DePaul University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
DePaul University

Former names	St. Vincent's College (1898–1907)
Motto	Viam sapientiae monstrabo tibi
Motto in English	I will show you the way of wisdom.
Type	Private research university
Established	1898; 127 years ago (1898)
Founder	Congregation of the Mission
Religious affiliation	Catholic (Vincentian)
Academic affiliations	ACCU CIC NAICU Space-grant
Endowment	$907.6 million (2023)
President	Robert L. Manuel
Academic staff	862 full-time 930 part-time annually (Fall 2021)
Students	21,348 (fall 2023)
Undergraduates	14,374 (fall 2023)
Postgraduates	6,974 (fall 2023)
Location	Chicago , Illinois , U.S. 41°55′26″N 87°39′22″W / 41.924°N 87.656°W / 41.924; -87.656
Campus	Urban Main Lincoln Park Campus 36 acres (150,000 m2) Satellite Loop Campus (Downtown Chicago)
Academic term	Quarter
Colors	Royal blue      Scarlet
Nickname	Blue Demons
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I Big East Conference
Mascot	DIBS (Demon In a Blue Suit)

DePaul University is a private Catholic research university. It is located in Chicago, Illinois. The university was started in 1898 by a group called the Vincentians. It is named after a French priest, Saint Vincent de Paul.

DePaul became the largest Catholic university in North America by student numbers in 1998. It helps students who are the first in their family to go to college. It also supports those from less privileged backgrounds. DePaul has two main campuses. One is in Lincoln Park and the other in the Loop. The university is known for its research. It has about 14,500 undergraduate students. About 7,900 students are in graduate or law programs. Students come from many different backgrounds and over 60 countries.

DePaul's sports teams are called the DePaul Blue Demons. They play in the Big East Conference. The men's basketball team has been in the NCAA tournament 18 times. They reached the Final Four twice. The softball team won the Big East Tournament three times in a row by 2019. They have been in the NCAA Tournament 21 times.

What is DePaul University's History?

How DePaul University Started

A 1911 photo of DePaul University.

DePaul University was first called St. Vincent's College. It was founded in 1898. The Vincentian priests and brothers started it. They wanted to help children of Catholic immigrants get an education. In 1898, there were 70 students. By 1903, enrollment grew to 200. This was in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago.

In 1907, the Vincentians changed the school's name to DePaul University. They decided to welcome all students, no matter their religion. DePaul started accepting women in 1911. The first women graduated in 1912. It was one of the first Catholic universities to teach men and women together.

DePaul opened a School of Music and a College of Commerce. The College of Commerce is one of the oldest business schools in the U.S. In 1914, DePaul started offering classes in downtown Chicago. This led to its second main campus. In 1915, the Illinois College of Law joined the university. It became the DePaul University College of Law. By then, over 1,100 students were enrolled.

DePaul University's basketball team (1908).

DePaul University's baseball team (1908).

DePaul University's football team (1916).

The university kept growing in the 1920s. In 1926, it received its first official accreditation. This means it was recognized as a good school. DePaul's first sports teams used the letter "D" on their uniforms. This led to the nickname "D-men," which became "Demons." In 1901, students chose blue as the school color. This color means loyalty. So, the teams became known as the "Blue Demons."

By 1930, more than 5,000 students were enrolled. They were in eight different colleges and schools. The Great Depression caused student numbers to change. The football team was even stopped in 1939. In 1938, a special department for elementary education was created. It was one of the first in the Midwest.

DePaul During the World Wars

During World War I in 1918, DePaul helped the war effort. It formed a unit of the US Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. Its College Theatre was used as Army barracks. DePaul also helped during World War II. It offered its buildings for war training. It also gave free classes to train people for factory jobs.

After World War II, the G.I. Bill helped many veterans go to college. This bill paid for their tuition. DePaul's student numbers grew a lot. In 1945, there were 8,857 students. This was twice as many as the year before. By 1948, over 11,000 students were enrolled. Some people thought DePaul should move to the suburbs. But the university leaders decided to stay in Lincoln Park. They wanted to help improve the neighborhood.

DePaul's Growth from the 1940s to 1970s

In 1942, Ray Meyer became DePaul's head basketball coach. He coached until 1984. His team won the National Invitation Tournament in 1945. Ray Meyer was honored in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979. DePaul later named its fitness center after him.

In 1954, DePaul adopted its current seal and motto. The motto is "Viam sapientiae monstrabo tibi." This means "I will show you the way of wisdom." In 1955, a building called the Kimball Building was given to the university. It was renamed the Lewis Center. This building became important for the Loop campus.

In 1968, the Black Student Union (BSU) was formed. In 1969, members of this group took over a campus building for two days. They also held rallies. These actions helped bring attention to the needs of black students. Later, other student groups also raised their concerns. Today, DePaul has many student organizations. These groups represent different backgrounds and interests.

In 1972, DePaul created the School for New Learning. This was one of the first colleges for adult students in the country. In the 1970s, DePaul bought land and buildings from the McCormick Theological Seminary. This helped DePaul grow its Lincoln Park campus. In 1978, DePaul took over the Goodman School of Drama. It became The Theatre School.

Modern Renovation and Expansion

DePaul started a big plan in 1989. It wanted to become more well-known. It also aimed to increase student numbers. New buildings were planned for both campuses. The DePaul Center was renovated in 1993. The Blackstone Theatre was bought in 1992 and renamed. At Lincoln Park, the John T. Richardson Library was finished in 1992. Several new student dorms were also built. The library was named after the university's ninth president, John T. Richardson.

By 1994, DePaul had 16,700 students. The university continued to grow. It reached 23,000 students. It became the largest Catholic university in the U.S. again. DePaul also worked to have a diverse student body. About one-third of students are people of color. It also helps students who are the first in their family to go to college. New buildings included the William G. McGowan Biological and Environmental Sciences Center in 1999. The Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center opened in 1999. The Student Center opened in 2001. The Sullivan Athletic Center opened in 2000.

In 2012, DePaul University helped Gordon Tech High School. This school later became DePaul College Prep in 2014. DePaul opened Wintrust Arena in October 2017. This arena is the home court for the men's and women's basketball teams. It can hold 10,387 people. DePaul University and Chicago taxpayers shared the cost of building it.

Where are DePaul's Campuses?

The Richardson Library at DePaul University's Lincoln Park Campus.

DePaul has two campuses in Chicago. One is in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. The other is in the downtown Loop area. Because it's in a city and offers free public transportation passes, DePaul has a low carbon footprint. This means it uses less energy and creates less pollution.

Lincoln Park Campus

DePaul's Lincoln Park Campus is the main campus. It is older and larger. It covers about 36 acres. This campus feels like a traditional university. About 2,400 students live in the twelve residence halls here. Some dorms are Belden-Racine Hall and Corcoran Hall. There are also apartment-style living options for older students.

This campus is home to several colleges. These include the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. The Theatre School and the School of Music are also here. The John T. Richardson Library is a key building. It has study spaces and a career development center. The DePaul Art Museum opened in 2011. It has over 3,000 art pieces. The museum is free to visit.

The Student Center is a central meeting place for students.

In 2013, DePaul opened a new Theatre School building. It has two theaters: the Watts Theatre and the Sondra & Denis Healy Theatre. The building was designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli. In 2011, the Arts & Letters Hall opened. It is an environmentally friendly building. The Student Center opened in 2002. It has student services, dining areas, and a chapel. It also has a cyber cafe and offices for student clubs.

Other newer buildings include the Sullivan Athletic Center. This center has the McGrath-Phillips Arena. The Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center is also new. The Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan Environmental Science and Chemistry Building opened in 2009. It connects to the William G. McGowan Biological and Environmental Sciences Center.

Loop Campus

DePaul's Loop campus is in downtown Chicago. It is near the city's financial district. The DePaul Center is an 11-story building. It was updated in 1993. It has modern classrooms and a business library. This building is home to the Driehaus College of Business.

The College of Law is in the Lewis Center. The College of Computing and Digital Media is also nearby. In 2008, DePaul bought another 18-story building. It is now called the Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Building. The College of Communication is in this building.

DePaul worked with other universities to build the University Center of Chicago. This is an 18-story residence hall. It opened in 2004. It houses 1,700 students.

What Can You Study at DePaul?

DePaul University has ten different colleges and schools. Most of them use a quarter system for classes. This means the school year is divided into four parts. The College of Law uses a semester system, which has two main parts.

Driehaus College of Business

The Driehaus College of Business in downtown Chicago.

DePaul's College of Commerce started in 1913. It was renamed the Driehaus College of Business in 2012. This happened after a large gift from an alumnus. The college is in downtown Chicago. It is one of the ten oldest business schools in the U.S. It includes the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. The college has about 130 full-time teachers. Its entrepreneurship program has been ranked among the best in the U.S.

College of Communication

The DePaul College of Communication has over 1,100 students. They study things like journalism, public relations, and media studies. Students can also learn about radio, TV, and film. The college offers many chances for hands-on training. These include Radio DePaul and The DePaulia newspaper. In 2018, the college added a new major in Sports Communication.

College of Computing and Digital Media

The College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM) is in the Loop. It has three schools. The School of Cinematic Arts has animation and cinema programs. The School of Computing has computer science programs. The School of Design has programs for game design and digital media. CDM has highly-ranked programs in film, animation, and gaming. It is recognized for its Cybersecurity programs. In 2021, DePaul's School of Cinematic Arts was ranked 16th among American film schools. Nearly 5,000 students are in CDM's programs.

College of Education

The College of Education works with over 150 schools in the Chicago area. These include public and private schools. DePaul's education program was one of the first to be officially recognized in 1965. It still holds this recognition today. The school offers degrees in teaching young children, elementary, and high school students. Many graduates teach in Chicago schools.

College of Law

The College of Law, Lewis Center.

The DePaul University College of Law is in the Loop. It has notable teachers. For example, Alberto Coll was a former Assistant Secretary of Defense. Patty Gerstenblith was appointed by Barack Obama to a government committee.

College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

This is DePaul's third largest college. Most of its classes are at the Lincoln Park Campus. The philosophy department is known for its programs in 20th-century philosophy. The graduate School of Public Service (SPS) is in the Loop Campus. It trains people for non-profit and government jobs. It is the largest program of its kind in the Midwest.

College of Science and Health

The College of Science and Health (CSH) was created in 2011. Most of its classes are on the Lincoln Park Campus.

School of Music

DePaul's School of Music has many teachers who play in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The school was named one of the "Schools That Rock" by Rolling Stone in 2005. It offers degrees in jazz, concert performance, and music education. It also has programs in sound recording and arts management. The new music school building is named the Holtschneider Center for Music and Performance.

School of Continuing and Professional Studies

This school was started in 1972. It was one of the first in the U.S. to focus on adult students. Students work with teachers to create their own study plans. They can even get college credit for what they've learned from life experiences. This school has been praised for its individualized education for adults.

The Theatre School

DePaul's Theatre School started in 1925. It was first called the Goodman School of Drama. It is the oldest theater training school in the Midwest. In 2013, it moved into a new five-story building. This building has two theater spaces. It also has classrooms, acting labs, and costume shops. The building was designed to let people see students and teachers at work.

Continuing and Professional Education

DePaul's Continuing and Professional Education (DePaul CPE) offers courses for adults. These courses help people develop professional skills. They are not for a degree. Courses can be short seminars or longer certificate programs. They are offered online, at DePaul's campuses, or at company sites. Topics include Financial Planning, Human Resources, and Marketing.

Student Life at DePaul

Student Media

DePaul's College of Communication has four student media groups. Good Day DePaul is a student-run TV show. The DePaulia is a student newspaper. 14 East is an online magazine. Radio DePaul is a 24-hour online radio station.

Athletics

DePaul competes in NCAA Division I sports. It is part of the Big East Conference. The school's teams are called the Blue Demons.

DePaul's mascot is DIBS. This stands for Demon In a Blue Suit. DIBS is at every Blue Demons basketball game. He also appears at campus events and charity events in Chicago.

The men's basketball team became famous under coach Ray Meyer. He led the team to the NCAA Division I basketball Final Four in 1979. DePaul also reached the Final Four in 1943. The school's only national championship was in 1945. They won the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) that year. DePaul has been in the NCAA tournament 22 times. They have been in the NIT tournament 16 times. The team played at the Allstate Arena until 2017. Since then, they have played at Wintrust Arena.

Notable Alumni

DePaul University

Former names	St. Vincent's College (1898–1907)
Motto	Viam sapientiae monstrabo tibi
Motto in English	I will show you the way of wisdom.
Type	Private research university
Established	1898; 127 years ago (1898)
Founder	Congregation of the Mission
Religious affiliation	Catholic (Vincentian)
Academic affiliations	ACCU CIC NAICU Space-grant
Endowment	$907.6 million (2023)
President	Robert L. Manuel
Academic staff	862 full-time 930 part-time annually (Fall 2021)
Students	21,348 (fall 2023)
Undergraduates	14,374 (fall 2023)
Postgraduates	6,974 (fall 2023)
Location	Chicago , Illinois , U.S. 41°55′26″N 87°39′22″W / 41.924°N 87.656°W / 41.924; -87.656
Campus	Urban Main Lincoln Park Campus 36 acres (150,000 m2) Satellite Loop Campus (Downtown Chicago)
Academic term	Quarter
Colors	Royal blue      Scarlet
Nickname	Blue Demons
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I Big East Conference
Mascot	DIBS (Demon In a Blue Suit)

See also

In Spanish: Universidad DePaul para niños