- Our Lady of the Lake University
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Our Lady of the Lake University 
OLLU logoEstablished 1895 Type Private, Coeducational Endowment US$30.1 million President Tessa Martinez Pollack, PhD Students 2,660 Undergraduates 1,595 Postgraduates 1,065 Location San Antonio, Texas, USA 
Campus Urban: 72 acres (0.29 km2) Colors Blue and White Sports 12 teams Nickname Saints Mascot Armadillo Affiliations Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence Website www.ollusa.edu Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) is an independent Catholic, co-ed university located in San Antonio, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1895 by the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence, a religious order originating in Lorraine, France, during the 18th century. The Texas chapter of the order still sponsors the university.
Contents
History
In 1895, construction began on the main campus of Our Lady of the Lake College. By 1896, educational programs were under way. The first college program began in 1911 as a two-year curriculum for women. In 1919, the curriculum was expanded to four years and the institution was admitted to membership in the Texas Association of Colleges. Graduate study began in 1942 and was coeducational from its inception; all programs became fully coeducational in 1969. In 1975 the name of the institution was changed from Our Lady of the Lake College to Our Lady of the Lake University of San Antonio.
Our Lady of the Lake University was the first San Antonio institution of higher education to receive regional accreditation. It has been accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1923. In 1927 it became the third Texas school to be approved by the American Association of Universities.
As part of its mission to provide education to those with limited access, the University introduced the Weekend College concept at the San Antonio campus in 1978. OLLU began offering "weekend degree" programs in Houston in 1986.
Present
OLLU
Our Lady of the Lake University currently offers Bachelor's degrees in 33 areas of study, Master’s degrees in 14 areas of study, and two doctoral degree programs. Classes are offered through traditional weekday, weekend and online formats. Our Lady of the Lake University also offers weekend classes on campuses in Houston and Harlingen.
Mission statement
As a Catholic university sponsored by the Sisters of Divine Providence, Our Lady of the Lake University is a community whose members are committed to serve students by:
- Ensuring quality, innovative undergraduate and graduate learning experiences,
- Fostering spiritual, personal, and professional growth, and
- Preparing students for success and continued service.
Statement of purpose
"Our Lady of the Lake University exists for the purpose of providing undergraduate and graduate programs that are rooted in the tradition of Catholic higher education and inspired by the Congregation of Divine Providence in San Antonio, Texas. OLLU realizes this purpose through the development of every student who enrolls, through the assurance of quality in every academic program, through unwavering service to the communities of which it is a part, and through the continuing strong spirituality, charism and sponsorship of the Sisters of Divine Providence."[1]
2008 Fire
On May 6, 2008, a fire was reported on the campus at 7:44 p.m. CDT. The fire affected all four floors of Main, the often said "main image" of Our Lady of the Lake University. The fire quickly changed from a three- to four-alarm fire after an hour's time with five pumper trucks battling the blaze. No injuries or deaths occurred. The fire consumed the roof and one spire had collapsed. Much of the damage to the building was due to the amount of water poured into the building to contain the blaze. While the firefighters struggled with the fourth floor, some of the University's IT staff went in and protected the servers that were located on the first floor of the same building. Operations were coordinated from the Library building located across 24th Street from Main. A bomb threat the day before the fire had caused some concern that the incident was arson-related.[2] Firefighters suspect that the fire started on the fourth floor of the Main building due to an electrical short.[3]
The community quickly rallied and help raise funds to reconstruct the building and reconstruction was completed in Fall 2010 and hosted its first class since the fire in January 2011.
Roof going upReferences
- ^ http://www.ollusa.edu/s/1190/ollu.aspx?sid=1190&gid=1&pgid=914 Our Lady of the Lake University - MISSION, VISION AND STRATEGIC PLAN]
- ^ MySA.com: Metro | State
- ^ MySA.com: Metro | State
External links
Coordinates: 29°25′38″N 98°32′37″W / 29.4271513°N 98.5436296°W
Categories:- Educational institutions established in 1895
- Council of Independent Colleges
- National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities members
- Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Universities and colleges in San Antonio, Texas
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