Marywood University is aprivate Catholic university inScranton andDunmore,Pennsylvania, United States. Established in 1915 by theSisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Marywood currently enrolls more than 2,800 students in a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.[3] The university has a national arboretum[4] with more than 100 types of trees and shrubs.[5]
TheSisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary came toScranton, Pennsylvania, and established St. Cecilia's Academy in 1878 "for young ladies". Mount St. Mary's Seminary opened in 1902. Mother M. Cyril Conway, IHM superior in 1901, deliberately chose the term "seminary" (roughly equivalent to a high school in present times) to avoid the suggestion of afinishing school – a much more common destination at that time for older girls who could afford to continue their education – as it was intended to be "a place where young scholars dedicated themselves to serious study". TheMotherhouse was co-located with the seminary. Its buildings suffered major damage during a fire in the 1970s. As a result, theJesuitScranton Preparatory School, then a boys' school, became co-educational to accommodate the girls.[6] An entrance arch, now known as "Memorial Arch", still stands on the present-day campus and the former seminary's name can be seen engraved on it.
The seminary was the next step to the sisters' ultimate goal: to open awomen's college in Scranton.Marywood College opened on September 8, 1915 with 34 students.[7] Germaine O'Neil served as the first president and treasurer. It was the fifth Catholic women's college in the United States.[8] The first batch of students graduated in 1919 with aBachelor of Arts,Bachelor of Science, orBachelor of Letters. By the 1930s, the college had diversified its curriculum, offering subjects ranging from the social sciences topre-medical.[9] In 1937, the sisters turned down an invitation to merge with St. Thomas College, then under theChristian Brothers. St. Thomas later came under the administration of the Jesuits afterWorld War II and is now theUniversity of Scranton.[10]
By the 1970s, other single-sex Catholic colleges and universities in thediocese such asCollege Misericordia andKing's College were becoming co-educational and Marywood followed suit, opening its doors to male students in the fall of 1989.[11] In 1997, the college was granted university status by thePennsylvania Department of Education, officially becomingMarywood University.[12]
Since 2019, Marywood has faced enrollment decreases, forcing the university to cut jobs.[13]
Marywood's programs are administered through four degree-granting colleges, with 60 bachelor's degree, 36 master's degree, two doctoral degrees, two terminal degrees by program (MFA, Ed.S.). All students are required to complete a core curriculum in the liberal arts in addition to the courses in their major. Undergraduates may also enroll in double majors, honors, and independent study programs, practicums, internships, and study abroad, as well asArmy andAir Force ROTC programs.
The Liberal Arts Center, completed in 1923, is crowned with one of the campus' most distinctive architectural features, the dome of the Rotunda.foreground, Memorial Commons
Marywood University is home to about 20 different buildings on its campus, including the following:[19]
TheCenter for Natural and Health Sciences houses several academic departments, including Mathematics, Science, Nursing, and Administrative Studies.
TheSwartz Center for Spiritual Life, opened in 2007, contains the Marian Chapel, Campus Ministry, and Conference and Event Services.
TheFricchione Day Care Center, built in 1991, is a child development center for children of Marywood staff, faculty, and students.
Immaculata Hall was built in the 1950s. It was originally called Alumnae Hall, and it was renamed to honor Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, Marywood's first dean. It houses the President's Office and the Office of Planning and Institutional Research.
TheInsalaco Center for Studio Arts, completed in 2001, houses the Kresge Gallery and features drawing and painting studios. There are studios and equipment for woodworking, fiber arts, jewelry-making, ceramics, sculpture, photography, printmaking, a computer Mac lab, and private and semi-private studios for upper level BFA, MA, and MFA students.
TheLearning Commons is the library. It is also home to TV Marywood and VMFM-FM 91.7.
TheLiberal Arts Center houses many academic departments, including Religious Studies, Philosophy, Social Sciences, English, and Foreign Languages. The Admissions Office is also located here. The LAC also features theMarywood Rotunda.
Maria Hall, one of the original campus structures, now houses the University Development/Advancement Office.
TheCenter for Athletics and Wellness includes a 1,500-seat arena, a 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) fitness center, and other athletic facilities. The center also includes theAquatics Center; opened in 2011, it has an 8-lane NCAA regulation pool, 3-meter diving board, 1-meter diving boards, competition gutters, and seating for 200 spectators.
TheMemorial Arch, built in 1902, originally held the inscription "Mt. St. Mary's" and marked the entrance to the original Motherhouse, which was the location of Mt. St. Mary's seminary. The statue of the Virgin Mary on top of the arch is often referred to by students as the "Electric Mary" due to its halo encircled by light bulbs. The original stone steps to the Motherhouse are behind the arch.
The Memorial Arch, built in 1902, marks the entrance to the original Motherhouse, which was the location of St. Mary's Seminary.
TheMichael and Gwen Calabro Delfino Amphitheatre, built in 2017, is an outdoor performing arts space with natural tiered lawn and is used for academics, staged art, outdoor exhibitions, and recreation.
TheMemorial Commons was built in 1975 as a memorial to the original IHM Motherhouse that burned down in 1971. The Memorial Commons was renovated during the construction of the Learning Commons and was renamed theMotherhouse and Seminary Morgan Memorial Garden, dedicated on Marywood's Centennial Anniversary, September 8, 2015.
TheNazareth Student Center, built in 1964, houses the main dining room, a lounge, a game room, the university bookstore, the Office of Student Activities and Leadership Development, and other university offices.
TheO'Neill Center for Healthy Families, built in 2002, houses academic programs and research facilities.
TheSette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts, built in the 1950s as Assumption Hall, was rededicated in honor of Sette LaVerghetta in 1998. It houses the Music, Theatre, and Dance department.
TheCenter for Architectural Studies, completed in fall 2009, is a state-of-the-art example of sustainable design. It is a spacious, adaptive re-use of Marywood's former gymnasium. It has two levels of studios, a woodshop, a computer-aided design (CAD) laboratory, and a student lounge. It houses the region's first and only school of architecture.
TheTony Domiano Early Childhood Center, built in 2000, provides space for about 60 children in pre-school and kindergarten.
TheShields Center for Visual Arts serves Marywood's art students. It has classroom space for the graphic design, illustration, art history, and art therapy programs, as well as a 24-hour drop-in Mac lab. It also houses three art galleries: Mahady Gallery, Suraci Gallery, and Maslow Study Gallery.
TheMcGowan Center for Graduate and Professional Studies, renovated in 1998, was previously known as the Center for Human Services. It houses the College of Professional Studies and the Counseling/Student Development Center.
TheVeterans Resource Center, formerly Bethany Hall, houses the Office of Military and Veteran Services and provides a gathering place for the Student Veteran Alliance.
Loughran Hall is a residence hall for freshman students only and accommodates up to 324.
Madonna Hallis an upperclassmen residence hall with co-educational floors.
Regina Hall, originally named O'Reilly Hall, was the first student residence built at Marywood in the late 1920s. After the Motherhouse was destroyed by fire in 1971, the area that had once been the formal dining room was converted for use as a chapel. The chapel was then converted to what is now the Liguori Center. Regina Hall is still a residence hall today.
Immaculata Hall (Closed) originally built in the 1950s and named Alumnae Hall, was later renamed Immaculata Hall to honor Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, Marywood's first dean. Immaculata has two floors of single-room dorms for resident students.
Emmanuel Hall (Closed) provides specialty housing for 25 upperclass students in primarily 4-person rooms. The residence includes a kitchen and large common area.
Perpetual Help Hall (Closed) houses up to 14 male resident students. and includes a living room, kitchen, study area, and laundry room.
McCarty Hall (Closed) dedicated in November 1941, was once used as a practice house for students majoring in vocational home economics. The hall burnt down and is no longer used for residents.
TheWoodland Residences provide apartment-style living for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Each unit houses between four, five or ten upperclass students.
Marywood University was declared an arboretum in 1975 in honor of Sister Maria Laurence Maher, then Professor of Biological Sciences, and received its official designation as such in 1997. It now contains 42 species of trees (103 varieties) and a comparable collection of shrubs, ornamental grasses, and flowers.[21]
