University of Dayton facts for kids
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Former name
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St. Mary's School for Boys St. Mary's Institute St. Mary's College (1878–1920) |
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| Motto | Pro Deo et Patria (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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For God and Country |
| Type | Private research university |
| Established | 1850 |
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Religious affiliation
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Catholic (Marianist) |
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Academic affiliations
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ACCU NAICU Space-grant |
| Endowment | $770 million (2022) |
| President | Eric Spina |
| Provost | Darlene Weaver |
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Academic staff
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1,384 |
| Undergraduates | 8,322 |
| Postgraduates | 3,025 |
| Location |
,
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United States
39°44′25″N 84°10′45″W / 39.740415°N 84.179213°W |
| Campus | Urban, 388 acres (1.5 km²) |
| Colors | Red and blue |
| Nickname | Flyers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – A-10 Pioneer Football League MAAC (Women's golf) |
| Mascot | Rudy Flyer |
The University of Dayton (UD) is a private, Catholic research university. It is located in Dayton, Ohio. The university was started in 1850 by the Society of Mary. It is one of three Marianist Universities in the United States. It is also the second-largest private university in Ohio.
The campus is in southern Dayton and covers 388 acres. It is on both sides of the Great Miami River. Famous spots on campus include the Immaculate Conception Chapel and the University of Dayton Arena. In 2020, over 11,000 students attended the university. They came from many different backgrounds. UD offers more than 80 study programs. These include arts, sciences, business, education, health, engineering, and law. In 2009, UD started one of the first college programs in human rights.
Contents
History of the University of Dayton
How UD Began
In 1849, Father Leo Meyer came from France to America. He wanted to start a place for the Society of Mary. He met a farmer named John Stuart in Dayton. Stuart and his wife wanted to sell their farm.
On March 19, 1850, Father Meyer and three Marianist brothers bought the 125-acre farm. They named it Nazareth. This farm became the start of the University of Dayton.
Just a few months later, on July 1, 1850, St. Mary's School for Boys opened. It had 14 students. Soon, more students came to live at the school. In 1855, the school building burned down. But classes started again quickly. By 1860, nearly 100 students were enrolled.
During this time, important buildings were built. Zehler Hall was built in 1865. The beautiful Immaculate Conception Chapel was built in 1869. St. Mary's Hall, the tallest building in Dayton then, was built in 1870. In 1882, the State of Ohio allowed the university to give out college degrees.
Important Moments
In 1913, a big flood hit Dayton. Many people found safety at St. Mary's College. The college was on a hill, so it was safe. It had plenty of food, water, and power. The college helped 800 people who lost their homes.
The school was known by different names. In 1920, it became the University of Dayton. This showed its strong link to the city.
In 1923, the university chose "Dayton Flyers" as the name for its sports teams. It also got a new motto: "Pro Deo et Patria". This is Latin for "For God and Country." In the 1930s, women were allowed to attend classes equally with men. This was 40 years before many other Catholic universities did the same.
In 1923, some groups showed hostility towards the university. Bombs exploded on campus, and a cross was set on fire. But hundreds of local residents and students worked together. They chased the groups away from the campus.
In 2014, the University of Dayton decided to stop investing in coal and fossil fuels. It was one of the first Catholic universities to do this.
Growing and Expanding
Starting in the 1960s, the university bought many houses near the campus. These became homes for students. This helped the campus grow.
In 2005, the university bought 49 acres of land from NCR Corp.. This land used to be a factory. This purchase made the campus much bigger. It now reached the Great Miami River.
In 2009, UD bought another 115 acres from NCR. This included NCR's old main office and a park. The campus grew to 373 acres. The old NCR building is now used for research, classrooms, and offices.
In 2010, GE Aviation built a large research center on campus. This was the first big new building on the former NCR land. By 2012, the campus was about 388 acres. It had many buildings and student homes.
Student numbers grew a lot after World War II. By 1950, over 3,500 students were enrolled. When more young people went to college, UD's enrollment went over 10,000. By 2012, over half of the students were from outside Ohio. Many international students also joined.
Marianist Traditions
The University of Dayton was founded by Marianist priests and brothers. It is one of three Marianist universities in the U.S. It is part of groups that support Catholic universities.
Until 1970, Marianists led the university. After that, other leaders joined the board. The first president who was not a Marianist started in 2002. Today, the university works to keep its Marianist values alive.
University Presidents
Here are the leaders who have guided the University of Dayton:
- Rev. Leo Meyer, S.M. (1850–1857)
- Br. John B. Stintzi, S.M. (1857–1860)
- Br. Maximin Zehler, S.M. (1860–1876)
- Rev. Francis E. Feith, S.M. (1876–1879)
- Rev. George Meyer, S.M. (1879–1887)
- Rev. John Harks, S.M. (1887–1889)
- Rev. Joseph Weckesser, S.M. (1889–1896)
- Rev. Charles Eichner, S.M. (1896–1902)
- Rev. Louis A. Tragesser, S.M. (1902–1908)
- Rev. Bernard P. O'Reilly, S.M. (1908–1918; 1923–1932)
- Rev. Joseph A. Tetzlaff, S.M. (1918–1923)
- Rev. Walter C. Tredtin, S.M. (1932–1938)
- Rev. John A. Elbert, S.M. (1938–1944)
- Rev. George J. Renneker, S.M. (1944–1953)
- Rev. Andrew L. Seebold, S.M. (1953–1959)
- Rev. Raymond A. Roesch, S.M. (1959–1979)
- Br. Raymond Fitz, S.M., Ph.D. (1979–2002)
- Daniel J. Curran, Ph.D. (2002–2016)
- Eric F. Spina, Ph.D. (2016– )
University Campus
The University of Dayton's campus covers about 388 acres. It is on the southern edge of Dayton. The campus has four main parts: Historic Campus, Campus West, River Campus, and Arena Sports Complex. It includes 38 buildings for classes, research, sports, and offices. There are also five dorms, 18 apartment buildings, and 473 houses for students.
Historic Campus
The historic campus is easy to walk across in less than 10 minutes. Many old buildings are still used. Newer buildings often match the older style.
At the center are St. Mary's Hall and the Immaculate Conception Chapel. The chapel's blue dome inspired the university's logo. St. Mary's Hall now holds many important offices for students.
St. Joseph Hall was built in 1884 as a dorm. After a fire in 1987, it was rebuilt. Now it has classrooms and offices for social sciences.
Chaminade Hall, built in 1904, is named after the founder of the Marianist order. It is currently being updated.
Kettering Labs is where the School of Engineering is located. It has classrooms, labs, and an Innovation Center.
The Jesse Philips Humanities Center was built in 1993. It has departments like English and history. It also has classrooms and a recital hall.
Miriam Hall is home to the School of Business Administration. It has special labs for hands-on learning. It is named after Miriam Rosenthal, who helped raise money for the university.
The Science Center includes Sherman Hall, Wohlleben Hall, and a connecting area. It houses math, biology, physics, and chemistry departments.
Keller Hall opened in 1997. It is home to the University of Dayton School of Law. It has classrooms, offices, and courtrooms.
The John F. Kennedy Memorial Student Union (Kennedy Union) is a popular spot. It has dining, a coffee shop, and a game room with bowling. It also has meeting spaces and a theater.
The Central Mall is a seven-acre green space in the middle of campus. It was updated in 2010.
The Roesch Library is the main library. It also has the Marian Library. This library has the world's largest collection about Mary, the mother of Jesus. The library has over 1.3 million books.
The RecPlex opened in 2006. This large building has rooms for exercise, a climbing wall, and courts for many sports. It also has a swimming pool and an indoor track.
The Frericks Center has a 5,000-seat gym. It is now home to the women's volleyball team.
The Cronin Athletics Center is used by all 17 sports teams. It was recently updated with new offices and practice spaces.
Stuart Field was updated in 2011 with a new turf. It is used for student sports.
Raymond L. Fitz Hall was bought by Dayton around 2005. It houses many university departments. These include art, music, physical therapy, and public safety.
The Shroyer Park Center is a research building. It is about a mile east of the main campus.
Jessie S. Hathcock Hall opened in 2021. It is named after Jessie Scott Hathcock, the first African-American woman to graduate from UD. It houses the computer science program.
Campus West
In 2005, UD bought more land and buildings next to the historic campus. This added 49 acres.
Raymond L. Fitz Hall is the main building in this area. It has many university offices and academic departments.
The Graul Tennis Complex was finished in 2010. It has six tennis courts and seating.
GE Aviation built a large research facility here. It opened in 2014. University researchers work with GE on power systems for aircraft.
Emerson Climate Technologies also built an innovation center here. It focuses on research for heating and cooling systems.
River Campus
In 2009, the university added 115 more acres. This included NCR Corp's old main office building and a park.
The main building, Daniel J. Curran Place, now holds the University of Dayton Research Institute. It also has classrooms and the Alumni Center.
Arena Sports Complex
The University of Dayton Sports Complex is west of the Great Miami River. It includes the University of Dayton Arena. This arena seats over 13,000 people. It also has fields for baseball and softball. Welcome Stadium is also here. It is used by Dayton public high schools and the Dayton Flyers football team.
Academics at UD
The University of Dayton is ranked among national universities. In 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked it 127th overall.
Schools and Programs
College of Arts and Sciences
This is the largest academic part of the university. It has over 50 programs in 18 departments. In 1998, UD started one of the first college programs in human rights studies. The college also has centers for community leadership and research.
School of Education and Health Sciences
This school offers programs for teachers and health professionals. It also has the Center for Catholic Education. The Lalanne Program helps new Catholic school teachers. They teach for two years in schools that need help.
School of Engineering
The School of Engineering offers many degree programs. Students can do research in one of the school's 10 centers.
School of Business Administration
Flyer Enterprises is a student-run business. It is one of the largest in the nation. Students manage businesses on campus. The school also has centers for business development and investing. Students manage part of the university's money. The school also offers MBA programs.
School of Law
The School of Law is one of nine in Ohio. Students can earn a law degree in three years. There is also a faster two-year option. The school offers other advanced degrees too.
Studying Abroad
The University of Dayton has almost 50 programs for students to study abroad. Students can go for a summer, a semester, or a full year. Programs are offered in many countries. These include Argentina, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
The Center for Social Concern offers trips to help communities. These trips are in countries like Cameroon, India, and Mexico. Students can also learn about different cultures in the U.S.
In 2012, about one in 10 students at UD was from another country. Many women from Muslim countries have chosen to study at UD.
Libraries at UD
The Roesch Library is the main library. It also houses the Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute (IMRI). This library has the world's largest collection of items about Mary, the mother of Christ.
The University of Dayton Libraries collect and keep many types of information. They have over 1.3 million books and 69,000 journals.
Admissions
It has become harder to get into the University of Dayton. In 2003, 82% of students who applied were accepted. In 2015, only 52% were accepted. More students from other states and countries are coming to UD.
In 2013, the university started a new tuition plan. It promised that student grants and scholarships would increase each year. This would cover any tuition increases. The plan also removed extra fees and offered free books.
Research at UD
The University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) has done over $2.5 billion in research. Most of this research is in engineering. Over 370 students work with researchers.
Materials engineering is a big part of the research. UD's engineering research helped GE Aviation decide to build a new research center on campus.
The Research Institute has seven main divisions. These include Aerospace Mechanics and Energy Technologies. There are also 10 centers in the School of Engineering.
Key Discoveries
The University of Dayton has over 150 patents. These include the hotbags that Domino's Pizza uses to keep pizzas warm. Researchers at UDRI have also invented self-healing wires. They created a "smart" dipstick to check oil quality. They also developed a sensor that activates when a problem occurs. UDRI also created a system used at airports to stop runaway planes.
Student Housing
More than 90% of students live in campus housing. This makes UD one of the most residential campuses. All first-year students must live in a dorm. Older students can live in dorms, apartments, or university-owned houses.
Residence Halls
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Founders Hall is in the center of campus. It houses 400 first-year students. Rooms are mostly for two students. It was renovated in 2013.
Marianist Hall was built in 2004. It has three parts. One part houses first-year students. The other two parts house second-year students. It also has a chapel, bookstore, and food court.
Marycrest Complex is the largest dorm. It houses 940 first-year students. It has double rooms and some single rooms. It also has a dining hall.
Stuart Complex has three halls for first-year students. They share a common lobby. All rooms are for two students. It also has a convenience store.
Virginia W. Kettering Hall (VWK) houses 636 sophomores. It has suites with living rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Each suite is furnished and has air conditioning. The hall also has a dining room.
Apartments
The university owns many apartment buildings for students. These include Lawnview Apartments and Garden Apartments. Plumwood Apartments are for law and graduate students.
In 2013, the university bought more apartments near campus. The Caldwell Street Apartments opened in 2012. This project houses over 400 older students in townhouse-style apartments.
ArtStreet opened in 2004. It offers apartments for juniors and seniors. It also has studios, a student-run cafe, and a radio station.
Student Neighborhoods
The University of Dayton has a special feature: a large student neighborhood. The university owns over 300 houses next to the campus. These houses used to be for employees of NCR. Most junior and senior students live in these houses. The university regularly updates these homes.
The South Student Neighborhood is often called "the Ghetto." It is bordered by Brown Street, Irving Avenue, Trinity Avenue, Evanston Avenue, Caldwell Street, and Stonemill Road.
The area north of campus is called "the Darkside." This name came from a time when it had fewer streetlights. It is generally bordered by Brown Street, Wyoming Street, Woodland Cemetery, and Stuart Street.
The smallest neighborhood is College Park, or Holy Angels. It is between the Ghetto and the Darkside.
The area next to the Darkside, across Brown Street, is called "the Far Side." It is also known as the "Fairgrounds Neighborhood." This area has been improved over the years. UD students are now renting homes here because they are more affordable.
Student Life
Community Values
The University of Dayton has a "Commitment to Community." This guides its policies and student expectations. It focuses on three ideas: "the dignity of every person," "the common good," and "community is essential for learning." These ideas are part of the university's mission.
Integrated Learning Living Communities (ILLCs) help students learn together. Students live and take classes focused on a topic. Examples include "Writing and the Arts" and "Women in Science and Engineering."
Campus Ministry
The Office of Campus Ministry helps students with their spiritual lives. It offers services, retreats, and faith groups. There are ministers in dorms and student neighborhoods. UD also has a minister for students from different Christian backgrounds.
Mass is held daily and weekly in dorms, the chapel, and the student neighborhood. There are also Spanish and Black Catholic Masses. Campus ministry offers different retreats throughout the year.
Student religious groups include Athletes in Action, Catholic Life, and the Muslim Student Association.
Service Learning
The University of Dayton offers many chances for students to help others. The Fitz Center for Leadership in Community and the Center for Social Concern organize these. Students can work on projects in local neighborhoods. They can also go on international service trips during breaks. These trips are in places like Cameroon, India, and Ecuador.
Christmas on Campus
Every year since 1964, usually on December 8, UD students host about 1,000 local children. They give them gifts and lead them through campus for games, dancing, and singing. There are also crafts, face-painting, and Santa Claus. The event is free and open to everyone. It includes a live Nativity scene and a Christmas tree lighting. The evening ends with students attending Mass in the Immaculate Conception Chapel.
Ellie Kurtz, who directed the student union, started Christmas on Campus. She wanted students to celebrate Christmas together before going home for break.
Club and Intramural Sports
Besides varsity athletics, there are 37 club sports and 12 intramural sports. In 2006, the university opened RecPlex. This is a large sports facility for students. The Princeton Review ranked UD first for "Everybody Plays Intramural Sports."
The men's lacrosse club team won national championships in 2015 and 2023.
Student Media
The University of Dayton has a student newspaper (Flyer News). It also has a student-run radio station (WUDR Flyer Radio 99.5/98.1 FM). There is also a student-run TV station, Flyer Station, and an arts magazine.
Greek Life
Fraternities and sororities have been part of student life since 1933. They were officially recognized in 1967. In 2015–16, about 15% of undergraduate men and 22% of undergraduate women were part of a fraternity or sorority.
Athletics
The Dayton Flyers compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference for most sports. For football, they play in the Pioneer Football League. The mascot is "Rudy Flyer." This name is a play on the university's initials, "U.D." Rudy is a pilot from the 1930s-1940s. The nickname "Flyers" honors the Wright Brothers. They invented the airplane in Dayton. The fight song is "Victory."
The university has 16 sports teams. These include men's and women's basketball, soccer, and tennis. They also have baseball, football, softball, and volleyball.
Dayton's main sports rivals are other schools in Southwest Ohio. These include the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University.
Historical Highlights
The men's basketball team reached the NCAA Division I Championship final game in 1967. They won the National Invitational Tournament in 1962, 1968, and 2010. In 2014, the men's basketball Flyers made it to the NCAA Elite Eight.
The football team won NCAA Division III national titles in 1980 and 1989. The women's basketball team won a national championship in 1980. The women's volleyball team has been in the NCAA tournament 15 times. The women's soccer team has been in the NCAA tournament 10 times.
University of Dayton Arena
The University of Dayton Arena has hosted more Division I Men's Basketball Championship games (125) than any other place in America. Since 2001, UD has hosted the start of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
Men's Basketball Program
Flyers basketball is very popular in the Dayton area. The Flyers are often in the top 30 for basketball attendance. UD's fan group is called the Red Scare. They support many of the Flyers' sports teams.
Notable People
Faculty
- Bob Taft – Former two-term governor of Ohio.
Alumni (Non-Sports)
- David J. Bradley '71 – Inventor of the "Control-Alt-Delete" computer command.
- Erma Bombeck '49 – Famous humorist and newspaper writer.
- Michael B. Coleman (JD '80) – First African-American mayor of Columbus, Ohio.
- Joseph Desch '26 – Creator of a machine to crack the Nazi Enigma code in World War II.
- Bruce Graham – Architect of the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower).
- Jon A. Husted '89, '93 (MA) – Ohio Lieutenant Governor.
- Kristina Keneally '91 – First female Premier of New South Wales in Australia.
- Charles J. Pedersen '26 – Winner of the 1987 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
- Amy Schneider – Jeopardy! champion.
- Jessie Scott Hathcock '30 – First African American woman to graduate from the university.
Alumni (Sports)
- Lalas Abubakar – Soccer player for Colorado Rapids.
- Jerry Blevins – MLB pitcher.
- Toumani Camara '23 – NBA player for Portland Trail Blazers.
- Jon Gruden '86 – Super Bowl-winning head coach.
- Chuck Noll '53 – Four-time Super Bowl winning head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Dan Patrick '79 – Sportscaster with NBC Sports.
- Obi Toppin – NBA player for Indiana Pacers.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Dayton para niños
