Ursuline Academy (Illinois)
Encyclopedia
Ursuline Academy in Springfield, Illinois
, was a Catholic
high school
that operated from 1857 until 2007. In its final years it was affiliated with Springfield College in Illinois
(SCI). Ursuline Academy billed itself as a college preparatory school
. One offshoot of its partnership with SCI was a program which allowed high school students to simultaneously receive high school and college credit for courses.
The Ursuline Sisters
established SCI in 1929 on the property owned by the Academy. On January 15, 2003, Benedictine University
, based in Lisle, Illinois
, entered into a partnership with SCI. Over the next 4 years, The Ursuline Sisters withdrew from the Academy, moving out of the convent completely in 2005.
, due to the efforts of alum Sarah Jones in 2008.
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, was a Catholic
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"...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
that operated from 1857 until 2007. In its final years it was affiliated with Springfield College in Illinois
Springfield College (Illinois)
Benedictine University at Springfield, formerly known as Springfield College in Illinois or Springfield College, is a progressive liberal arts university offering master-, bachelor- and associate-degree programs located in Springfield, IL. The school was founded in 1929 by the Ursuline Sisters and...
(SCI). Ursuline Academy billed itself as a college preparatory school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
. One offshoot of its partnership with SCI was a program which allowed high school students to simultaneously receive high school and college credit for courses.
History
Ursuline Academy was originally founded in 1857 by Mother Mary Joseph Wolfe, with its location at 5th and Mason streets. The Academy moved to its current and final location on 5th Street, north of Eastman, in 1867. The school originally opened as an all-girls school. Enrollment was so low by the late 1970s that the Academy had no choice but to become co-educational in 1981.The Ursuline Sisters
Ursulines
The Ursulines are a Roman Catholic religious order for women founded at Brescia, Italy, by Saint Angela de Merici in November 1535, primarily for the education of girls and the care of the sick and needy. Their patron saint is Saint Ursula.-History:St Angela de Merici spent 17 years leading a...
established SCI in 1929 on the property owned by the Academy. On January 15, 2003, Benedictine University
Benedictine University
Benedictine University is a private Catholic university located in Lisle, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. The institution has retained close relations with the Benedictine Order. Originally named St. Procopius College and located in the Pilsen community of Chicago, the school was founded in 1887 by...
, based in Lisle, Illinois
Lisle, Illinois
Lisle is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,930 at the 2011 census, and estimated to be 23,135 as of 2008. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor...
, entered into a partnership with SCI. Over the next 4 years, The Ursuline Sisters withdrew from the Academy, moving out of the convent completely in 2005.
Closing
On May 11, 2007, the SCI-BU (Benedictine University) Board of Directors made the decision to close Ursuline at the end of the 2006-2007 school year. They notified Ursuline Principal, John Stimler, the following day, and the students were then notified on May 14.After closing
The buildings were put on an historic preservation list, Landmarks IllinoisLandmarks Preservation Council of Illinois
The Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois -- also known as Landmarks Illinois -- is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1971 to prevent the demolition of the Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan designed Chicago Stock Exchange Building...
, due to the efforts of alum Sarah Jones in 2008.
External links
- Ursuline Academy Illinois — Ursuline Academy in Springfield.
- Ursuline Academy Foundation