St. Gregory's University
Encyclopedia
St. Gregory's University is a private, co-educational Catholic
liberal arts
university
. It is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state
of Oklahoma. It has its main campus in Shawnee
, and an additional campus in Tulsa
.
on October 12, 1875 by the Benedictine
monks Father Isidore Robot
, O.S.B., and Brother Dominic Lambert, O.S.B. In 1876, the mission relocated near Konawa, Oklahoma
and became an abbey
. Sacred Heart College was founded with the permission of the Vatican
in 1877 and later gained approval from the territorial government in 1883. After a disastrous fire in 1901 that destroyed the school and the monastery, the monks accepted an offer from the town of Shawnee and began construction of the Catholic University of Oklahoma and St. Gregory's Abbey
in 1910. The school opened its doors in 1915, and in 1922 the name was changed to St. Gregory's College. The monks jointly operated a high school for boys at the location until 1965. In 1927, the abbey moved from Konawa to Shawnee. The school was known as St. Gregory's College until 1997, when it changed from a junior college
to a baccalaureate
-conferring university. In 2005 St. Gregory's was accredited to offer a graduate program in business and began offering classes in March 2006.
Fr. Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., serves as chancellor of SGU and Abbot of St. Gregory's Abbey.
.
. The museum was founded in 1914 by Rev. Gregory Gerrer, OSB
. In 1919 the museum was located moved to Benedictine Hall
. The current museum building opened in 1979.
of the NAIA
. SGU fields men's teams in baseball, basketball and soccer, and women's teams in basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball. SGU also recently added competitive cheer to its list of varsity sports.
On November 5, 2011, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake caused damage to Benedictine Hall
, the campus's central feature. One turret collapsed and three others were damaged, forcing the closure of the building.
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"...
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
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
. It is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oklahoma. It has its main campus in Shawnee
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shawnee is a city in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 29,857 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Oklahoma City-Shawnee Combined Statistical Area; it is also the county seat of Pottawatomie County and the principal city of the Shawnee Micropolitan Statistical...
, and an additional campus in Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
.
History
St. Gregory's traces its roots to the Sacred Heart Mission, founded in Atoka, OklahomaAtoka, Oklahoma
Atoka is a city in Atoka County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 3,052 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Atoka County.-Geography:Atoka is located at ....
on October 12, 1875 by the 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...
monks Father Isidore Robot
Isidore Robot
-Early life:Born July 18, 1837, at Thoriseau, France, Isidore Robot entered the Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery of Saint Marie de la Pierre-qui-Vire, in central France. He was professed as a monk in 1859 and ordained a priest in 1862...
, O.S.B., and Brother Dominic Lambert, O.S.B. In 1876, the mission relocated near Konawa, Oklahoma
Konawa, Oklahoma
Konawa is a city in Seminole County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,479 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Konawa is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
and became an abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
. Sacred Heart College was founded with the permission of the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
in 1877 and later gained approval from the territorial government in 1883. After a disastrous fire in 1901 that destroyed the school and the monastery, the monks accepted an offer from the town of Shawnee and began construction of the Catholic University of Oklahoma and St. Gregory's Abbey
St. Gregory's Abbey (Oklahoma)
St. Gregory's Abbey is a Roman Catholic monastery of the American-Cassinese Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation. The monastery, founded by monks of the French monastery of Notre Dame de la Pierre-qui-Vire in 1876, was originally located in present day Konawa, Oklahoma and called Sacred...
in 1910. The school opened its doors in 1915, and in 1922 the name was changed to St. Gregory's College. The monks jointly operated a high school for boys at the location until 1965. In 1927, the abbey moved from Konawa to Shawnee. The school was known as St. Gregory's College until 1997, when it changed from a junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
to a 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...
-conferring university. In 2005 St. Gregory's was accredited to offer a graduate program in business and began offering classes in March 2006.
Fr. Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., serves as chancellor of SGU and Abbot of St. Gregory's Abbey.
Enrollment
St. Gregory's University serves 692 students in two colleges – the College of Arts and Sciences and the College for Working Adults. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences are provided with a solid foundation in the liberal arts through a common core curriculum, the heart of which is the four-semester “Tradition and Conversation” program, which offers students the opportunity to engage some of the greatest minds and discuss some of most influential texts of the Western and Catholic intellectual traditions in a seminar format. The College for Working Adults is located in two cities – Shawnee and Tulsa – and offers evening degree programs at the associates, bachelors and masters levels. St. Gregory's has a student/faculty ratio of 12:1.Campus
The 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) campus is surrounded by the 640 acres (2.6 km²) of St. Gregory's AbbeySt. Gregory's Abbey (Oklahoma)
St. Gregory's Abbey is a Roman Catholic monastery of the American-Cassinese Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation. The monastery, founded by monks of the French monastery of Notre Dame de la Pierre-qui-Vire in 1876, was originally located in present day Konawa, Oklahoma and called Sacred...
.
Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art is an independent non-profit art museum. It is located on the campus of St. Greogry's University, but operated separately. Its collection includes ancient Egyptian, medieval, Renaissance, and Hudson River SchoolHudson River school
The Hudson River School was a mid-19th century American art movement embodied by a group of landscape painters whose aesthetic vision was influenced by romanticism...
. The museum was founded in 1914 by Rev. Gregory Gerrer, OSB
Gregory Gerrer
Rev. Gregory Gerrer, OSB was a Benedictine Priest at Sacred Heart Abbey , artist, art historian and museum founder.-Art Career:...
. In 1919 the museum was located moved to Benedictine Hall
Benedictine Hall (Shawnee, Oklahoma)
Benedictine Hall at St. Gregory's University, also known as St. Gregory's Abbey and College, is the central feature of the university, housing its administration, library and most of its classes. Designed by St. Louis architect Victor Klutho, the facility opened in the fall of 1915 in Shawnee,...
. The current museum building opened in 1979.
Athletics
The University's sports teams are known as the Cavaliers and compete in the Sooner Athletic ConferenceSooner Athletic Conference
The Sooner Athletic Conference is an affiliate of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics . Its 12 member institutions are located in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas....
of the 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...
. SGU fields men's teams in baseball, basketball and soccer, and women's teams in basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball. SGU also recently added competitive cheer to its list of varsity sports.
2011 earthquake
Main article: 2011 Oklahoma earthquake2011 Oklahoma earthquake
The 2011 Oklahoma earthquake was a 5.6 magnitude intraplate earthquake which occurred on November 5, 2011, at 10:53 pm CDT in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. According to the U.S. Geological Survey , it was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Oklahoma...
On November 5, 2011, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake caused damage to Benedictine Hall
Benedictine Hall (Shawnee, Oklahoma)
Benedictine Hall at St. Gregory's University, also known as St. Gregory's Abbey and College, is the central feature of the university, housing its administration, library and most of its classes. Designed by St. Louis architect Victor Klutho, the facility opened in the fall of 1915 in Shawnee,...
, the campus's central feature. One turret collapsed and three others were damaged, forcing the closure of the building.