Saint Joseph College (Connecticut)

Infobox University
name = Saint Joseph College


motto =
established = 1932
type = Private
president = Pamela Trotman Reid, Ph.D.
city = West Hartford
state = Connecticut
country = United States
undergrad = 1,100
graduate = 840
faculty = 144
campus = Suburban, 84 acres
mascot = Blue Jays
colors = Blue and Yellow
affiliations = Roman Catholic
website = [http://www.sjc.edu www.sjc.edu]

Saint Joseph College, a Roman Catholic comprehensive institution of higher education; an undergraduate women's college with a coeducational graduate program. It is located in West Hartford, Connecticut and was founded in 1932 by the Sisters of Mercy of Connecticut.

History

Saint Joseph College is a comprehensive institution, founded in 1932 by the Sisters of Mercy. It offers degrees to undergraduate women and graduate degrees to women and men. With a grounding in the liberal arts, the College has an emphasis on professional opportunities in healthcare areas and education. New programs are now offered in business management focused on women's entrepreneurship, social work with a Latino Community Practice certificate, and an interdisciplinary certificate in autism spectrum disorders.

The College is a community which strives to promote the development of the whole person in a caring environment that encourages strong ethical values, personal integrity and a sense of responsibility to the needs of society. Over the years, the College has remained true to this vision. A coeducational graduate school is recognized for its strong programs in Education and the Biological Sciences. Consistently cited on the national level for the quality of its academic programs, Saint Joseph College is committed to responding to the needs of an ever changing society. Today, the College serves one of the most diverse student bodies in Connecticut.

tudent Life

Saint Joseph College provides a robust and active student life experience for residential and commuting students. There are eight varsity sports: tennis, swimming and diving, soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball, lacrosse and cross country. There are also eight club sports. A vibrant student government association provides many opportunities for leadership and team building skills. Students also participate in numerous social and creative activities. Many students also engage with the local community through internships, service learning activities, and volunteer work.

The College has six residence halls. The two newest halls were completed in Fall 2008. Named North and South Hall, these facilities offer student suites with a shared living room, full kitchen, and bathroom for 8 to 10 residents per suite, with two suites on each of two floors. These modern facilities are wireless througout with large lounges, laundry rooms, and a welcoming foyer. The older halls are more traditional.

The O'Connell Athletic Center provides students with a fitness area, pool, and indoor track and basketball courts. Pilates, aerobics, and other fitness classes are offered regularly.

McGovern Hall houses the campus dining hall, meeting spaces, a coffee and convenience store, provide students with social areas, wireless lounge, and opportunities to get together with friends and faculty to enjoy food and conversation.

The West Hartford community is a safe and welcoming environment with many historic venues. Most famous for the homes of Mark Twain and Harriette Beecher Stowe, the town also offers movie houses, fine restaurants, and shopping. Shuttles from campus take students to the local malls; a public bus route allows easy access to downtown Hartford, the capitol of Connecticut.

Facilities

Saint Joseph College has maintained a distinctive Georgian brick architecture in most of its 19 buildings, including six residence halls, a library, student life building, administration and classroom buildings, an arts center with a theater and art gallery, among others. The athletic complex features a six-lane pool, gymnasium, suspended jogging track, dance studio, fitness center, outdoor track, softball field, and tennis courts.

The campus is beautifully landscaped and buildings are arranged around two tree-lined quadrangles on an 84 acre campus designed by the well-known Olmstead brothers who fashioned Central Park. Approximately 45 percent of the full-time Women’s College students live on campus. here are 1,100 undergraduates in The Women’s College, where faculty members and students emphasize leadership in academics, career, and community. Drawing on its Sisters of Mercy heritage, the College is a community that promotes the growth of the whole person in a caring environment that encourages strong ethical values, personal integrity, and a sense of responsibility to the needs of society.

Women have opportunities to lead every organization, from the Business Society and Student Government to Campus Ministry and Multicultural Affairs. They shine in artistic performances, as coordinators of community service projects, and on the athletic fields. Students also serve with faculty members and administrators on College-wide committees. The College is competitive in eight NCAA Division III sports: basketball, cross-country, lacrosse, softball, soccer, swimming/diving, tennis, and volleyball.

Special student services include career planning, alumnae mentoring, internship placement, counseling, health services, academic advisement, and campus ministry. Most recently, the College constructed The Carol Autorino Center to establish the arts and humanities as an integral part of the student psyche. The center celebrates and articulates the College’s rich liberal arts tradition.

Alumnae

Saint Joseph College alumnae are very active and have considerable impact on the welfare of their communities. They are leaders in many fields, including aerospace research, business, medicine, education, social work, chemistry, environmental science, law, and politics. Recent graduates enjoy successful careers in business, industry, government, nonprofit organizations, education, health care, human services, and the arts.

Accreditation

Saint Joseph College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The chemistry program is accredited by the American Chemical Society and the social work program by the Council on Social Work Education. The Coordinated Undergraduate Program in Dietetics is accredited by the American Dietetic Association. The nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Location

The College is located in West Hartford, a suburb of Hartford and only convert|4|mi|km from the state capitol building and the city of Hartford’s arts and entertainment district. Among the nearby attractions are the Riverfront Recapture Project, the new Hartford Conference Center, the Hartford Civic Center; Bushnell Memorial Hall, where the latest Broadway musicals are performed; and the Wadsworth Anthenaeum, the oldest public art gallery in the United States. Hartford is cosmopolitan city with diverse ethnic flavors. It is also the home of the Tony Award–winning Hartford Stage Company, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the Connecticut Opera Company, the Hartford Ballet, and the Dodge Music Center, which features indoor and outdoor concerts. West Hartford, a prestigious bedroom community, just minutes from campus. offers an array of shopping, boutiques, coffee bars and street side and upscale restaurants in its West Hartford Center and its newest mall, Blue Back Square. West Hartford also features the Corbin's Corner shopping center and the nationally acclaimed West Farms Mall.

Saint Joseph is a mile from two central shopping locations in West Hartford: Bishop's corner and the West Hartford Center. Students also have the luxury of taking a five minute bus ride to the mall or movie theater.

External links

* [http://www.sjc.edu/ Saint Joseph College official website]
* [http://www.petersons.com/ugchannel/code/IDD.asp?orderLineNum=571319-3&inunId=8436&typeVC=InstVC&sponsor=1 Peterson's Guide detailed entry]