Mundelein College

Mundelein College

Mundelein College was a private, independent, Roman Catholic women's college in the United States. Located in the Rogers Park and Edgewater neighborhoods of Chicago, Illinois, Mundelein College was once the largest Roman Catholic women's college. Founded and administered by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mundelein College was famous for pioneering women's studies and women's leadership programs now taught in most colleges and universities throughout the world.

In 1991, Mundelein College became an incorporated college of Loyola University Chicago, a member institution of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.


Establishment

On November 1, 1929, exactly three days after the stock market crash that heralded the start of the Great Depression, Sister Mary Justitia Coffey and Mother Mary Isabella Kane of the BVM Sisters presided over the groundbreaking of the landmark Mundelein College Skyscraper at 1020 West Sheridan Road in Rogers Park. Mundelein College was the first college in the world to be housed in a modern high-rise building. The building is now known as the Mundelein Center of Loyola University.

On June 3, 1931, the Skyscraper was dedicated in a ceremony to open its doors for the first time. The Art Deco building is fifteen stories high with two towering and striking statues at the entrance, acting as a beacon of invitation to opportunities never before imagined for women. The statues are the angels Uriel ("Light of God") and Jophiel ("Beauty of God"). Uriel holds the book of wisdom and points to a cross in bas-relief on the fourteenth floor. Jophiel holds the planet Earth and lifts the torch of knowledge. Though the figures are male, after the building was transferred to the ownership of Loyola University in 1991 (see below), students began calling the pair Thelma and Louise, which was released that year.[1]
The Mundelein College building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.


Innovation

Not only did Mundelein College pioneer women's studies and women's leadership programs, it also pioneered continuing education programs designed for adults who had previously dropped out of college. In 1969, Mundelein College became the first school to structure a master's program facultied completely by women holding doctoral degrees. The Graduate Program in Religious Studies became a model for other women's colleges throughout the nation. In 1972, Mundelein College established the Hispanic Institute. The first school of its kind, it offered encouragement and support for bilingual and bicultural education in the various Chicago neighborhoods. The institute offered courses for people wishing to work in those neighborhoods with Hispanics.


Recognition

U.S. News & World Report cited Mundelein College as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States. The college ranked sixteenth among all women's colleges in the nation and second among liberal arts colleges in the state of Illinois for the number of women graduates who went on to obtain the Ph.D. degree.


Incorporation

In 1991, Mundelein College became an incorporated college of neighboring Loyola University Chicago. The Jesuit institution began to manage the BVM Sisters' college buildings: Skyscraper, Coffey Hall, Piper Hall (now often called "the Mansion") and the Jeanne and Joseph Sullivan Center.

Even though the BVM Sisters retired from their administration of Mundelein College, their ideals and values continued through the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership, established by Loyola University Chicago. The Gannon center is host to the Gannon Scholars program, a leadership training organization for 20 female Loyola students. The scholars organize service projects as well as work to create awareness on the campus of women's issues. The center also continues to teach courses and chaplain to the spiritual needs of Loyola University Chicago students.


See also

List of current and historical women's universities and colleges



External links

Loyola University Chicago

Gannon Center for Women and Leadership

Mundelein College Alumni

Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary