Immaculata University facts for kids
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Former names
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Villa Maria College (1920–1929) Immaculata College (1929–2002) |
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| Motto | Scientia Floret Virtute |
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Motto in English
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Knowledge Flourishes in Virtue |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1920 |
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Religious affiliation
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Roman Catholic (Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) |
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Academic affiliations
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Conference for Mercy Higher Education ACCU CIC NAICU |
| President | Barbara Lettiere |
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Academic staff
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80 (FT) |
| Undergraduates | 1,427 |
| Postgraduates | 1,035 |
| Location |
East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania
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U.S.
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| Campus | Small town, c. 300 acres (120 ha) |
| Colors | Blue, white |
| Nickname | The Mighty Macs |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division III – Atlantic East |
| Mascot | Mac the Scottish Terrier |
Immaculata University is a private Catholic university in East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania. It was started by a group of nuns called the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The university has about 1,400 undergraduate students. These are students working on their first college degree. It also has over 1,000 graduate students. These students are working on advanced degrees like master's or doctorates.
The university campus covers more than 300 acres. That's a lot of space for learning and activities!
Contents
History of Immaculata University
Immaculata University first opened in 1920. It was called Villa Maria College back then. It was a college only for women. In fact, it was the first Catholic college for women in the Philadelphia area.
In 1929, the college changed its name to Immaculata College. The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, founded the school. They are part of a larger community that includes a nearby school for girls.
The university is located in the Great Valley area of Chester County, Pennsylvania. The sisters bought the land in 1906. The campus has grown from 198 acres to 373 acres over the years.
In 2002, Immaculata College became Immaculata University. This change meant it could offer more advanced degrees. In 2005, the university started accepting both male and female students. Before that, it was only for women.
Barbara Lettiere became the university's tenth president on July 1, 2017. She is the first president who is not a nun.
Student Life at Immaculata
Students at Immaculata can join many different groups and clubs. There are over 35 to choose from!
- Campus Ministry: Students volunteer and raise money to help people in need.
- English/Communications Club: For students interested in writing and talking.
- IU Gamers' Guild: A club for students who enjoy video games.
- Garden Club: For students who like gardening and nature.
- Cue and Curtain Theater: A drama club for acting and stage work.
- African-American Cultural Society: Celebrates African-American culture.
- Latin Flavor: Explores Latin cultures and traditions.
- Fashion Group: For students interested in fashion design and trends.
- Catholic Relief Services Student Ambassadors: Helps with global relief efforts.
University Publications
The Immaculatan is the student newspaper. Students write and publish it.
The Immaculata Magazine comes out twice a year. It shares news and stories about the university.
Immaculata Athletics
Immaculata University has many sports teams. They are known as the Mighty Macs. Their colors are blue and white.
The teams compete in the NCAA Division III. This means they focus on sports for fun and learning, not just winning. They are part of the Atlantic East Conference.
- Men's Sports Teams
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Esports (this team includes both men and women)
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor)
- Volleyball
- Women's Sports Teams
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Esports (this team includes both men and women)
- Field Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor)
- Volleyball
Home Sports Fields
- Draper Walsh Stadium: This field is used for field hockey, lacrosse, and soccer. It has a special turf surface and can hold 1,000 fans.
- IU Softball Field: A grass field for softball games.
- IU Baseball Stadium: A grass field for baseball games, with seating for 600 people.
Famous Women's Basketball Team
The Immaculata women's basketball team was very famous in the 1970s. They were called the "Mighty Macs."
They won three national championships in a row! This happened from 1972 to 1974. Their story was even shown on a TV sports show called SportsCenter.
On January 26, 1975, Immaculata played in the first women's college basketball game ever shown on national television. They won the game 80–48.
A month later, on February 22, 1975, they played the first women's college basketball game at Madison Square Garden. This is a very famous arena in New York City. Immaculata won that game too, 65–61.
The amazing story of the basketball team was made into a movie. It's called The Mighty Macs and came out in 2011. The movie shows how the team won their first championship in 1972.
The coach of the women's team from 1972 to 1977 was Cathy Rush. She was later added to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This is a very high honor in basketball. The championship teams from 1972–1974 were also inducted into the Hall of Fame as a team.
Campus Buildings
The Immaculata University campus has many important buildings:
- Alumnae Hall: This building is named after past students. It has a gym, a fitness center, and a theater.
- Mary A. Bruder Center: This center provides health services and counseling for students.
- DeChantal and Marian Halls: These are dorms where students live. They have rooms, small kitchens, and laundry areas. There is also a chapel here.
- Faculty Center: This building holds offices for professors and staff.
- Gabriele Library: This three-story library has computers and study rooms. It also has a writing center and a coffee shop called "ImmacuLatte."
- Gillet Hall: This building is where many of the IHM Sisters live. It is named after Father Louis Gillet.
- Good Counsel Hall: This was the first main classroom building. It has a bookstore, classrooms for humanities, and music listening rooms.
- Lillian P. Lettiere Center: This building helps students with financial aid and admissions. It also has the Esports arena.
- Lourdes Hall: This is another dorm building. It also has a large hall called Great Hall for big events.
- Loyola Hall: This is the university's second main classroom building. It has offices for graduate studies, nursing, and science departments. It also has computer labs and classrooms.
- Nazareth Hall: This building has the main cafeteria and the campus chapel. Classrooms for fashion and nutrition are also here.
- Villa Maria Hall: This is the main building on campus. It has a beautiful dome and Italian Renaissance style. It opened in 1914. Many university events like Carol Night and Homecoming are held here. It also has offices and a residence hall on the third floor.
- Parsons Science Pavilion: This is a new building that opened in 2022. It has modern labs for chemistry and biology. It also has advanced science and simulation equipment.
Notable Alumni
Many successful people have graduated from Immaculata University:
- Megan Brennan (Class of 1984): She was the first woman to be the United States Postmaster General. This means she was in charge of the entire U.S. mail system.
- Theresa Grentz (Class of 1974): A college basketball player and coach. She is a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
- E. Gail de Planque (Class of 1967): A nuclear physicist. She was the first woman to be a commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This group oversees nuclear power.
- Rene Portland (Class of 1975): A college basketball player and coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions for 27 years.
- Eileen M. Rehrmann (Class of 1997): A state legislator and county executive in Maryland.
- Marianne Stanley (Class of 1976): A basketball player and coach. She coached a team that won the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship in 1984-1985.
