Saint Leo University
Encyclopedia
Saint Leo University is a private, non-profit, Roman Catholic
liberal arts
university established in 1889 and located in Saint Leo, Florida
, 35 miles north of Tampa
. The University is associated with the Holy Name Monastery
, a Benedictine
convent
, and Saint Leo Abbey
, a Benedictine
monastery
. Saint Leo University operates 17 continuing education centers in seven states, including California, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia, as well as dozens of military base centers and the University's Center for Online Learning. Worldwide Saint Leo University had a total enrollment of 15,565 students in 2010, a majority of which were military-related students and of which 1,862 were enrolled at the main Florida campus.
Saint Leo University offers over 40 associate, baccalaureate
and master's
degree and certificate programs in the liberal arts. The University utilizes no teaching assistants
, but employs 906 full-time and adjunct faculty members. One of the first American universities to provide distance learning opportunities to students, Saint Leo began educating military men and women in 1973 during the Vietnam era
at the height of the anti-war movement.
in Latrobe, Pennsylvania
. The University opened its doors on September 14, 1890 with an enrollment of 32 students.
Saint Leo ended racial segregation
on their campus in 1898, before it was legal to do so in Florida, and totally integrated their campus in the Deep South
. In 1920, the College was temporarily phased out to become an English-style prep school. A year later, in 1921, Saint Leo became accredited by the Southern Educational Association. After several name changes, the institution settled on Saint Leo College Preparatory School in 1929, a name which lasted until 1964. Saint Leo opened again as a college in 1959, receiving assistance from the Benedictine sisters at Holy Name Monastery, its neighboring community. Operating first on the associate's level, the College moved quickly to a four-year program and conferred its first bachelor's degree on April 23, 1967, on 51 men and 13 women. The college was accredited by the Southern Educational Association
on November 29, 1967.
In 1973, the College responded to requests from the armed services to offer degree programs on military bases at home and abroad. Today Saint Leo University is one of the largest providers of higher education to military-related personnel in the United States. Continuing in the tradition of distance learning, the Saint Leo University Center for Online Learning was established in 1999, as one of the first online schools in the country.
Growth continues rapidly at St. Leo, and on August 24, 1999, Saint Leo was upgraded from "college" to "university" status. Several new centers have been established nationwide in recent years. In July 2011, the University opened its Channelside Tampa Education Center, a facility which houses five classrooms. Classes are offered at night and on evenings for continuing education students. There is also a student support center for students attending classes online.
Dr. Arthur F. Kirk, Jr. has been the president of the University since January 1997.
as one of the "Top Universities in the South." In 2010 the University was listed in the magazine G.I. Jobs as a "Military Friendly School." Saint Leo was also a finalist in 2011 for the Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award presented by the Association of Teacher Educators. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
named Saint Leo among its 2010 Community Service Honor Roll.
in the United States and the State of Florida. The Saint Leo School of Business received initial accreditation by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
in September 1999. Saint Leo University's degree program in social work is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education (BSW level). Saint Leo University's undergraduate Sport Business program and MBA Sport Business Concentration are accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). Saint Leo University has Teacher Education Programs approval by the Florida Department of Education
.
, the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
, Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF)
, the American Association of Adult and Continuing Education, the National Collegiate Honor Society, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
, the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA), the National Association of Institutions for Military Education Services (NAIMES), Service Members Opportunity Colleges, National Catholic Education Association, and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU)
.
at Universal Studios
, campus laser tag
, and a "Spring Fling" weekend featuring artists such as Lonestar
and Everclear
.
and four sororities
on campus. Greek life is an active part of campus life. Chapters must meet requirements of a certain amount of social activities, educational programs, and philanthropy/community service each year.
Virtual Campus is a place where all students, staff, faculty, parents, and friends can come together to explore, interact and collaborate in Second Life. The island is always in a constant state of development; all are invited to visit daily and look for recent changes.
the former President of Nicaragua
, Charles Henri Baker
a Haitian industrialist and presidential candidate, musicians Steven Stills and Desi Arnaz
, the former General Manager of the Toronto Blue Jays
J. P. Ricciardi, the Academy Award
-Winning actor Lee Marvin
, and Major League Baseball
player Bob Tewksbury
.
:
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
university established in 1889 and located in Saint Leo, Florida
St. Leo, Florida
St. Leo is a town in Pasco County, Florida, United States. It is a suburb included in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 595 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,249.It is best known as...
, 35 miles north of Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. The University is associated with the Holy Name Monastery
Holy Name Monastery
Holy Name Monastery is a Benedictine convent located in Saint Leo, Florida, United States.-History:In 1889 five sisters founded Holy Name Convent and Holy Name Academy in response to a need for teachers for the children of immigrants in the San Antonio and Saint Leo area of Pasco County, Florida....
, a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
, and Saint Leo Abbey
Saint Leo Abbey
Saint Leo Abbey is a Benedictine monastery located in Saint Leo, Florida, United States.-History:Saint Leo Abbey, located in Pasco County, Florida, traces its founding to 1882 when Judge Edmund F. Dunne founded the Catholic Colony of San Antonio. Sent by Archabbot Boniface Wimmer, Father Gerard...
, a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
. Saint Leo University operates 17 continuing education centers in seven states, including California, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia, as well as dozens of military base centers and the University's Center for Online Learning. Worldwide Saint Leo University had a total enrollment of 15,565 students in 2010, a majority of which were military-related students and of which 1,862 were enrolled at the main Florida campus.
Saint Leo University offers over 40 associate, baccalaureate
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...
and master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
degree and certificate programs in the liberal arts. The University utilizes no teaching assistants
Teaching assistant
A teaching assistant is an individual who assists a professor or teacher with instructional responsibilities. TAs include graduate teaching assistants , who are graduate students; undergraduate teaching assistants , who are undergraduate students; secondary school TAs, who are either high school...
, but employs 906 full-time and adjunct faculty members. One of the first American universities to provide distance learning opportunities to students, Saint Leo began educating military men and women in 1973 during the Vietnam era
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
at the height of the anti-war movement.
History
Saint Leo was founded as the first Catholic college in Florida, chartered on June 4, 1889 by a group of Benedictine monks from Saint Vincent ArchabbeySaint Vincent Archabbey
Saint Vincent Archabbey, was founded in 1846 by Father Boniface Wimmer, OSB, and is the oldest Benedictine monastery in the United States.The Benedictine monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey operate and teach at Saint Vincent College and Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, located ...
in Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Latrobe is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the United States, approximately southeast of Pittsburgh.The city population was 7,634 as of the 2000 census . It is located near the Pennsylvania's scenic Chestnut Ridge. Latrobe was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and as a city in 1999...
. The University opened its doors on September 14, 1890 with an enrollment of 32 students.
Saint Leo ended racial segregation
Racial segregation in the United States
Racial segregation in the United States, as a general term, included the racial segregation or hypersegregation of facilities, services, and opportunities such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation along racial lines...
on their campus in 1898, before it was legal to do so in Florida, and totally integrated their campus in the Deep South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. In 1920, the College was temporarily phased out to become an English-style prep school. A year later, in 1921, Saint Leo became accredited by the Southern Educational Association. After several name changes, the institution settled on Saint Leo College Preparatory School in 1929, a name which lasted until 1964. Saint Leo opened again as a college in 1959, receiving assistance from the Benedictine sisters at Holy Name Monastery, its neighboring community. Operating first on the associate's level, the College moved quickly to a four-year program and conferred its first bachelor's degree on April 23, 1967, on 51 men and 13 women. The college was accredited by the Southern Educational Association
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
on November 29, 1967.
In 1973, the College responded to requests from the armed services to offer degree programs on military bases at home and abroad. Today Saint Leo University is one of the largest providers of higher education to military-related personnel in the United States. Continuing in the tradition of distance learning, the Saint Leo University Center for Online Learning was established in 1999, as one of the first online schools in the country.
Growth continues rapidly at St. Leo, and on August 24, 1999, Saint Leo was upgraded from "college" to "university" status. Several new centers have been established nationwide in recent years. In July 2011, the University opened its Channelside Tampa Education Center, a facility which houses five classrooms. Classes are offered at night and on evenings for continuing education students. There is also a student support center for students attending classes online.
Dr. Arthur F. Kirk, Jr. has been the president of the University since January 1997.
Center for Online Learning
The Center for Online Learning, established in 1999, offers classes for non-traditional students to complete their associate's, bachelor's or master's programs online. The site is geared toward adult learners and military personnel. In 2011, the University launched its new public-facing website for online learners, who remain the largest segment of Saint Leo's student population.Awards and Recognition
In 2011, Saint Leo University was named by U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
as one of the "Top Universities in the South." In 2010 the University was listed in the magazine G.I. Jobs as a "Military Friendly School." Saint Leo was also a finalist in 2011 for the Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award presented by the Association of Teacher Educators. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
Corporation For National and Community Service
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America, and other national service initiatives...
named Saint Leo among its 2010 Community Service Honor Roll.
Accreditation
Saint Leo University is a fully accredited universityHigher education accreditation
Higher education accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of post-secondary educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
in the United States and the State of Florida. The Saint Leo School of Business received initial accreditation by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
The International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education is an educational accreditation agency for college and university business programs...
in September 1999. Saint Leo University's degree program in social work is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education (BSW level). Saint Leo University's undergraduate Sport Business program and MBA Sport Business Concentration are accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). Saint Leo University has Teacher Education Programs approval by the Florida Department of Education
Florida Department of Education
The Florida Department of Education is the state education agency of Florida. It governs public education and manages funding and testing for local educational agencies . It is headquartered in the Turlington Building in Tallahassee.The Florida Commissioner of Education manages the day-to-day...
.
Affiliations
The University's many affiliations include the American Council on Education (ACE)American Council on Education
The American Council on Education is a United States organization, established in 1918, comprising over 1,800 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education-related associations, organizations, and corporations....
, the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges is an American higher education association committed to the improvement of academic governing boards and boards of institutionally related foundations—those boards that oversee the workings of colleges, universities, and their...
, Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF)
Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida
The Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida is an association of 28 private, educational institutions in the state of Florida. Like the 11 public colleges and universities in Florida, all ICUF schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The current President...
, the American Association of Adult and Continuing Education, the National Collegiate Honor Society, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
Founded in 1976, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities is an organization of private US colleges and universities...
, the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA), the National Association of Institutions for Military Education Services (NAIMES), Service Members Opportunity Colleges, National Catholic Education Association, and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU)
Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, or ACCU, is a voluntary association of delegates from Catholic institutions of higher learning. It was founded in 1899 by fifty-three delegates from Catholic colleges across the United States...
.
Student Life
Students are active on campus through a variety of associations, clubs and societies, including the Computer Science Association and the International Tourism Club, an official organization of the Student Government Union.Campus Activities Board
The Saint Leo Campus Activities Board is headed by the elected Student Government Union Vice President of Activities. Among other duties, the Board plans a calendar of events focused on student entertainment and education. In the past events have included Halloween Horror NightsHalloween Horror Nights
Halloween Horror Nights is an annual Halloween event that occurs at Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Singapore. Universal Studios remains operational during the day and transitions to Halloween Horror Nights at night...
at Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
, campus laser tag
Laser tag
Laser tag is a team or individual sport or recreational activity where players attempt to score points by tagging targets, typically with a hand-held infrared-emitting targeting device. Infrared-sensitive targets are commonly worn by each player and are sometimes integrated within the arena in...
, and a "Spring Fling" weekend featuring artists such as Lonestar
Lonestar
Lonestar is an American country music group consisting of Richie McDonald , Michael Britt , Keech Rainwater , Dean Sams , and Michael Hill . McDonald left the band in November 2007 for a solo career before returning in 2011...
and Everclear
Everclear (band)
Everclear is a rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1992 best known for their radio hits spanning more than a decade. For most of its existence, Everclear has consisted of Art Alexakis , Craig Montoya , and Greg Eklund . Eklund replaced original drummer Scott Cuthbert in 1994...
.
Greek Life
There are currently six fraternitiesFraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
and four sororities
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
on campus. Greek life is an active part of campus life. Chapters must meet requirements of a certain amount of social activities, educational programs, and philanthropy/community service each year.
- 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...
- Sigma Alpha EpsilonSigma Alpha EpsilonSigma Alpha Epsilon is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity founded at the University of Alabama on March 9, 1856. Of all existing national social fraternities today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only one founded in the Antebellum South...
- Alpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
- Kappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
- Kappa Theta (Local)
- Sigma Lambda (Local)
- Tau Kappa Epsilon
- Sororities
- Alpha Sigma TauAlpha Sigma TauAlpha Sigma Tau is a national Panhellenic sorority founded on November 4, 1899, at Michigan State Normal College...
- Theta Phi AlphaTheta Phi AlphaTheta Phi Alpha women's fraternity was founded at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor on August 30, 1912. Theta Phi Alpha is one of 26 national sororities recognized in the National Panhellenic Conference...
- 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...
- Gamma Upsilon (Local)
- Alpha Sigma Tau
Virtual Campus
The Saint Leo University Second LifeSecond Life
Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
Virtual Campus is a place where all students, staff, faculty, parents, and friends can come together to explore, interact and collaborate in Second Life. The island is always in a constant state of development; all are invited to visit daily and look for recent changes.
Notable Alumni & Attendees
Saint Leo University has produced thousands of alumni over the years. Perhaps the most notable alumni of Saint Leo University are Anastasio Somoza DebayleAnastasio Somoza Debayle
Anastasio Somoza Debayle was a Nicaraguan leader and officially the 73rd and 76th President of Nicaragua from 1 May 1967 to 1 May 1972 and from 1 December 1974 to 17 July 1979. As head of the National Guard, he was de facto ruler of the country from 1967 to 1979...
the former President of Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, Charles Henri Baker
Charles Henri Baker
Charles-Henri Jean-Marie Baker is a Haitian industrialist and Presidential Candidate. He is a former Vice President of the Group of 184. Baker was a candidate for president in Haiti's 2006 and 2010 elections.-Early life:...
a Haitian industrialist and presidential candidate, musicians Steven Stills and Desi Arnaz
Desi Arnaz
Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-born American musician, actor and television producer. While he gained international renown for leading a Latin music band, the Desi Arnaz Orchestra, he is probably best known for his role as Ricky Ricardo on the American TV series I Love Lucy, starring with Lucille Ball, to...
, the former General Manager of the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
J. P. Ricciardi, the Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
-Winning actor Lee Marvin
Lee Marvin
Lee Marvin was an American film actor. Known for his gravelly voice, white hair and 6' 2" stature, Marvin at first did supporting roles, mostly villains, soldiers and other hardboiled characters, but after winning an Academy Award for Best Actor for his dual roles in Cat Ballou , he landed more...
, and Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player Bob Tewksbury
Bob Tewksbury
Robert Alan Tewksbury is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Tewksbury's talent was initially discovered by Andy Michael in Concord. Michael contacted the New York Yankees and Tewksbury was drafted by them out of Saint Leo University in the 19th round of the 1981 draft...
.
Major League Baseball Alumni
Saint Leo University has a long history of athletic achievement. The following is a list of Saint Leo University alumni who played Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
:
| Player Name | Dates Player | Debut / Box |
|---|---|---|
| Frank Barrett | 1929–1932 | 10-01-1939 |
| Fred Cambria | 1967–1969 | 08-26-1970 |
| Frank DiPino | 1975–1977 | 09-14-1981 |
| Brian Dayett | 1975–1978 | 09-11-1983 |
| Bob Tewksbury | 1980–1981 | 04-11-1986 |
| Jim Corsi | 1980–1982 | 06-28-1988 |