint Joseph's University Press is a university press publishing house that is part of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The press currently publishes over 38 books, two journals, and a large number of other publications...
prints books and articles written by faculty and other authors. The university's radio station is WSJR
WSJR
WSJR is a country music station in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania called "JR 93.7". Specifically, they are "Northeast PA's Number One Country Variety."-Broadcast Schedule:* Moonshine * Boomer...
and it is a member of the Philadelphia College Radio Collective
Philadelphia College Radio Collective
The Philadelphia College Radio Collective is a group of college radio stations that combine forces to provide students and Philadelphians with information about upcoming shows around the area. The collective also has a blog that reviews albums and live concerts...
.
Housing
Approximately 61% of students at Saint Joseph's live on campus, and on-campus residency is required for freshmen and sophomores. There are a number of housing options including dorms, apartments, townhouses, and campus houses which can be found on various locations around campus.Traditions
- Hawk Hill: In the early 1920s, when former University president Albert G. Brown, S.J. decided to move the college campus from its location just north of the city at Seventeenth and Stiles to its current site in Overbrook on Philadelphia's west side, he selected the location in part because its hilltop perch overlooking downtown Philadelphia provided a dramatic setting for the construction of the college's main building, Barbelin HallBarbelin HallBarbelin Hall is the most enduring and memorable building on the campus of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The structure was completed in 1927 and was the first building on the current City Avenue campus known as Hawk Hill. The building is known for its 165 foot tower which...
. In fact, for many years Barbelin's signature carillon tower ranked as the highest point from sea level in the city of Philadelphia. Later, according to oral tradition, students and faculty frequently saw real hawks circling the skies above Barbelin, before swooping down on their prey. The familiar scene eventually led to the coining of the moniker "Hawk Hill". - Colors: The college colors of crimson and gray date back to the 1890s when it is related that a young seminarian leading a pep rally saw the colors on a book he was holding. Thinking they looked attractive together, he announced that these would be the school colors.
- Fight Songs: "Oh When the Hawks Go Flying In!!" and "Mine Eyes".
- The Hawk Will Never Die: The motto of Saint Joseph's athletics and the University itself. Chanted at basketball games, the mascot demonstrates the motto by flapping its wings the entire game including halftime.
- Free Period: There are no scheduled classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11:15 and 1:00 which allows student organizations to meet.
- The Seal: Many students avoid walking on the university seal in Mandeville Hall until their senior year.
- Saint Joseph statue: Students rub the toes of this statue in front of Barbelin Hall for good luck.
- University Chapel: Being a Jesuit institution, the Chapel is an important and popular place for many students.
- Basketball: A rich and important tradition at a school in a city known for college hoops.
Alma mater
- Saint Joseph’s hail! In song we praise
- Our mother dear and fair.
- In life’s grim battle, we’ll march on
- With faith and strength to dare.
- For valiant deeds make stout our hearts
- To prove your sons are true.
- Let us rejoice and with one voice
- Pledge loyal love to you.
- Saint Joseph’s hail! Our blood runs proud
- To hold tradition’s fame,
- For words of gold on history’s scroll
- Shed glory on your name.
- To honor God, to love all men,
- Crusaders for each fray,
- Against the sky our colors fly,
- Deep crimson folds and gray.