Loyola Marymount University: A Legacy of Education and Innovation
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Catholic higher education in Southern California. From its humble beginnings as St. Vincent's College in 1865 to its current status as a comprehensive research university, LMU has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of its students and the wider community. This article delves into the rich history of LMU, exploring its origins, growth, and commitment to its mission of fostering learning, educating the whole person, serving faith, and promoting justice.
The Founding of St. Vincent's College
The roots of LMU can be traced back to 1865 when the Vincentian Fathers were commissioned by Thaddeus Amat y Brusi to establish St. Vincent's College for Boys in Los Angeles. Serving as the first institution of higher learning in Southern California, St. Vincent's College initially held classes in the Lugo Adobe on the east side of the Plaza while a new campus building was under construction. In 1867, the college moved to its new 7th Street campus, a stone building now called St. Vincent's Place, encompassing a block bounded by Fort (Broadway), 6th, Hill, and 7th streets. By 1869, St. Vincent's was accredited by the state, solidifying its position as a leading educational institution.
In 1887, the college relocated to a new campus bordered by Grand Avenue, Washington Boulevard, Hope Street, and 18th. This campus featured a chapel, residence hall, cottages, and a traditional brick-and-ivy complex housing classrooms and lecture halls, complete with a tall, central tower topped with St. Vincent's statue. Alongside campus expansion, the athletic program grew, and the Catholic Collegiates competed against Occidental College's Presbyterians and the University of Southern California's Methodists. St. Vincent's athletes were also recruited into professional sports.
Transition and Growth: From Los Angeles College to Loyola University
In 1911, the Vincentians concluded their educational ministry, and Thomas James Conaty appointed the Jesuits as their replacement. The institution was moved to a larger property and renamed Los Angeles College, situated in several bungalows at Avenue 52, Highland Park, Los Angeles. The old campus became St. Vincent's School. By 1922, St. Vincent's campus was sold, and over time, the historic buildings of old St. Vincent's College were torn down and replaced by developments such as the Grand Olympic Auditorium (1924) and parking lots.
Rapid growth prompted the Jesuits to seek a new campus on Venice Boulevard in 1917. Graduate instruction began in 1920 with the foundation of a separate law school, the only program into which women were admitted. The law school was the second in Los Angeles after USC to admit Jewish students. In 1928, the undergraduate division of Loyola relocated to the present Westchester campus in 1930, becoming Loyola University of Los Angeles.
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As enrollment dropped during World War II, university president Edward Whelan brokered a deal with the US Army to form an officer training program for both Army and Navy officers. The contract allowed the university to remain open during the war. Enrollment hit all-time highs as returning veterans took advantage of the G.I. Bill in the mid-to-late 1940s. In 1949, Charles Cassassa, S.J. was named president. His work included the formation of a graduate division on the Westchester campus in June 1950 and the establishment of the Teacher Education Program during the preceding two years.
The Emergence of Marymount College and the Path to Merger
The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary began teaching local young women in 1923. After invitation by John Joseph Cantwell, seven sisters of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, led by Mother Cecilia Rafter, formed an elementary school which developed into Marymount High School. Mother Gertrude Cain was the first president of the junior college and guided its development into a four-year college. In 1948, the college assumed the name Marymount College of Los Angeles.
In 1967 Raymunde McKay, president of Marymount College, alongside Mary Felix Montgomery General Superior of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Orange, merged Marymount College with St. Joseph College of Orange. St. Joseph College was originally formed as St. Joseph Teacher's College, a junior college affiliated with The Catholic University of America in 1953. In 1959 it was incorporated as an autonomous, four-year institution, and assumed the St. Joseph College name. However, in 1968 Marymount and St. Joseph's Colleges merged under the Marymount name with an agreement that the traditions and heritage of both the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary and the Sisters of St. Joseph would be maintained. Subsequently, the institution was renamed Marymount College of Orange. During the academic year, it remained a college for women religious seeking their baccalaureate degrees; college courses were offered to men and women during the summers at the Orange campus.
The Merger and the Birth of Loyola Marymount University
By the mid-1960s, Loyola University of Los Angeles had unsuccessfully petitioned the Archbishop of Los Angeles, James Francis McIntyre, to allow coeducation for several years. In 1967, McIntyre permitted McKay to begin an affiliation with Loyola University. In 1968 when Marymount's baccalaureate program moved to Loyola's Westchester campus; this arrangement of two independent schools on one campus continued for five years. Loyola University and Marymount College officially merged and assumed the name Loyola Marymount University in 1973. The expanded university retained its roots of Catholic higher education and incorporated the educational traditions of the Jesuits, Marymount sisters, and Orange sisters into one institution. The ASLM became known as the Associated Students of Loyola Marymount University (ASLMU).
Donald Merrifield, who first assumed the presidency of Loyola University in 1969, continued his role after the merger. The academic vice president of Marymount College, Renee Harrangue, became the provost. Merrifield also implemented a number of programs to increase minority enrollment, such as financial aid packages and scholarships, and added African American and Latino studies programs.
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LMU Today: A Thriving University
LMU is located on the Del Rey Hills in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles. It overlooks the former site of Hughes Aircraft. The original 99 acres (40 ha) were donated to the university by Harry Culver, a prominent real-estate developer. Xavier Hall, named for St. Francis Xavier, and St. Robert's Hall, named after St. Robert Bellarmine, a cardinal and Doctor of the Church, were the first two buildings to be built on the current Westchester Campus. Following their completion in 1929, Xavier Hall housed both the Jesuit Faculty and the students at the time while St. Robert's Hall housed classrooms and administrative offices. Sacred Heart Chapel and the Regents Bell Tower were the next non-residential structures to be built on the campus (1953-55). The Malone Student Center, named after Lorenzo M. Malone, an alumnus of the university and former dean of students and treasurer of the university, was completed in 1958 and renovated in 1996. LMU now houses 36 academic, athletic, administrative, and event facilities as well as twelve on-campus residence halls and six on-campus apartment complexes.
LMU acquired the 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m2) building in January 2000 from Raytheon, which bought Hughes Aircraft. LMU completed the interior remodel in April 2001. There are three LEED-certified buildings on campus, including the William H. Hannon Library. Student sustainability jobs are available in the recycling program.
LMU offers 55 major and 58 minor undergraduate programs and 47 master's degree programs, an education doctorate, a doctorate in juridical science, a doctorate in business administration, a Juris Doctor, and 13 credential programs. LMU offers an Air Force ROTC program, an Honors Program which focus on an enriched core curriculum. Furthermore, it provides several year-long, semester, and summer study abroad programs which occur in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. LMU has a Carnegie Classification of R2- Doctoral University: High Research Activity.
Academic Colleges and Schools
LMU is comprised of several colleges and schools, each dedicated to providing a unique and enriching educational experience:
- Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts: Emphasizes liberal education and offers twenty-five undergraduate programs of study as well as five graduate programs.
- College of Communication and Fine Arts: Offers majors in Art History, Communication Studies, Dance, Music, Studio Arts, and Theatre Arts as well as a graduate program in Marital and Family Therapy.
- College of Business Administration: Teaches effective principles and practice of business through foundation building, undergraduate programs, and flexible graduate programs for advancing professionals.
- Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering: Contains undergraduate and graduate programs in science and engineering.
- School of Film and Television: Offers bachelor's degrees in Film and Television Production, Screenwriting, Animation, and Recording Arts along with a minor in Film Studies and also Master's programs in Writing and Producing for Television, Film and Television Production, and Feature Film Screenwriting.
- School of Education
- Loyola Law School: Located in the Pico-Union neighborhood west of downtown Los Angeles.
A Commitment to Mission and Values
Loyola Marymount University is sponsored primarily by three religious orders: the Society of Jesus, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. These orders play a vital role in shaping the university's mission and values.
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Loyola Marymount's Office of Campus Ministry is a component to the promotion of the university's mission and identity. In 2008, as part of the university's Centennial Capital Campaign, it was announced that an $8 million fundraising goal was set to endow the office as the "Peg Dolan, RSHM Campus Ministry Center" in honor of Dolan's contributions to the university.
Student Life and Opportunities
Students at LMU are described as "creative, progressive, and passionate." The campus provides many opportunities to soak up the sunshine, including the lawns of the Sunken Gardens and the Bluff. Students also enjoy using the gym and attending the workout classes, where instructors "foster a fun environment." Another favorite event is Wellness Wednesdays, a weekly market where "small businesses set up booths and showcase their items for sale."
LMU provides a shuttle to the nearby neighborhood of Playa Vista where students often shop at the farmer's market or see a movie. Students note that exploring beyond Playa Vista requires the use of a car, but for many, the proximity to all of what LA offers is a big perk.
The Career and Professional Development (CPD) program at LMU prioritizes students’s professional development with access to numerous internship, career, and networking resources. With its proximity to Silicon Beach, where over 500 tech companies and start-ups reside alongside industry leaders like Snapchat and Google, LMU’s location is “amazing for networking opportunities.”
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