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Loyola Marymount University
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Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic Jesuit university in Los Angeles, California, United States. The University is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and one of five Marymount institutions of higher education. LMU was created in 1973 by the merger of Marymount College and Loyola University in Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount is the parent school to Loyola Law School located in downtown Los Angeles.
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Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic Jesuit university in Los Angeles, California, United States. The University is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and one of five Marymount institutions of higher education. LMU was created in 1973 by the merger of Marymount College and Loyola University in Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount is the parent school to Loyola Law School located in downtown Los Angeles. The university has consistently been ranked as having one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States. LMU is also ranked #4 by US News and World Report in the University-Master's (West): Top Schools.
History
The names "Loyola" and "Marymount" have long been associated with Catholic higher education in countries around the globe. Saint Ignatius Loyola, founder of The Society Of Jesus, sanctioned the foundation of his order's first school in 1548. The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary have conducted educational institutions since their establishment in France in 1849 by Father Jean Gailhac. These two traditions of education have come together in Los Angeles as Loyola Marymount University. The present University is the successor to the pioneer Catholic college and first institution of higher learning in Southern California. In 1865, the Vincentian Fathers were commissioned by Bishop Thaddeus Amat y Brusi to found St. Vincent's College for boys in Los Angeles. John Asmuth served as the first President Rector. The college was originally located in the Lugo Adobe House at the southeast corner of Alameda Street and Los Angeles Street. The building was one of few two-story complexes in the city at that time and had been donated by Vincente Lugo. Although the building no longer stands, its original site is across Alameda Street from the current Union Station, on the Plaza near the southeast end of the city's historic Olvera Street. After two years, the school moved several blocks over. The campus was surrounded by Broadway, 6th Street, Hill Street, and 7th Street. St. Vincent's College folded into the Society of Jesus's newly founded Los Angeles College in 1911 as they simultaneously opened their high school division (Loyola High School). Richard A. Gleeson, S.J. served as the first Jesuit President.
Rapid growth prompted the Jesuits to seek a new campus on Venice Boulevard in 1917; with this move, the name of the school was changed back to St. Vincent's College. In 1918 the name was once again changed to Loyola College of Los Angeles. Graduate instruction began in 1920 with the foundation of a separate law school (though instruction at the undergradate level remained all male, women were admitted to the law school). The law school was the first in Los Angeles to admit Jewish students as at the time USC's law school did not. The school relocated under then-President, Joseph A. Sullivan, S.J., to the present Westchester campus in 1929, and achieved university status in 1930 becoming Loyola University of Los Angeles. Loyola Law School did not move with the rest of the university, but remains to this day in a location just west of downtown Los Angeles. The current law school campus was designed by Frank Gehry. The formation of a graduate division occurred in June 1950, although the graduate work had formed an integral part of the Teacher Education Program during the preceding two years. Loyola University continued to be an all-male school until its merger with Marymount College in 1973. (Note: There were a few female students enrolled and articulated in Loyola University the 5 years of transition to Loyola Marymount University prior to 1973, primarily Engineering and Business majors)
In separate, though parallel developments, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary began teaching local young women in 1923. In 1933 Marymount Junior College opened as an all-women's school in the Westwood district of Los Angeles. The school became Marymount College of Los Angeles when it started awarding bachelor's degrees in 1948, and moved to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 1960.
In 1967 Raymunde McKay, R.S.H.M., President of Marymount College had extended an invitation to Mary Felix Montgomery, C.S.J., General Superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, to join in their affiliation with Loyola University of Los Angeles. In 1968 the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange partnered in the governing and staffing of Marymount College—it was then that Marymount College moved to the Westchester campus of Loyola University as an autonomous institution.
Simultaneously St. Joseph College of Orange, a four year liberal arts college for women religious sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Orange, began an affiliation with Marymount College. It became one of two branch campuses of Marymount College. In 1970 St. Joseph College of Orange was renamed Marymount College of Orange. It remained operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange and ceased to offer undergraduate degrees. College courses were offered to men and women during the summers. Both campuses of Marymount College remained all-female until the 1973 merger with Loyola University.
In 1970, the Student Governments of Loyola University (ASLU—Associated Students of Loyola University) and Marymount College (ASMC—Associated Students of Marymount College) joined to form the Associated Students of Loyola and Marymount (ASLM).
After five years of sharing faculties and facilities, Loyola University and Marymount College merged and formed Loyola Marymount University in 1973. Through this union, the expanded university maintained the century-old mission of Catholic higher education in Los Angeles. At this time, ASLM became known as the Associated Students of Loyola Marymount University (ASLMU).
Marymount College's four-year program subsequently separated from its two-year program. The Marymount two-year program remained incorporated as a separate institution and received accreditation as such in 1971. Marymount College, Palos Verdes currently operates in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.
With the merger of Loyola University and Marymount College in 1973, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange joined the Society of Jesus and the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary as one of the sponsoring religious communities of Loyola Marymount University. Marymount College of Orange was renamed the Orange Campus of Loyola Marymount University. The Orange Campus offered continuing education and summer courses to men and women through the 1980s.
In articulating a vision for this collegiate enterprise, the Board of Trustees turned to the history of the four-century old Jesuit educational philosophy, as well as to the history and traditions of the Marymount and St. Joseph's Sisters.
During the summer, the LMU campus plays host to a large number of precocious children. It is the primary West Coast site for the Center for Talented Youth summer program operated by Johns Hopkins University.
List of Presidents of Loyola Marymount University
Campus
LMU sits atop a bluff of in the Westchester area of West Los Angeles located in the Del Rey Hills. The original were donated to the university by Harry Culver. Xavier Hall, named for St. Francis Xavier, S.J., a companion of St. Ignatius of Loyola, S.J., and St. Robert's Hall, named for St. Robert Bellarmine, S.J., 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 served as the academic and administrative building.
Sacred Heart Chapel and the Regents Bell Tower were the next non-residential structures to be built on the campus (1953-1955). The Malone Student Center, named for Lorenzo M. Malone, S.J., 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 12 on-campus residence halls (dormitory and suite models) and six on-campus apartment complexes.
The campus also houses two large open grass areas not reserved for athletic play. Both Alumni Mall and Sunken Gardens provide scenery to the campus that is already laden with views of the entire Los Angeles Basin, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, and the Pacific Ocean.
The university's acquisition of University Hall in 2000 brought to the campus a new entrance as well as much needed office and classroom space. University Hall is a facility unique to any academic institution, in that it was originally constructed for Hughes Aircraft as their world headquarters, and converted from an exclusively corporate facility, to a building thriving with academic life. Loyola Marymount University acquired the building in January 2000 from Raytheon, which bought Hughes Aircraft. LMU completed the interior remodel of approximately in April 2001. The building itself, which houses the university's Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, is constructed of steel and concrete, and is divided into seven separate structures above ground. University Hall has over of floor space, and contains over 1,000 parking spaces in 3 underground levels. The of atrium space has, and will continue to be the venue for many LMU events.
The Princeton Review has recently ranked LMU as having the 7th most beautiful campus in America. . CampusSqueeze college e-zine ranked LMU as having the 3rd most beautiful campus in America.
Academics
In addition to being the parent school of Loyola Law School in Downtown Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount is also the home to six colleges and schools. LMU also offers an Air Force ROTC program, an Honors Program in which the students have a different core curriculum, and several year-long, semester, and summer study abroad programs across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Admission to LMU is competitive. Students from every U.S. state attend LMU. Some of the recent honors received by LMU are:
- Named among the “25 cutting edge schools with an eye toward the future” Kaplan’s “You Are Here” College Guide, 2008
- Included in “Best 366 Colleges,” “Best Colleges in the West”, "Happiest Students" and “10 Most Beautiful Campuses” Princeton Review, 2008
- Ranked 4th in “Best Universities With Master’s Program in the West” U.S. News & World Report, 2008
- BusinessWeek magazine, 2007 Entrepreneurship program named among top 10 in the nation Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine, 2007
- The part-time MBA program is ranked #4 in the nation according to Business Week 2007; and #14 in the nation, US News & World Report, 2008
- Named a “top producer” of Fulbright awardees, 2006–07 Institute of International Education
- Named “Hottest for Hispanics” Newsweek/Kaplan’s “How to Get into College” Guide, 2006
Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts
The Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts includes twenty-five undergraduate programs of study as well as five graduate programs of study. It embodies the wider University goals of liberal education, which is the heart of the University's core curriculum for all undergraduates. The college is named for the Jesuit scholar, St. Robert Cardinal Bellarmine, S.J., a cardinal and Doctor of the Church.
College of Communication and Fine Arts
The 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. The Department of Music has long been known for its choral organizations. Two choruses provide singing opportunities for a broad cross section of the university community. Promoting the university's long tradition, the 100-voice Concert Choir presents music for mixed voices. The smaller, more advanced Consort Singers presents varying styles of choral music and frequently appears in the Los Angeles area as the ambassador group for the university. It is also the parent college of Loyola Marymount's award winning Debate Team. The Debate Team frequently finishes in top positions in both national and international tournaments. The current dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts is Barbara Busse.
College of Business Administration
The College of Business Administration was started to assist inquisitive minds in learning more about the effective principles and practice of business through foundation building, undergraduate programs, and flexible graduate programs for advancing professionals. It is home to eight undergraduate programs of study as well as an MBA program for graduate studies.
Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering
The Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering, sees its purpose to be the education of principled leaders. It contains thirteen undergraduate programs of study as well as six graduate programs.
School of Education
The School of Education at Loyola Marymount has four undergraduate programs of study (Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Bilingual Education, and Special Education). A student wishing to receive their credential upon graduation majors in any other program and applies to one of the four undergraduate education minors during their sophomore year. Many students seeking a credential in Elementary Education major in the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts' Liberal Studies program, which is designed to educate one in the various arts and letters they will be teaching children. The School of Education also offers nine graduate programs including a Doctorate in Education...
School of Film and Television
Among the best in the area, LMU's School of Film and Television offers undergraduate programs in Animation, Film Production, Recording Arts, Screenwriting, and Television Production. The school also offers graduate programs in Film Production, Television Production, and Screenwriting.
Under the guidance of Dean Teri Schwartz, the Television program at LMU is in the process of being phased out. The Film and Television majors are being combined into a Production Major.
Organization
The governing body of Loyola Marymount is the school's independent Board of Trustees, which is headed by a Chairman. The University's executive officer is the President. The Bylaws of the University state that the President must be a Jesuit. The President is assisted by the Chancellor, Assistant to the President, and Director Internal Audit. The Vice President for Mission and Ministry (under whom are the Office of Campus Ministry and the Center for Ignatian Spirituality) and the Vice President for Intercultural Affairs are also member of the President's Office. The Executive Vice President & Provost reports directly to the President and oversees all campus operations. The President, Executive Vice President & Provost, Senior Vice President & Chief Academic Officer (under whom are the Deans of the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, College of Business Administration, College of Communication and Fine Arts, Seaver College of Science and Engineering, School of Education, School of Film and Television, and University Libraries), Senior Vice President for Administration, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs, Senior Vice President for University Relations, and Senior Vice President Fritz B. Burns Dean of Loyola Law School make up the University Cabinet. The Jesuit Community is headed by a Rector (appointed by the California Province of the Society of Jesus) who serves as the ecclesial superior of the university, serving a six-year term.
Sponsoring religious orders
LMU is sponsored primarily by three religious orders that have long been associated with education, the Society of Jesus, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, and the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Orange. Although, other Religious Orders such as the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Carmelites) and the Sisters of Saint Louis also have members employed on campus.
Society of Jesus
The Jesuit Community of LMU is the largest in the California Province of the Society of Jesus. The campus' Jesuits were housed in Xavier Hall until the recent completion of the new Jesuit Community Complex. LMU is home to 51 Jesuits (2006-2007 academic school year) holding various positions in administrative, staff, and faculty positions throughout the university. The LMU Jesuits also started and run Loyola productions, a non-profit creative media company that builds on the 450 year old Jesuit tradition of effective involvement in the communication arts.
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary
The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary also house several religious sisters on campus. The Marymount sisters, like the Jesuit priests, hold various faculty, staff, and administrative positions throughout the university. They also run the Marymount Institute for Faith, Culture, and the Arts which attempts to preserve the transformative educational tradition of the Religious of the Sacred Heat of Mary and promotes a dialogue between faith and culture as expressed in fine, performing, literary and communication arts.
Sisters of Saint Joseph of Orange
Like the Jesuits and Marymount Sisters, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Orange play a great role in preserving the Roman Catholic identity of the school. Several sisters of the order reside either on campus or in the surrounding community, working in administrative, staff, and faculty roles.
Campus Ministry
As old as the University, the Office of Campus Ministry was originally titled University Chaplain, this office became known as Campus Ministry in 1973 with a stipulation that the Director would be a Jesuit. By 1986 this requirement was waived when Margaret ("Peg") Mary Dolan, R.S.H.M. became the Director. In 2008, as part of the university's Centennial Capital Campaign, it was announced that a $5-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. Dolan, an alumna of Marymount College's class of 1958, received her Master's from LMU in 1974 and has served the university as a housing director, campus minister, alumni chaplain, director of campus ministry, director of alumni relations, and resident chaplain since 1973. In 2008 the university asked her to address the class of 2008 at the undergraduate commencement exercises and she was awarded an honorary doctorate. At the dedication ceremony in September 2008, over 700 alumni returned to campus to honor her legacy at the university.
Located at the north end of the University, Sacred Heart Chapel is the main worship space on campus. A basilica style church, Sacred Heart has two side alters and the Mary chapel, which is located behind the crucifix, in addition to the main chapel space. The chapel is lined by tall stained glass windows. Each window bears the seal of one of the 28 other Jesuit Universities in the United States.
See: Loyola Marymount University, Campus Ministry
Mission Statement
Loyola Marymount University declares its mission and purpose to be the following: the service of faith and the promotion of justice, the encouragement of learning, and the education of the whole person. Being rooted in Jesuit tradition, Loyola Marymount University follows in their strong dedication to education. A committee on campus meets regularly to analyze the campus' overall strengths and weaknesses in fulfilling this mission statement.
The Marymount Institute for Faith, Culture, and the Arts
Founded in 1991, the Marymount Institute was designed to help strengthen the legacy and contributions of the Marymount tradition at LMU, and encourages interdisciplinary and intercultural scholarly and artistic activity in the form of research, publication, exhibits, performances, conferences, seminars, and lectures.
2008 saw the opening of the Marymount Institute Press. Itself an imprint of Tsehai Publishers and Distributors, the MIP was founded by the Ethiopian-born journalist, publisher, and social activist, Elias Wondimu, and already has two publications to its credit: "Panim el Panim: Facing Genesis, Visual Midrash" and "A Journey into Love: Meditating with Piers Plowman".
The President's Marymount Institute Professor in Residence is Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.
Athletics
Athletic teams at Loyola Marymount are known as Lions; the school's primary athletic affiliation is with the West Coast Conference. While LMU has had success in several sports, it is probably best remembered for its men's basketball teams between 1985 and 1990, with Paul Westhead as coach. To this day, LMU games occupy the top five spots in the list of highest-scoring NCAA Division I basketball games.
Especially well-remembered was the 1990 team, led by Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble until tragedy struck in the WCC tournament. Gathers collapsed during a game and died due to a previously diagnosed heart condition. Playing for their fallen teammate, the Lions advanced to the Elite Eight (regional final) of the NCAA tournament before falling to eventual champions UNLV.
The primary indoor athletic facility is Gersten Pavilion.
Texas Rangers relief pitcher C. J. Wilson attended and pitched at Loyola Marymount in 2001.
Melissa Dykema, a freshman for the (06-07) LMU Softball team pitched the teams first ever post-season win against UCSB. Then, later, LMU's junior at the time Tiffany Pagano faced UCLA. LMU had never beaten UCLA but that was about to change. UCLA had made it to the Women's College World Series every year previous, but couldn't do it this time. Tiffany Pagano pitched a gem, helping LMU knock off UCLA 4-2 in a Regional elimination game AT Westwood. This marked the biggest win in history for the LMU Softball team.
Student government
ASLMU, The Associated Students of Loyola Marymount University, is the functioning student government. The government body is composed of an Executive Branch, composed of the Management Team and Cabinet Departments; a Legislative Branch, composed of the Senate; and a Judicial Branch, composed of the Judicial Committee. The only elected positions are those of the President, Vice President and the Senate. Unlike the senators, the President and Vice President have a limited term of two years.
Student media
Loyola Marymount has a rich history of student created and directed media. As a private institution, LMU and its various student media outlets have a tenuous relationship based on disagreements in regards to First Amendment rights, access difficulties, and privacy conerns.
Los Angeles Loyolan newspaper
The Los Angeles Loyolan newspaper has been published for over 80 years. It was originally titled "The Cinder" for the cinders kicked up by the trains passing the downtown campus of St. Vincent's College. The Loyolan has recently moved from its long standing weekly Wednesday publication schedule to a twice a week - Monday and Thursday - schedule. The Loyolan is supported by its advertising department which has historically paid from 80% to 100% of the cost of publication. The Loyolan's regular sections include "News", "Opinions", "Sports", "Arts & Entertainment", and "Classified Ads".
In 2005, the paper won the Columbia Scholastic Press Association award for "Best Four-Year Weekly Tabloid."
Tower Yearbook
Over the years, the Loyola University Los Angeles yearbook was known by several titles including the Lair Annual. After the merger the university began publishing the annual Tower Yearbook which is financed through a mandatory annual student yearbook fee (collected along with tuition).
The student-run yearbook at Loyola Marymount University was named "Best in Show" at the 85th Annual National College Media Conference in St. Louis, Mo. on Oct 30. "The Tower" took first place in the "Yearbook 300-Plus" category among other prestigious colleges from around the nation. The 2006 yearbook was honored for its unique design and its "re: 2006" theme. Director of Student Media, Tom Nelson, said "Editor in Chief Ashlee Goodwin and the entire Tower staff put an incredible amount of effort into the 2006 yearbook, which was not only the best but the largest ever produced at Loyola Marymount University."
KXLU FM 88.9/ KLMU AM
The university boasts both an AM/closed circuit and FM radio station. KXLU has an annual fundraising drive known as "fundrazor" which supports the station's ongoing operation. The station has a large following in the Los Angeles area. A variety of "indie" and international music as well as rock and jazz are played.
KXLU is also the 'flagship' station for LMU athletics featuring every Lions Men's basketball game each season. KLMU is the other radio station on LMU's campus, which can also be streamed online for listeners across the country. KLMU offers undergraduates an opportunity to host their own radio shows.
ROAR Network
ROAR Network is the newest student media on-campus. It provides a forum for student produced programming to be broadcast both via the on-campus cable TV system and, eventually, via the local cable access system(s).
ROAR Network is the only TV Station made for, and run by students on the LMU campus. The station provides student produced programming every two weeks, with its primetime block from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. every night. Current and previous episodes are also available for viewing and download online at
Center for Service and Action
Unique to Loyola Marymount is its Center for Service and Action (CSA). Dedicated to fostering the Jesuit principles of the service of faith and promotion of justice, CSA offer students opportunities to serve the campus and surrounding communities. The mission of CSA is to educate and form men and women with and for others, especially with and for the disadvantaged and the oppressed.
The Center for Service and Action resulted in LMU being awarded the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, the highest federal recognition a school can receive for civil service.
One of the many opportunities provided by CSA to students looking to do service work is the Alternative Break Program. LMU's Alternative Breaks program promotes service and cultural exchange on the local, national, and international level through hands-on, community-based learning. Students are immersed in diverse contexts throughout the world with concrete challenges that heighten social awareness.
Service organizations
CSA also oversees LMU's student service organizations. The seven service organizations work to help the university and surrounding community of Los Angeles.
Each Service Organization has its own unique mission, history, charism and organizational structure. The members of these organizations make themselves available for on-campus service as well as on-going commitments to serve at specific non-profit agencies in Southern California. Each organization has a moderator and a chaplain (though in some of the organizations the same priest or woman religious serves as both moderator and chaplain).
The Center for Service and Action works with the service organizations in fostering on-campus service and community service as well as reflecting upon their experience of service. CSA coordinates communication between the leadership of these organizations, the Service Organization Council. CSA also coordinates the distribution of the On-Campus Service Requests.
The organizations and their respective dates of founding are Crimson Circle (1929), Belles (1960), Gryphon Circle (1968), Ignatians (1981), Sursum Corda (1992), Marians (2003), and Magis (2003).
Campus Greek life
LMU is also home to a number of campus Greek Organizations. The campus fraternities are as follows: Alpha Delta Gamma (1952), Sigma Chi (1991), Sigma Phi Epsilon (1996), Sigma Lambda Beta (1999), Lambda Chi Alpha (2002), Beta Theta Pi (2005). The campus sororities are as follows: Alpha Phi (1976), Delta Gamma (1981), Delta Zeta (1986), Chi Delta Theta (1997), Kappa Alpha Theta (1999), Delta Sigma Theta (2000), Sigma Lambda Gamma (2000), Pi Beta Phi (2002), Delta Delta Delta (2005), and Sigma Gamma Rho (2006).
There are also a number of unrecognized Fraternities and Sororities that contribute positively to campus life, although they receive no official acknowledgment from the student Greek council and university authorities. National Fraternities including Kappa Sigma and National Sororities including Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. have petitioned Loyola Marymount University for acceptance but have been denied despite heavy student involvement. Greek life is gaining acceptance at Loyola Marymount, and events in the near future will necessitate a greater need for more Greek organizations and expansion.
Half of Loyola Marymount University's recognized Fraternities have been accepted as part of Greek life in the last ten years, and six of the recognized Sororities have likewise been accepted in recent years. This is evidence of a shift in the dynamic of the University from a sleepy and small college towards a more prestigious University with a heavily active student body.
Notable alumni
Noted professors
External links
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