Marist College

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Marist College is a private liberal arts college of 180 acres (72 ha), located on the east bank of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, New York, on US 9. The site was established in 1905, and chartered in 1946.

Today the college has 43 bachelors and masters degree programs and 20 certificates across the traditional undergraduate, adult education, and distance learning environments.

5,000 students attend classes on the main Poughkeepsie campus, and hundreds more in Fishkill, Goshen, Kingston, and Monticello. Marist College study sites also exist in 14 countries abroad including Egypt, China, England, Italy and Australia.

Marist is home to the Marist Institute of Public Opinion (MIPO), an oft-quoted polling organization known for its work in the political arena. The Hudson River Valley Institute, the educational arm of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, and the Center for Collaborative and On-Demand Computing (CCODC) are also at Marist.

[edit] History

[edit] Foundations as a Training Institution for Marist Brothers

Marist Colleges history begins with the Marist Brothers in the early 1816s. This Catholic religious order was founded in France by Saint Marcellin Champagnat focused on educational work throughout the world. In 1905, members of the order arrived in the Mid-Hudson Valley to establish the first Marist house of studies in the United States. On the east bank of the Hudson river, just north of Poughkeepsie, they purchased property and a house from Thomas McPherson. They named the building and property "Saint Ann's Hermitage", and began training young men for a life of "study, work, prayer and service" (from which the school motto is derived).

In 1908, the Brothers purchased more land to expand the Hermitage, and soon the land grew to 150 acres.

By 1929, the training center at the Hermitage had evolved into the Marist Normal Training School, offering college-level courses. In 1946, the State of New York granted the institution an official four-year college charter under the name "Marian College", led by Brother Paul Ambrose Fontaine, FMS. Marian College continued the mission of training Marist Brothers as teachers of the congregation's schools.

From 1947 to 1957, the Brothers began building on the weekends, their summers, and in their spare time: A gymnasium (the original Marian Hall), Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel, Adrian Hall, and a residence for the student Brothers (the original Fontaine Hall).

[edit] Expansion and Change

In 1958, Marist Brother Linus Richard Foy took the reins at age 28, becoming the youngest college president in the United States. Two years later, Marian College became Marist College and the mission of the college broadened to include the wider community; lay male students were admitted to pursue degree study. An evening division was also introduced to serve the educational needs of the surrounding communities.

In 1962, Sheahan Hall the first residence hall, opened. It was quickly followed by Leo Hall in 1963 and Champagnat Hall in 1965. Donnelly Hall, also a dormitory (at the time) was built in 1962 by the brothers themselves. Stories from the construction are still topics for discussion between surviving Brothers even today.

Women were admitted to the evening division classes in 1966, then to the day classes in 1968. Marist's president, Brother Linus Foy, resigned from the Marist Brothers around this time but continued serving as president.

In 1969, due to the institution's rapid expansion and laws regulating federal aid to religiously affiliated educational institutions in New York State^{[1] [2]}, ownership of the college was transferred to the Marist College Educational Corporation with an independent, predominantly lay board of trustees.

Although the College is no longer religiously affiliated, religion continues as a field of study and a part of many students' and administrators' lives; as does the continued presence of several Marist Brothers who reside and work on campus.

[edit] 1970s: Marist continues to reach out

In the 1970s, programs for the educationally disadvantaged were expanded, a computer center was added, graduate programs in business administration and community psychology were instituted, and the James J. McCann Recreation Center was completed.

In 1973, President Foy began a cooperative program with area secondary schools, in which selected high school seniors take freshman courses and "bridge" into college. In Fall of 1974, the College expanded its commitment to continuing education by increasing course offerings in the evening division and summer session and in 1984, opened an off-campus extension center in Fishkill. (A second extension center was opened in the Orange County town of Goshen in Fall, 1993.)

[edit] 1980s: Marist finds technology

In 1979, President Richard Foy found other opportunities and was succeeded by Dr. Dennis J. Murray, who remains president today, nearly 30 years later. Dr. Murray has stuck with traditions of the Marist Brothers and developed a vision for the college: he sought out innovation and technology and was determined to grow the student body. During Murray's tenure as president, enrollment doubled, the campus grew to 180 acres, every building on campus was either renovated or newly constructed, and numerous strategic partnerships were formed.

One of the first strategic partnerships was formed with International Business Machine (IBM), a major employer in the Mid-Hudson Valley. In 1984, Marist received $2.5 million in equipment and almost $2 million in software from the IBM Corporation to expand academic and administrative uses of computers on campus. Marist and IBM initiated a joint study in 1988 that has placed Marist among the most technologically advanced liberal arts colleges in the country, and gave IBM a testbed to prove concepts and applications they believe will be useful in business, education, and other fields. Marist students actively take part in these research projects.

In 1987, the Lowell Thomas Communications Center opened, providing space for communications, math, and computer science studies. The eventual opening was a bittersweet affair for students who as high school senior in 1983 were told that the center would be available much sooner; thus earning the moniker "Lowell Thomas Ski Lodge" when it finally broke ground.

[edit] 1990s: Building and updating

In 1990, the Margaret M and Charles H Dyson Center opened, providing a home for the School of Management, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and School of Graduate and Continuing Education.

Construction continued in 1994 with a $27 million Student Center, bookstore, dining facilities (formerly run out of Sheahan Hall), art gallery, and student housing. Across neighboring Route 9, West Cedar townhouses opened.

Fontaine Hall, an academic and office building was constructed on the north end, followed by The James A. Cannavino Library right in the center of the main campus. Built with a concentrated focus on technology, the library is considered by campus planners to be the jewel and the heart of campus.

[edit] Present Day

The College enrolls 4200 full-time traditional undergraduates, 530 part-time undergraduates and 850 graduate students. The College offers 30 bachelor degree programs, 10 master’s degrees, several certificate programs and online degrees. During the fall 2005 semester, approximately one third of the total classes (just over 500) utilized Ucompass Educator. Of those 500 courses between 30 and 35 (5-6%) were offered fully online.

In 2006, Forbes and The Princeton Review named Marist among the 25 "most connected campuses" in the United States. The Princeton Review’s Vice President and Publisher Rob Franek said, “The schools on our list have demonstrated leadership in preparing and supporting students for life in the digital age. Students who understand the value of technology to both their career prospects and overall quality of life will want to pay special attention to the schools on our list.” The August 2006 edition of Campus Technology magazine named Marist a "Campus Technology Innovator" for the college's "iDentity Quest" podcasting program, which provides iPods to students to record reflections on life in other countries and to share this information with classmates and professors.

The East Campus Tennis Pavilion opened in 2006 and features eight lighted, regulation-sized courts, a center walkway, and a pergola-covered spectator area. Marist joins the United State Military Academy and the United States Tennis Center in Queens, New York, host site of the U.S. Open, as the only tennis venues in the area that can boast a Deco II playing surface.

The College's Longview Park was completed in 2007 with a bike/walk path along the Hudson's shore, a fishing pier, the renovation of the historic Cornell boathouse, and better access to scenic vistas, particularly from the gazebo built on a promontory in the center of the park.

A new grandstand has been erected on the main athletic field, Leonidoff Field, and was officially opened on October 6, 2007. It is officially referred to as Tenney Stadium.^[3] Tenney Stadium features a new grandstand with a large media facility and reception area, concession stand, rest rooms and team rooms, plus state-of-the-art field turf, a new scoreboard, and amphitheater-style seating on the west side of the field for lawn chairs and blankets.^[4] There was quite a stir regarding the removal of around 20 trees in preparation for this project. The oldest of the trees was determined post-mortem to be 180 years old and was therefore in existance 80 years before the college came to be. Actually, it began life around the time of the founder of the Marist Brothers, St. Marcellin Champagnat. The fuss died down to a dull roar after an e-mail was sent around by the administrating stating that the planting of 40 new trees was included in the project plans.^[5]

[edit] Future

A new dormitory is currently being erected on the East Campus below the tennis courts and Fulton Townhouses, scheduled to be completed for the Fall 2008 semester. This new dorm will allow original dorms Benoit and Gregory to be removed. These housing expansion plans have been a sore point with the Town of Poughkeepsie, whose residents blame the college for excessive traffic on the Route 9 corridor. The New York State Department of Transportation and Marist College both blame massively increasing population in the Mid-Hudson Valley, a result of the migration of the residents of nearby New York City starting in late 2001. In May 2007, Marist was granted a variance allowing them to build despite a moratorium on new construction in the area. Marist must still get several approvals before construction can begin.^[6]

Marist plans to erect a new technology building, the Hancock Center, probably located on the main campus where the Benoit and Gregory (residence houses) currently stand. This may happen in the 2009-2011 timeframe.^[7]

A pedestrian bridge is planned to cross the Route 9 corridor in 2011, in hopes of promoting safety and alleviating traffic congestion, popularly thought to be caused by students crossing at crosswalks. ^[8] As Marist College does not have jurisdiction or authority over Route 9, this is a New York State Department of Transportation project. Variations of this plan have been proposed for years and whether this plan will come to fruition remains to be seen.

[edit] Local Involvement

Marist College enjoys a unique partnership with the Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute (FERI) in Hyde Park, NY, which exists primarily to serve as the educational arm of the FDR Presidential Library and Museum. Furthermore, the Library, under the control of the National Archives and Records Administration, serves as the primary resource for student History majors completing capping papers. In addition, Marist College is tasked with the administration of the Library web site, and has co-sponsored several major conferences in conjunction with FERI.

Other major projects include the Hudson River Valley Institute (the educational arm of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area).

Marist also participates in the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, the Institute of Ecosystem Studies, and many other projects.

[edit] Schools and Degree Programs

Source: Marist College IRB. "Fact Book" (pdf). 2006-2007. Retrieved on 2007-05-29.

[edit] Accreditations

• The institution as a whole is accredited by The Middle States Commission on Higher Education. It was most recently reaccredited in 2003. ^[9]
• The School of Management is accredited for its Business program by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).^[10]
• The Athletic Training program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).^[11]
• The Medical Technology program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). ^[12]
• The Social Work bachelor’s completion program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).^[13]

[edit] Undergraduate Life

[edit] Marist College Student Government Association

[edit] Organizational Structure

The Marist College Student Government Association is made up of three branches: the Executive Board, the Student Senate, and the Student Judicial Board (not to be confused with the Student Life Judicial Board).

[edit] Executive Board

The Executive Board comprises 12 members. Members include the Executive Vice-President, Vice-Presidents of Student Programming, Residential Life, Academic Affairs, Clubs & Organizations, and Athletics, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Information Officer (CIO), Public Relations Director and Parilmentarian. All members of the Executive Board are appointed by the Student Body President at the beginning of his or her term, which is typically during the month April. The President is elected in a general election every February. The Student Body President's term begins in April and then runs until the following April. This is to allow for senior members to be present during the beginning of an incoming administration to help with the transition.

[edit] Student Senate

The Student Senate is elected by the student body and serves as the main legislative body for the MCSGA. They oversee the allocation of the Student Activities budget, which supplies funding to all student organizations and clubs, including the Student Programming Council and the rest of the Student Government. The Student Senate also legislates all policy pertaining to clubs and organizations on campus, including charting new clubs and disbanding defunct ones. They also act as chief reprensenatives of the students with the college administration and faculty in all matters pertaining to students' interests. To this end they create various ad-hoc committees to research and facilitate new campus policy and areas of general interest to the students. The senate comprises the four Class Presidents, five Resident Senators, and two Commuter Senators. The Body is led by the Senate Speaker, who is elected by a popular vote of the Senate.

[edit] Student Judicial Board

This body ensures that all endeavors of the Marist College SGA are compliant with the SGA Constitution and bylaws, as well as Marist College Policy. The Judicial Board is composed of a Chief Justice, appointed by the Student Body President (Chief Justice serves until graduation or resignation) and a group of appointed Res

[edit] Charitable Causes Sponsored by MCSGA

The SGA supports several active charitable causes: Habitat for Humanity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: Up 'til Dawn, and Relay for Life.

[edit] Marist College Clubs

Marist College clubs are student run, working closely with the College Activities Office and reporting to the VP of Club Affairs of the Student Government Association. Each club is broken in to one of six categories: Co-curricular, Social Service, Greek, Production/Performance, Sports/Intermural or Honorary/Professional.

Greek Organizations (Recognized by Marist College): These organizations are active clubs on the Marist College campus. The Greeks have established and continue to maintain a standard for high academic achievement, extensive community service, and close-knit social groups.

[edit] Fraternities

Active Chapters Recognized by Marist:

• Phi Kappa Sigma
• Alpha Phi Delta
• Theta Delta Chi

[edit] Sororities

Active Chapters Recognized by Marist:

• Alpha Sigma Tau
• Kappa Kappa Gamma
• Kappa Lambda Psi
• Sigma Sigma Sigma

Active Organizations that are not recognized by Marist:

• Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc.
• Tau Kappa Epsilon

[edit] Athletics

Marist College plays NCAA Division I athletics, in the MAAC Conference. Other schools in this conference include Siena College, Iona College, Niagara University, Manhattan College, Fairfield University, Loyola College in Maryland, Canisius College, Rider University, and Saint Peter's College.

[edit] Rivalries

Men's basketball- Siena College, Iona College

Women's basketball- Canisius College, Siena College, Ohio State University

Football- Iona College, Duquesne University

Swimming - Rider University

Softball - Canisius College

[edit] Facilities

[edit] James J. McCann Recreation Center

The James J. McCann Recreation Center consists of three major areas and dozens of minor ones. The three major areas are the Field House, the Natatorium, and the Strength & Conditioning Center.^[14]

The Field House is a 3,200-seat multi-purpose arena home to the men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball teams. It also hosts special events such as concerts for the student population.^[15]

The natatorium is a 265,000-gallon facility, ranging in depth from 4 feet to 13 feet. It provides six 25-yard lanes and an independent diving well. The well contains two 1-meter and one 3-meter diving board.^[16]

The Strength & Conditioning Center is two floors. The lower floor consists of weight training equipment, the upper floor consists of cardiovascular training equipment. All told, the facility can easily accommodate 100 students simultaneously.^[17]

Minor areas include two racquetball courts, a 2,200 square foot dance studio, five locker rooms, a classroom, the Pepsi Hall of Fame multi-media meeting room, the 2,100 square foot Dr. Maynard Center for Sports Medicine, the Academic Enhancement Center, the 4,200 square foot Coach's Complex, an 11,000 square foot Mondo-surfaced auxiliary gymnasium, used heavily by intramurals and club sports, and a student lounge. ^[18]

[edit] Boathouse Row

The athletic facilities with the greatest amount of history in the Marist College Athletic Department are the boathouses located on campus, which sit on the banks of the Hudson River. It is rare in collegiate rowing to have on-campus rowing facilities.

Two houses exist: the original Cornell University boathouse, and the newer Marist boathouse. The Marist boathouse features boat bay, which contain a fleet of 16 top-of-the-line Vespoli shells. Additionally, on the second floor are 30 Concept II ergs, free weights, a video viewing lounge and a coaching office. The Cornell boathouse is used by local high schools.^[19]

[edit] Gartland Athletic Field

Also known as North Field, the Gartland Athletic Field now serves as a core practice facility for Marist intercollegiate sports, including soccer, lacrosse, and rugby. It is also a playing field for club sports and general recreation. At almost 10 acres in size, the field is large enough to accommodate three team practices simultaneously. The intercollegiate Softball field, equipped with a state-of-the-art electronic Score Board and newly renovated dugouts, resides in the far corner of North field. A practice softball field at the opposite end of the field i used during tournament play, intramural games, and sole club sports. ^[20]

[edit] Leonidoff Field

A new grandstand has been erected on the main athletic field, Leonidoff Field, and was officially opened on October 6, 2007.

[edit] McCann Baseball Field

This ballpark features seating behind the backstop and along the third base line that can accommodate over 350 fans. The facility has a dead center field measurement of 414 feet, the deepest distance of any MAAC field, while the power alleys check in at 377 feet.^[21]

[edit] Tennis Pavilion

In 2006, a tennis pavilion opened to support the men's and women's tennis programs. The venue features 8 regulation sized courts, a center walk-way and a pergola-covered spectator area. The pavilion is located on the East campus.^[22]

[edit] Athletic Accomplishments

Marist, which captured seven Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference titles during the 2004-05 academic year, has taken home the conference's highest honors, earning all three JetBlue Airways MAAC Commissioner's Cups. This season marks the fifth time in seven years that the Red Foxes have claimed the overall competition and now makes Marist the only school to win the overall title five times. La Salle and Loyola have each won four overall titles.

In March 2007, Marist's Women's Basketball team became the third 13 seed to make it to the Sweet 16 since the women's tournament expanded to 64 teams. They defeated 4th-seeded Ohio State and 5th-seeded Middle Tennessee State to make it to the Sweet 16.^[23]

On June 28, 2007 Jared Jordan became the second Marist College basketball player to be selected in the NBA draft, as the 45th overall pick, 15th pick in the second round by the Los Angeles Clippers. Rik Smits was the first Marist player to play in the NBA, and had a long successful career with the Indiana Pacers.

[edit] Notable Alumni

See also Marist College alumni

• Tim Brier - co-founder of priceline.com
• Bobby Joe Hatton - Professional Basketball player in Puerto Rico.
• Ed Lowe - American journalist.^[24]
• Christopher McCann, President of 1-800FLOWERS.com
• Bill O'Reilly - political commentator
• Rik Smits - Former NBA All-Star, Indiana Pacers
• Brandon Tierney - American radio personality^[25]
• John C. Tkazyik - Mayor of the City of Poughkeepsie
• Jared Jordan - Drafted by Los Angeles Clippers, played in preseason games for New York Knicks
• J.W. Stewart - ESPNEWS

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• [1] - Information on the 1975 murder on campus.
• [2] - A website that has unfortunately seen little traffic lately. Marist students, submit content!
• [3] - Marist's own newspaper.