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Seton Hill University
200px
Motto	Hazard Yet Forward-- and more recently, "This Way Up"
Established	1883
Type	Private
Endowment	$80 Million [1]
President	JoAnne Boyle
Undergraduates	2,014
Location	Greensburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Campus	Suburban
Colors	Crimson and Gold
Mascot	Griffin
Website	www.setonhill.edu

Seton Hill University is a small Catholic liberal arts university of about 2100 students^[2] in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. Formerly a women's college, it became a coeducational university in 2002.

History[link]

The school was founded in 1885 by the Sisters of Charity ^[3]. It is named for Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774–1821), who founded the Sisters of Charity and who, after her death, was canonized as the United States' first native-born saint.^[4] (Seton Hall University and the College of Saint Elizabeth in New Jersey are also named after Elizabeth Ann Seton.)

The Seton Hill University Administration Building, with a statue of Elizabeth Ann Seton.

In 1914, Seton Hill Junior college was opened by the Sisters of Charity. With the approval of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Seton Hill College was created four years later.^[5]

During the 1980s, men were regularly admitted to many programs at Seton Hill College, including music and theater. In 2002, Seton Hill was officially granted university status by the Pennsylvania Department of Education ^[6]. After president JoAnne Boyle formalized the school's new status as a university, the teams' nickname was changed from "Spirits" to "Griffins," and several men's athletics teams were added, including American football. In 2006, Seton Hill announced it was transferring to NCAA Division II and joining the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). They had belonged to the NAIA.

Seton Hill University received widespread public attention ^{[7] [8] [9]} after announcing a technology plan that includes providing an iPad to all full-time students, as well a 13" MacBook to all incoming freshmen, and a plan to upgrade the student machines after two years. Upon graduation, students keep both machines. ^[10]

Centers[link]

• E-Magnify (formerly the National Education Center for Women in Business)
• National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education
• Child Development Center and Kindergarten
• Center for Family Therapy

Undergraduate programs[link]

Seton Hill divides its undergraduate programs into five divisions: Visual and Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Natural and Health Sciences, Humanities, and Education. In addition to their major, all students take liberal arts core classes in arts, mathematics, sciences, culture, history, and writing.

Division of Visual and Performing Arts[link]

• Art Program: Art Therapy, Art Education, Studio Art, Visual Arts Management, Art History, Graphic Design, 2 Dimensional Media (drawing, painting, printmaking), 3 Dimensional Media (Sculpture, Clay, Metalsmithing), and Art & Technology.
• Music Program: Music Therapy, Music Education, Sacred Music, and Music Performance.
• Theatre: Theatre Performance, Music Theatre, Theatre Design and Technology, Theatre Business, and Theatre Arts

Division of Social Sciences[link]

• Accounting
• Business
• Criminal Justice
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Human Services
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Sociology
• Sports Management

Division of Natural and Health Sciences[link]

• Biology
• Pre-Health Professions
• Physician Assistant
• Nutrition and Dietetics
• Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Forensic Science
• Computer Science
• Mathematics
• Medical Technology

Division of Humanities[link]

• Communication
• English
• French
• History
• Political Science
• Religious Studies/Theology
• Spanish
• Pre-Law
• Journalism/New Media

Graduate programs[link]

Seton Hill offers the following graduate programs:

• Graduate Certificate in Genocide and Holocaust Studies
• Master of Arts in Art Therapy
• Master of Arts in Elementary Education
• Master of Arts in Inclusive Education
• Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Master of Arts in Special Education
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Writing Popular Fiction
• Master of Science in Physician Assistant

Athletics[link]

The university sponsors men's intercollegiate basketball, cross country, wrestling, lacrosse, and track. It sponsors women's intercollegiate softball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, equestrian, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, golf, and tennis.

In 2005, 60% of the entering class was male, due to an influx of male students who were interested in new sports programs such as football. In 2008, the football team had a 10-3 record. The football team and the men's soccer team each won the inaugural West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's team sportsmanship award in 2008.^[11]

In 2006, the baseball team received a berth to the NAIA World Series in the program's third year of existence.

Campus life[link]

Active clubs representing the diverse political views of the student body include the College Republicans, the University Democrats, the Gay-Straight Alliance, and the Respect Life Club. In 2003, the school conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree upon Steve Forbes, president and CEO of Forbes, Inc. In 2006, the convocation speaker was U.S. Representative John Murtha (D-Pa).

Seton Hill has a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1.^[12] The typical class size for courses in the major is about 20-25. Liberal arts core classes tend to be larger, at 30-45 students.

Recent changes on campus include the addition of a branch of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), and two arts facilities in downtown Greensburg: an art studio and a new performing arts building (devoted to music, theater, and dance).

Notable alumni[link]

• Justice Maureen O'Connor, alumna of 1973 and sixth woman to have served as an Ohio Supreme Court justice.
• Admiral Ronne Froman, who graduated from Seton Hill College in 1969, served 31 years in the United States Navy, retiring as a rear admiral (and the first female US Navy admiral to be "in charge of naval bases and stations around the world" ^[13]). She then filled several high-profile civilian positions in San Diego, California.
• Dr. Patricia Gabow, alumna of 1965, became the chief of renal disease at Denver General Hospital in 1973 and is now the Chief Executive Officer of Denver Health.
• Michelle Moore Ridge, alumna of 1969, former First Lady of Pennsylvania (1995-2001).

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website

Coordinates: 40°18′32″N 79°33′22″W / 40.309°N 79.556°W / 40.309; -79.556