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Santa Clara University

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File:Sculogo.png
© Santa Clara University

Motto: The Jesuit university in Silicon Valley
Founded 1851
School type Private
President Paul Locatelli, SJ
Location Santa Clara, California
Enrollment 4,551 undergrad, 3,496 grad
Campus surroundings Urban
Campus size 104 acres (0.4 km²)
Sports teams Broncos
Mascot Bucky the Bronco

File:Scubensonswig.jpg
SCU's Benson Center, with Swig Residence Hall in the background.

File:Mission Gardens2.JPG
SCU's Mission Gardens from above

Santa Clara University is a private, co-educational Roman Catholic university in the United States. Located in Santa Clara, California, it was founded by the Society of Jesus. Today, Santa Clara University is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. One of the most famous faculty members is Gerald Uelman.

History

The university was founded in 1851 by John Nobili, S.J. on the site of Mission Santa Clara de Asis, the eighth of 21 missions established by Junipero Serra in the 1700s. The oldest institution of higher learning in California, the school was originally named Santa Clara College. The college became a university in 1912 with the addition of the schools of engineering and law. The Leavey School of Business was added in 1925 and became one of the first business schools in the United States to receive national accreditation.

Initially an all-male school, women were admitted in 1961. This step made Santa Clara University the first Catholic university in California to admit both men and women. The school colors are red and white and the team mascot is the bronco.

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A View of Santa Clara from Palm Drive

Campus

The Santa Clara University campus sits on 104 acres (0.4 km²) in Santa Clara, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley. Among its many mission style academic and residential buildings are the historic mission garden, rose garden, and palm trees.

Campus myths

The tallest building on Santa Clara's campus (and for several miles around) is Swig Hall, a dormitory with 11 stories. It was built when Santa Clara was still known as the University of Santa Clara, and some students claim that Swig was actually intended for the other USC (University of Southern California), as the same company was designing a dorm for both schools. Supposedly the plans were mixed up somehow, resulting in Swig dominating the Santa Clara skyline while a quiet little adobe building sits in a corner of USC's campus. Most say this is pure myth.

On a side note, USC bought the rights to the acronym USC from Santa Clara. The newly-renamed SCU received a monetary settlement and a gift of palm trees, which are on prominent display around the campus and give their name to Santa Clara's official automobile entrance, Palm Drive.

One of the undergraduate laboratories in the Physics Department in the early 1980's involved obtaining the average weight of an air molecule. In order to do this, a device known as a differential barometer was employed. Swig Hall, being the tallest building on campus, was used as the test site. In this experiment, the student would ride the elevator in Swig Hall to the top floor, obtain the pressure there, then ride the elevator to the main floor and obtain the pressure there. This activity invariably attracted an audience. One day, a physics student was asked what she was doing. Her response was "We know there is a pot dealer on this floor and we're closing in and plan to bust the whole dorm." It is said that within minutes toilets were flushing madly throughout the building.

Another bit of ephemera concerning Swig Hall involved the playing of the song "Catholic Girls" by the Mothers of Invention over the dorm Public Address system during finals week. Sadly, this custom has apparently been discontinued.


Degrees offered

The university offers three types of Bachelor's degrees:

The university offers six types of graduate degrees:

  • Law (J.D., L.L.M)
  • Business (MBA, MSIS)
  • Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.)
  • Counseling Psychology (M.A.)
  • Education (M.A.)
  • Pastoral Ministries (M.A.)

Key statistics

  • undergraduate enrollment is approximately 4,600
  • 427 full time faculty
  • University Operating Budget (2003-2004): ~$224 million
  • undergraduate tuition and fees (2003-2004): $27,135
  • room and board fees (2003-2004): $9,693
  • university endowment: $500+ million
  • size of campus: 104 acres (0.4 km²)

University athletic memberships

Noted Santa Clara University alumni

List of colleges and universities
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