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Former names | List
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|---|---|
| Motto | Signum Fidei (Latin) |
Motto in English | Sign of Faith |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1932; 94 years ago (1932) |
| Founder | Bishop Bernard J. Scheil (Archdiocese of Chicago) |
Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic (Christian Brothers) |
Academic affiliations | ACCUCIC NAICU |
| Endowment | $98.8 million (2025)[1] |
| President | David J. Livingston |
| Students | 7,011 (fall 2024)[2] |
| Undergraduates | 4,326 (fall 2024) |
| Postgraduates | 2,685 (fall 2024) |
| Location | ,, |
| Campus | Suburban, 410 acres (170 ha) |
| Newspaper | The Lewis Flyer |
| Colors | Red and White |
| Nickname | Flyers |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division II GLVC,MIVA |
| Website | lewisu.edu |
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Lewis University is aprivateLasallian university inRomeoville, Illinois, United States, enrolls approximately 7,000 students in over 80 undergraduate programs, 35 graduate programs, and offers accelerated programs for working adults. The National Weather Service's Chicago/Romeoville office is also situated on campus.
Lewis University was founded in 1932 by theArchdiocese of Chicago and Bishop Bernard J. Scheil as theHoly Name Technical School. The school gets its name from philanthropist Frank J. Lewis who funded the construction of many of the school's buildings. During these early days, aviation technology courses were chosen as the special emphasis of instruction, becoming the origin of today's highly regarded Department of Aviation and Transportation Studies. The school was incorporated in 1934 under the nameLewis Holy Name Technical School. In 1935, it becameLewis Holy Name School of Aeronautics, a name which is engraved in stone on the building now known as the Philip Lynch Theatre at the Oremus Fine Arts Center.
DuringWorld War II, normal classes were suspended as the campus was given to theUnited States Navy to train pilots. The campus is adjacent to theLewis University Airport. Regular classes resumed in late 1944 and the college soon adopted a more traditional arts and science curriculum. Women were admitted for the first time in 1949. Three years later, the school's name was changed to theLewis College of Science and Technology. The institution's name was shortened to simplyLewis College in 1962 and finally received its current name ofLewis University in 1973.
In 2004 and 2005, Lewis enrolled more than 5,000 total students. In 2019, Lewis University offered more than 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, an accelerated degree completion option for working adults, various aviation programs, and 35 graduate programs. The university also offers degree programs inAlbuquerque, New Mexico.
In 2016, David J. Livingston, former president ofLourdes University inSylvania, Ohio, succeeded James Gaffney as the 10th president of the university. Gaffney retired after 28 years of leadership and service to Lewis University and its students.
The Lewis athletic teams are called the Flyers. The university is a member of theDivision II level of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in theGreat Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) for most of its sports since the 1980–81 academic year; while its men's volleyball team compete in theMidwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA). Since it is not a sponsored sport at the Division II level, the men's volleyball team is the only program that plays in Division I.
Prior to joining the NCAA, Lewis was a member of theNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in theChicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) from 1954–55 to 1979–80.
Lewis competes in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, stunt, swimming, tennis, track & field and volleyball.
 | This list of alumnimay not follow Wikipedia'sverifiability policy. Please helpimprove it by addingreliable sources for existing names which prove they are alumni. Unsourced names may be challenged and removed.(September 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
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41°36′17″N88°04′50″W / 41.604781°N 88.080524°W /41.604781; -88.080524
