La Salle University
La Salle University is a private Catholic university in the Germantown neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia, founded in 1863 by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, a Catholic religious teaching order. Named for Saint John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the Christian Brothers and patron saint of teachers, the university maintains Lasallian traditions of accessible education emphasizing teaching excellence and concern for the poor. With approximately 4,000 students across four schools, La Salle combines liberal arts traditions with professional programs serving students who are often first-generation college attendees.[1]
History
[edit | edit source]The Christian Brothers established La Salle College in 1863, initially offering secondary and collegiate education for young men from working-class Catholic families. The institution grew throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, adding programs in business, science, and professional fields while maintaining emphasis on accessible education for students who might not otherwise attend college. La Salle achieved university status in 1984, recognizing growth in graduate programs and academic scope.[1]
The university became coeducational in 1970, expanding opportunities for women while diversifying the student body. Growth through subsequent decades added new programs, facilities, and campus development, though financial challenges in recent years have required program consolidation and strategic refocusing. La Salle's evolution reflects broader patterns in Catholic higher education—from serving immigrant and working-class communities to competing in diverse higher education markets while maintaining distinctive mission.[1]
Academic Programs
[edit | edit source]La Salle's four schools—Arts and Sciences, Business, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Professional Studies—offer undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Traditional liberal arts disciplines provide foundation for undergraduate education while professional programs prepare students for careers in business, nursing, communication, and criminal justice. Graduate programs in business, nursing, education, and professional studies serve working professionals seeking career advancement.[1]
The School of Nursing and Health Sciences maintains strong clinical partnerships throughout the Philadelphia region, placing students in hospitals, clinics, and community health settings. Business programs emphasize practical skills alongside theoretical understanding, reflecting La Salle's tradition of preparing students for productive careers. The university's size allows personalized attention that larger institutions cannot provide, with small classes and accessible faculty maintaining Lasallian emphasis on the teacher-student relationship.[1]
Campus
[edit | edit source]La Salle's 133-acre campus in Germantown provides suburban atmosphere within city limits, with historic buildings and mature landscaping creating collegiate character. Major facilities include Olney Hall, the Connelly Library, the De La Salle Chapel, and the Tom Gola Arena. The campus has evolved through construction campaigns adding academic buildings, residence halls, and athletic facilities that modernize the physical plant while respecting architectural traditions.[1]
The Belfield Estate, a historic property adjacent to campus, includes buildings and grounds associated with artist Charles Willson Peale, connecting La Salle to Philadelphia's colonial and early national history. The campus's Northwest Philadelphia location, while presenting accessibility challenges, provides residential character and parking availability that Center City campuses lack. The neighborhood setting integrates university with surrounding community in ways that shape student experience and institutional identity.[1]
Athletics
[edit | edit source]La Salle competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference across seventeen varsity sports. Basketball traditions include multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and the legacy of Tom Gola, the Hall of Fame player who led La Salle to the 1954 national championship. Gola, who later returned as coach and whose name adorns the campus arena, exemplifies La Salle's combination of athletic achievement and institutional loyalty.[1]
Men's and women's basketball, swimming, cross country, and other sports provide opportunities for student-athletes while contributing to campus community. The university's size means athletes often participate fully in campus life rather than operating in separate athletic cultures, consistent with Lasallian values emphasizing whole-person development.[1]
Lasallian Mission
[edit | edit source]La Salle's identity as a Lasallian institution shapes programs, culture, and community in ways that distinguish it from secular peers. The Christian Brothers' founding emphasis on education for working-class students continues in commitment to access, affordability, and support for first-generation college students. Lasallian values of faith, service, and community inform programs from service learning to campus ministry to academic support.[1]
The university participates in networks of Lasallian institutions worldwide, connecting to nearly 1,000 educational institutions serving over one million students across the globe. This network provides opportunities for study, service, and professional development that extend beyond what a single institution could offer. La Salle's participation in Lasallian higher education connects Philadelphia students to traditions and resources spanning centuries and continents.[1]
See Also
[edit | edit source]- Christian Brothers
- Germantown, Philadelphia
- Tom Gola
- Catholic Higher Education
- Saint Joseph's University