Avila University
Encyclopedia
Avila University is a private university in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...

 sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. It offers Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...

s in thirty-six majors and Master's degrees: Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, Master of Science in Counseling Psychology/Art Therapy, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Organizational Development, and Master of Arts in Education. Avila University is just minutes off an interstate highway network and is convenient to Kansas City's many attractions. Its eleven buildings are situated on
50 acres (20.2 ha) in suburban South Kansas City, Missouri, and include three residence halls, fieldhouse for basketball and volleyball, sports complex for baseball, softball and soccer, library, theatre, chapel, and classroom facilities. Of the 1,831 students attending Avila University, 34 percent are minorities.

History

In 1916 on the same campus as St. Teresa's Academy, the Sisters founded Saint Teresa College, a two-year college for women only. In 1941 it became the four-year College of Saint Teresa. Five years later it was fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

In 1963 the pioneering spirit of the Sisters lengthened its shadow southward as the college's leadership looked to the then-undeveloped edge of Kansas City for a new location. The campus was built at 119th Street and Wornall Road with a portion of the historic Santa Fe Trail providing its southern border - creating a true intersection of pioneers.

With the move came a new name: Avila University, still in honor of Saint Teresa of Avila. In 1969 Avila widened its path by opening full-time enrollment to men.

Values

Avila University, a Catholic University sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, is a values-based community of learning providing liberal arts, professional, undergraduate and graduate education to prepare students for responsible lifelong contributions to the global community. The following are the values we strive to live by every day.

  • Excellence in teaching and learning

  • The Catholic identity of the University

  • The sponsorship and contribution of the Sisters of St. Joseph

  • The worth, dignity, and potential of each human being

  • Diversity and its expression

  • Commitment to the continual growth of the whole person

  • Interaction with and service to others


  • Campus

    Avila's campus sits on 50 acres (20.2 ha) in southern Kansas City, Missouri. There are eleven buildings that include three residence halls, a fieldhouse, theatre, student union, library, as well as academic buildings. The campus is easily accessed from I-435 and sits close to the Missouri-Kansas border.

    Student Life

    Student life at Avila is quite active with more than 40 student organizations available to the student body, including the Black Student Union, Group Activities Programming,Student Social Work Association, Residence Hall Association, and Campus Ministries.

    Residence Life

    Carondelet Hall was the first residence hall built at the current Avila University location. Carondelet houses up to 122 students at its maximum capacity. In the summer of 2005 the first two floors of the hall were renovated to fit the more modern version of a residence hall. In the summer of 2007, the third floor was also renovated. Ridgway Hall was built only a few years after Carondelet Hall and has the same floor plan and room dimensions. In the summer of 2008, all three floors in Ridgway were renovated in a similar manner as Carondelet. Jeanne Collins Thompson Hall opened Fall of 2007. Thompson Hall features suite-style housing with each suite containing four bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, and kitchenette
    Kitchenette
    A kitchenette is a small cooking area.In motel and hotel rooms, small apartments, college dormitories, or office buildings a kitchenette usually consists of a small refrigerator, a microwave oven or hotplate, and, less frequently, a sink...

    .

    Athletics

    Avila Athletics participates in HAAC and NAIA
    National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
    The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...

    . They have over 11 varsity sports including Football, Men and Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Basketball, Women's Golf and Men's Golf (starting Fall 2010), Women's Softball, and Women's Volleyball. They also have winning Cheer and Dance Teams. Also starting Fall 2010, Men's and Women's Cross Country.

    External links

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