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Revision as of 20:08, 1 June 2016 by Seicer (talk | contribs) (More on financial issues)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) St. Catharine, Kentucky | |
| Type | Private liberal arts college |
|---|---|
| Established | 1931 |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic (Dominican Sisters of Peace) |
| President | Dr. Cindy Meyers Gnadinger |
| Location | St. Catharine, Kentucky, USA |
| Colors | Purple █ and Gold █ |
| Nickname | Patriots |
| Affiliations | ACCU NAICU |
| Website | http://www.sccky.edu |
St. Catharine College is a small Roman Catholic liberal arts college located near Springfield, Kentucky, United States. The college, accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, has a current enrollment of around 874 students. Around 290 students live on campus.
History
St. Catharine College traced its roots to classes held in a "still house" in the early 1800's. In 1931, St. Catharine Junior College was founded by the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Mother Mary Louis Logsdon, O.P. was the college's first president, serving from 1931 to 1941.
Former Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins, the first woman to serve as the Chief Executive of Kentucky, was the college's sixth president.
In late 2003, St. Catharine Junior College received approval from the United States Department of Education to begin offering four-year programs.
Financial Problems and Closure
The school was investigated by the federal government between 2011 and 2014 after it offered financial aid to students in its new four-year class offerings without receiving federal approval. Officials at the college claimed it was not required because the programs had not substantially changed the school's educational composition. The federal government agreed to reimburse some funding for the year 2014 but had not made a decision about the prior three years.
In 2015, the Department of Education placed the college on "heightened cash monitoring," requiring the school to distribute financial aid to students and then apply for reimbursement. An audit had uncovered "severe" findings. As a result, the Board of Trustees replaced President William D. Huston who had served 18 years as the college's president, hired a compliance director, replaced its senior leadership team and 90% of the staff in the business and financial aid offices. In February 2016, the college sued the federal government, seeking $645,000 in reimbursement and other financial compensation.
On June 1, 2016, St. Catharine announced that it would close at the end of July due to a $5 million deficit brought on by the construction of new residences halls, a health-sciences building, and a new library. Additionally, the college's dispute with the government over withheld student aid resulted in enrollment declining from 600 students to 475 for the fall semester.
Current
The college is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to offer over 23 BA/BS degrees, associate degrees and certificates in 27 disciplines. In January 2012, St. Catharine College began offering graduate programs. St. Catharine College is also home to the Berry Farming and Ecological Agrarianism Program, which is founded on the lifework of activist, farmer and writer Wendell Berry. St. Catharine College students come from 52 counties in Kentucky, 22 states, and six countries.
Athletics
St. Catharine College teams are known as the Patriots. The college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), competing in the Mid-South Conference. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, wrestling, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field and volleyball.
Gallery
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Richard S. Hamilton Health and Science Building
External links
| Mid-South Conference | |
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| Current members |
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| Associate members |
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| Kentucky higher education | |
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| Early entrance to college | |
| Public universities | |
| Private colleges and universities |
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| Community and/or technical colleges | |
| Postsecondary education programs | |
- ^ Blackford, Linda (June 1, 2016). "St. Catharine College closing its doors due to financial problems". Lexington Herald-Leader.
- Green, Marcus. "Kentucky's St. Catharine College warns in lawsuit it is at 'brink of extinction'". www.wdrb.com. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
- Educational institutions established in 1931
- Liberal arts colleges in Kentucky
- Roman Catholic universities and colleges in the United States
- Dominican universities and colleges in the United States
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
- Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
- Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Buildings and structures in Washington County, Kentucky
- Education in Washington County, Kentucky
- History of women in Kentucky
- Roman Catholic universities and colleges in Kentucky