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St. Edward's University

Coordinates: 30°14′N 97°45′W / 30.233°N 97.750°W / 30.233; -97.750
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This article is about the university in Texas. For St. Edward's College, see St. Edward's College (disambiguation).

St. Edward's University
Former names
St. Edward's Academy (1877–1885)
St. Edward's College (1885–1925)
MottoLive Fully
TypePrivate university
Established1877; 148 years ago (1877)[1]
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic (Congregation of Holy Cross)
Academic affiliations
ACCU
NAICU
CIC
Endowment$105.9 million (2020)[2]
PresidentMontserrat Fuentes
Students3,309
Location
Austin, Texas
,
U.S.

30°14′N 97°45′W / 30.233°N 97.750°W / 30.233; -97.750
CampusUrban, 155 acres (63 ha)
ColorsBlue and Gold
   
NicknameHilltoppers
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division II – Lone Star Conference
MascotMountain goat
Websitestedwards.edu
St Edwards University Written Logo
Map

St. Edward's University is a private, Catholic university in Austin, Texas, United States. It was founded and is operated in the Holy Cross tradition.

History

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Founding and early history

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St. Edward's University was founded by the Reverend Edward Sorin, Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, who also founded the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. Father Sorin established the institution on farmland south of Austin in 1877 and named it St. Edward's Academy in honor of his patron saint, King Edward the Confessor. The high school section later separated to become St. Edward's High School but closed during the 1970s. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross.[3]

In 1885, President P.J. Franciscus secured a charter and changed the name to St. Edward's College. Enrollment increased. The first school newspaper, the organization of baseball and football teams, and approval to start building an administration building all followed. Architect Nicholas J. Clayton of Galveston, Texas was commissioned to design the college's Main Building. The structure was built four stories tall in the Gothic Revival style and was constructed with local white limestone.[citation needed]

Main entrance

Twentieth century

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In 1903, a fire destroyed the majority of Main Building, but it was rebuilt by the fall. In 1922, Main Building sustained damage from a tornado that caused significant damage all over the campus. Main Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. In 1925, St. Edward's received its university charter. Most of the personnel at the time were Holy Cross priests and brothers. Women arrived at St. Edward's in 1966 as students for Maryhill College, a coordinate institution. By 1970, Maryhill was absorbed and St. Edward's became co-educational.[4]

By 1971, the university granted bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration. Also added were the College Assistance Migrant Program, or CAMP (1972); a professionally oriented Theater Arts curriculum (1972); a degree program for adults called New College (1974); and Freshman Studies (1975). In 1984, Patricia Hayes became the second layperson to lead St. Edward's University.[5] In 1990, enrollment reached 3,000 for the first time. This decade also ushered in civic initiatives and capital improvements.[6]

St. Edward's endowment, as of 2015, stood at more than $92.4 million.[7][8]

Expansion (1999–present)

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George E. Martin served as the institution's 23rd president. From Fall 1999–Summer 2021, Martin oversaw a period of expansion for St. Edward's that included transforming the campus through the construction of many new buildings, doubling enrollment, growing the endowment, building global partnerships and founding the Holy Cross Institute[9] to sustain the mission of the Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross.[10] In February 2022, Montserrat Fuentes was inaugurated as the 24th president and first Hispanic president of St. Edward's University. As part of her presidential inaugural address, Fuentes unveiled the university's Strategic Plan 2027.[11][12]

New buildings and renovations

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Trustee Hall, a 33,000-square-foot (3,100 m2) academic facility, opened in fall 2002. In 2003, Basil Moreau Hall, a co-ed freshmen residence hall opened.[13] The John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center–North facility that opened in fall 2006, was the first of a two-building science complex and houses the biology and chemistry programs in the School of Natural Sciences. The John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center–South opened in fall 2013. It houses the computer science, mathematics and physics programs, and features 13 classrooms, advanced computer and math labs, and a 126-seat auditorium.[citation needed]

A 756-car parking garage opened in 2007. Major renovations of existing campus buildings include Premont Hall (2006), Fleck Hall (2007) and Doyle Hall (2009). A new residential village opened in 2009. A renovated campus library, formerly the Scarborough-Phillips Library, opened in fall 2013 as The Munday Library. The library features global digital classrooms for video conferencing, revamped reading, study and meeting spaces, an expanded digital collection, and writing and media centers. The library renovation was funded in 2011 by a $13 million donation from Bill and Pat Munday.[14] The Mundays also donated $20 million for university scholarships in 2013. Both donations were school records.[15]

Academics

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Academic rankings
Regional
U.S. News & World Report[16]5
National
Forbes[17]375

St. Edward's offers 8 master's degree programs[18] and bachelor's degrees in more than 50 areas of study through the schools of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Education, Humanities, Natural Sciences and The Bill Munday School of Business.[19] For 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked St. Edward's #5 in Regional Universities West, #4 in Best Colleges for Veterans, and #2 in Best Undergraduate Teaching.[20]

Theater

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St. Edward's has a Theater Arts program, featuring a U/RTA contract with the Actors' Equity Association, allowing students who successfully complete the requirements of a Membership Candidate Program to become eligible to join Actors' Equity Association. In 2005, actor and environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr. brought his play, César & Ruben, to St. Edward's University for its Texas premiere.[21]

Campus in France

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In September 2008, St. Edward's started a portal campus in Angers, France to provide educational opportunities for European and American students. Faculty members at St. Edward's travel to Angers each semester to teach courses.[22]

The St. Edward's in Angers, France program is in partnership with the Catholic University of the West.[23]

Student life

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As of fall 2023, undergraduate enrollment was 2,731 with a student body that was approximately 60% female and 40% male.[24] The percentage of applicants admitted in fall 2023 was 84%, with 14% of those admitted choosing to enroll.[25]

More than 1,500 students live on campus in seven residence halls and three apartment communities.[26] Students at St. Edward's University are also involved in over 100 campus organizations, including student government, service organizations, academic honor societies, cultural clubs, and intramural sports.[27] As of 2024, 24 languages and 34 faith traditions are represented on campus.[28]

Hilltop Views

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Founded in 1987, Hilltop Views is a bi‑weekly student newspaper published by the School of Humanities and serving the St. Edward’s University community.[29] Editions are released every other week during the academic year, with content available daily online and in the alternating print edition.[30] The newspaper covers four main sections—News, Sports, Life & Arts, and Viewpoints—and is independently run: budgets and editorial decisions are made by students without prior review by university administration.[31] Student journalists, photographers, and designers develop articles, visuals, marketing, and copy-editing skills, and many serve as paid interns earning course credit.[32] Archives available at The Portal to Texas History show it continues in print at least through May 2024.[33]

Athletics

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Main article: St. Edward's Hilltoppers
The Hilltoppers softball team in action against the Texas A&M–Commerce Lions in 2015

St. Edward’s University’s athletic teams, known as the Hilltoppers, compete in NCAA Division II and are members of the Lone Star Conference, which they joined in 2019 after previously competing in the Heartland Conference.[34]

As of 2024, the university sponsors 16 varsity teams, including men's and women's basketball, cross country, soccer, track & field; men's baseball; women's softball and volleyball; and STUNT, an acrobatic team sport introduced in 2024–25. The university also supports co-ed cheerleading and esports programs.[35]

Hilltopper teams have made 78 NCAA Division II postseason appearances and earned 62 conference championships. Since 2013, 66 student-athletes have been honored as All-Americans, showcasing the university’s tradition of excellence in collegiate athletics.[36]

Notable alumni

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  • Laurentino Cortizo – President of Panama (2019–2024); earned his MBA from St. Edward’s University
  • Richard L. Buangan – U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia (appointed 2022); alumnus in political science
  • Mary E. González – Texas State Representative and LGBTQ+ advocate; earned M.A. in Social Justice from St. Edward's
  • Tavo Hellmund – Racing promoter; responsible for bringing Formula 1 back to the U.S. and Mexico
  • Emily Wolfe – Rock guitarist and singer-songwriter; released multiple albums and has an Epiphone signature guitar
  • Sheikh Fazle Fahim – Former President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI)
  • Robert C. Hilliard – High-profile civil rights attorney; argued landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court
  • Stacey Copeland – British athlete; first British woman to win a Commonwealth boxing title
  • Khalid Mohammed Abdulrahim – Chairman of KAR Group; led construction of major Gulf projects including Bahrain F1 Circuit

Notable faculty

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[edit]
  • Main building
    Main building
  • The grotto
    The grotto
  • The Munday Library
    The Munday Library
  • Dormitory
    Dormitory
  • The Munday Library Inside
    The Munday Library Inside

References

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  1. ^ "St. Edward's University History". Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  2. ^ As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Holy Cross Legacy". Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  4. ^ "History | St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas". stedwards.edu. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  5. ^ C.S.C., BATSON, ROSE V. and DUNN, WILLIAM H. (June 15, 2010). "ST. EDWARD'S UNIVERSITY". tshaonline.org.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Clark-Madison, Mike (December 4, 1998). "A Saintly Anchor". The Austin Chronicle.
  7. ^ "About St. Edwards University – Our Leadership". stedwards.edu. St. Edwards University. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  8. ^ "Best Colleges Rankings – St. Edward's University". usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  9. ^ "The Holy Cross Institute at St. Edward's University | St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas". stedwards.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  10. ^ "Congregation of Holy Cross". holycrosscongregation.org. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  11. ^ "Strategic Plan | St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas". stedwards.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  12. ^ "History | St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas". stedwards.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  13. ^ "Basil Moreau Hall". St. Edward's University, Austin, Texas. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  14. ^ "About the library". Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved Feb 12, 2018.
  15. ^ Crawley, Adam (February 19, 2013). "University receives record breaking $20 million donation". Hilltop Views. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013.
  16. ^ "2024-2025 Best Regional Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. September 23, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  17. ^ "America's Top Colleges 2024". Forbes. September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  18. ^ "Graduate Programs | St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas". stedwards.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  19. ^ Academic Programs at St. Edward's University Archived 2010-02-09 at the Wayback Machine, stedwards.edu, December 13, 2009.
  20. ^ "St. Edward's University". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  21. ^ "Cesar and Ruben". austinchronicle.com. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  22. ^ "AUSTIN FACULTY SELECTED FOR CAMPUS IN FRANCE", Austin American-Statesman. June 6, 2008; retrieved February 9, 2010.
  23. ^ "L'Etudiant - Educpros : actualités et services pour les professionnels de l'éducation". www.letudiant.fr. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  24. ^ "College Navigator - Saint Edward's University". NCES. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  25. ^ "St. Edward's University - U.S. News & World Report". usnews.com. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  26. ^ "Housing & Dining". St. Edward's University. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  27. ^ "Get Involved on Campus". St. Edward's University. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  28. ^ "16 Reasons to Become a Hilltopper". St. Edward's University. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  29. ^ "About – Hilltop Views". hilltopviewsonline.com. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  30. ^ "Hilltop Views – Campus Engagement Guide". sites.stedwards.edu. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  31. ^ "Hilltop Views – Campus Engagement Guide". sites.stedwards.edu. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  32. ^ "Journalism & Digital Media Minor – St. Edward's Univ". stedwards.edu. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  33. ^ "Hilltop Views (1987–present) – Portal to Texas History". texashistory.unt.edu. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  34. ^ "St. Edward's to Join Lone Star Conference in 2019". lonestarconference.org. February 5, 2019. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  35. ^ "Athletics". St. Edward’s University. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  36. ^ "Hilltopper Athletics History". St. Edward’s University. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  37. ^ "State Rep. Dennis Bonnen District 25 (R-Angleton)". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  38. ^ "MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS". Kingdom of Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  39. ^ "How Longview's Brandon Maxwell went from dressing Lady Gaga to becoming a star in his own light". Dallas News. 2018-05-18. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  40. ^ Joyce, Matt (Fall 2023). "Bobcat alum Devon Walker's rapid rise to 'Saturday Night Live'". Texas State University. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  41. ^ "Welcome to the School of Humanities". Archived from the original on August 20, 2004. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  42. ^ Kew, Sharla. "Doerr Brings Diverse Experiences to Classes". Hilltop Views. St. Edward's University. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  43. ^ "2014 Author Page – Texas Book Festival". Texas Book Festival. Archived from the original on 2012-03-16. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  44. ^ "Hollis Hammonds – St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas". stedwards.edu. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  45. ^ "Interdisciplinary Research". Archived from the original on May 14, 2001. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
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