) | |
| Motto | Per Scientiam Ad Sapientiam (Latin) |
|---|---|
Motto in English | Through Knowledge to Wisdom |
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1947 |
Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic (Order of Saint Augustine) |
| President | Christopher E. Hopey[1] |
Academic staff | 220 |
Administrative staff | 330 |
| Undergraduates | 3,653 |
| Postgraduates | 575 |
| Location | , , United States |
| Campus | Suburban, 220 acres (350,515 sq. meters) |
| Newspaper | The Beacon |
| Colors | Navy, Gold |
| Athletics | NCAA Div I – NEC Hockey East (men's and women's hockey) |
| Nickname | Warriors |
| Affiliations | NAICU AICUM ACCU[2] |
| Sports | 24 varsity teams |
| Website | merrimack.edu |
Merrimack College is a private Augustinian college in North Andover, Massachusetts.[3] It was founded in 1947 by the Order of St. Augustine with an initial goal to educate World War II veterans. The college has grown to a 220-acre campus with nearly 40 buildings. The library is named after Rev. Vincent A. McQuade, the founder of the college.[4]
History
The college was established in 1947 by the Order of Saint Augustine following an invitation by Archbishop of Boston, Richard Cushing.[5] It is the second Augustinian affiliated college in the United States after Villanova University.[6] Church leaders saw a need to create a liberal arts college largely in a commuter school format for veterans returning from World War II.[7] Archbishop Cushing tabbed Reverend Vincent McQuade to lead the college. McQuade was a native of Lawrence, Massachusetts and longtime friend of Archbishop Cushing. McQuade joined the effort after working on the faculty at Villanova working with veterans transitioning home from the war.[5] McQuade organized the creation process, including land purchases and zoning, securing a charter from the state, establishing curriculum, and managing the college's campus construction.[5] In March 1947, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts granted a charter to The Augustinian College of the Merrimack Valley in March 1947 and the college officially opened in September of the same year.[5]
Campus
The main campus of Merrimack College is situated on 220 acres (1 km2) of suburban land 25 miles (40 km) from Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts.[4] The campus features over 40 buildings, including a 125,000-volume library; four classroom buildings, including the Gregor Johann Mendel, O.S.A., Science, Engineering and Technology Center; the Sakowich Campus Center; the Rogers Center for the Arts; the Merrimack Athletic Complex; Austin Hall, which houses administrative offices; the Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher; student apartment buildings and residence halls; and the Louis H. Hamel Health Center.[4]
In 2017, the college received a $29.7 million tax-exempt bond from MassDevelopment. Merrimack designated several major projects for the funds, including construction of two academic buildings and three residence halls; renovations to renovate O’Reilly Hall, McQuade Library, and several other campus buildings; and upgrades to athletic facilities.[8]
Athletics
The athletics teams, except for ice hockey, participate in the Northeast Conference of NCAA Division I. They began their four-year transition to Division I during the 2019–20 season and will be full Division I members by 2023–24.[9] The college currently has 22 teams participating in intercollegiate sport (9 men's teams and 13 women's teams).[10] The men's and women's college ice hockey programs are currently NCAA Division I programs, participating in the Hockey East conference.[11]
References
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
- ^ ACCU Member Institutions
- ^ Fernandes, Deirdre (July 17, 2017). "Small private schools are financially struggling, but Merrimack has found its footing - The Boston Globe". Boston Globe.
- ^ a b c "History". Merrimack College. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "The History of Merrimack College". merrimack.edu. Merrimack College. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ "Olde St. Augustine's Church", USHistory.org
- ^ Douglas, Craig (March 3, 2014). "How Merrimack College got its groove back". Boston Business Journal. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ Staff (August 25, 2017). "Merrimack College Expands Facilities With MassDevelopment Bond". Boston Real Estate Times. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ Dauster, Rob (September 10, 2018). "Division I men's basketball set to add another member". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
- ^ "Merrimack College Athletics - Official Athletics Website". Merrimack College Athletics. Retrieved 2019-02-04.
- ^ "Merrimack Warriors - Hockey East Association". hockeyeastonline.com. Retrieved 2019-02-04.
External links