Merrimack College is a private college in the Roman Catholic, Augustinian tradition located in North Andover, Massachusetts. It offers more than 100 undergraduate academic programs in business, education, science, engineering, and the liberal arts. Merrimack also serves non-traditional students through part-time undergraduate degree programs; masters programs in accounting, education, health science, counseling, management, public affairs, social policy, and engineering; and a range of certificate, licensure and degree completion offerings. There are over 3,200 full-time undergraduates and 500 graduate students from more than 32 states and 29 countries enrolled at Merrimack, 75% of whom reside on campus.
The school's president is Christopher E. Hopey. The college is a member of the Augustinian Secondary Education Association.
History
The Irish Augustinians came to Philadelphia in the United States in 1796. A small number of Augustinian friars eventually became the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova and in 1842, the Province established Villanova College near Philadelphia. The same Province established Merrimack College in 1947 in North Andover, Massachusetts at the invitation of Richard Cushing, then Archbishop of Boston, to serve the needs of servicemen returning home from World War II.
In March 1947, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts granted a charter to what was then called “The Augustinian College of the Merrimack Valley". Merrimack College, as the school eventually came to be called, especially seeks to relate to and to serve the inhabitants of this valley. A native Lawrencian, Reverend McQuade, initially led the college. Since that time, the now 220-acre Merrimack College has graduated nearly 22,000 students; has grown to nearly 40 buildings including a 125,000-volume library; four classroom buildings; including the Gregor Johann Mendel, O.S.A., Science, Engineering and Technology Center; the Sakowich Campus Center; the Rogers Center for the Arts; the Merrimack Athletic Complex; Austin Hall, which houses administrative offices; the Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher; student apartment buildings, townhouses and residence halls; and the Louis H. Hamel Health Center.
Roman Catholic and Augustinian Tradition
Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher
The Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher was dedicated with a Solemn Pontifical High Mass by then Archbishop Richard J. Cushing, Archbishop of Boston, on April 26, 1955, the Augustinian Feast of Our Mother of Good Counsel. It was built to seat 1,000 persons. The lower level of the church has an auditorium with a stage. Over the years, this church has been the site of religious services including ordinations to the priesthood, marriages of graduates, funerals of Augustinians and faculty members, Baccalaureate Masses for graduating classes and Sunday Eucharist for the campus community. The dedication of one of the stained glass windows in the Church offers an interesting bit of ecclesiastical history. Entering the Church by way of the main door, the third window on the left is dedicated in honor of Archbishop Cushing by his friend, Cardinal Spellman. In 1955, the time of the Church’s dedication, Archbishop Cushing had not been made a cardinal. At that time, however, another priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, Francis J. Spellman, who had been an auxiliary bishop of Boston, was both the Archbishop of New York and a cardinal.
Seal of the College
Drawing on our rich history, the new logo reinterprets elements from the college seal, in a more modern and simple way. The logo includes four quadrants: a book with the words "Tolle Lege" ("take up and read") from Saint Augustine; waves that represent the "swift water" of the Merrimack Valley Native Americans; and the cross from the coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Boston. The symbolism of our colors remains unchanged; blue for loyalty and gold for wisdom.
Wavy lines represent water in heraldry, so wavy pallets were chosen to represent Merrimack, which meant "swift water" to some of the Native Americans who once lived in the Merrimack Valley. The cross fleurette refers to the French ancestry of Bishop Cheverus, the first Bishop of Boston (1810-1823). Thus the shield refers to the name of this Augustinian College and to its location in the Archdiocese of Boston. The trimount also is a charge on the coat of arms of Pope Pius XII, in whose pontificate Merrimack College was established. The Order of Saint Augustine is represented by the image of a book imprinted with the famous words connected with Saint Augustine's conversion, "Tolle Lege" ("take up and read").
College Ranking
In 2012 & 2013, U.S. News & World Report ranked Merrimack College in the top ten of the best Colleges in the Northeastâ€" North.
In 2012 & 2013, The Princeton Review acknowledged Merrimack as one of 218 Institutions in its "Best in the Northeast" section.
In 2013, Affordable Colleges Online ranked Merrimack as 16th in Return on Investment (ROI) for colleges in the area.
In 2011, 2012, & 2013 Merrimack College was named one of "America's Top Colleges" by Forbes magazine.
In 2011, Merrimack was named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.
Academics
Merrimack also has these academic centers:
- Bloomberg Markets Lab
- Honors Program
- Writers House
- Academic Innovation Center
- Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences
- Center for Student Success
- Augustinian Center for Study and Legacy
Arts and Entertainment
Rogers Center for the Arts
The Rogers Center for the Arts, named in recognition of the early leadership pledge made by the Rogers Family Foundation, is a regional performing and visual arts center that serves the Merrimack College community, the Merrimack Valley region as well as the entire community north of Boston. It includes a theater style auditorium with a seating capacity of 600, an orchestra pit, and state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. The theater is noted for its outstanding acoustics. The center also includes a separate art gallery for student and professional exhibitions. From music and magic to dancing and drama, the Rogers Center provides artistic excellence through prominent lectures, concerts, theatrical offerings and art exhibitions.
The Tambakos Film Series
The Tambakos Film Collection presents a series of classic Hollywood films as part of the Rogers Center for the Arts programming. Approximately 12 films are screened each year. These films are open to the public and are free of charge.
To complement the Classic Film Series, the Tambakos Film Collection also co-sponsors with the Girard School of Business and International Commerce a series of International Films. This series is designed to introduce to the students of Merrimack College and the surrounding community to the wonderful world of films from a variety of cultures.
Spring Concerts
Every year, the Merrimack Planning Board (MPB) hosts national acts on campus to celebrate the end of the academic year. Girl Talk, The Band Perry, Ludacris, The Plain White Tee's, and Lee Brice have been recent acts on campus. Fetty Wap was the most recent act. The concert was a huge success and sold out. Tickets are generally offered to the public.
International programs
Merrimack College’s International Programs serve students at Merrimack who wish to study abroad and international students who wish to study at Merrimack. In addition to programs for students, the Office of International Programs develops opportunities for faculty cooperation and exchanges between Merrimack college and partner institutions.
- The Study Abroad Program: Each year, Merrimack students participate in academic year and summer programs abroad. Students may study nearly any academic discipline in a variety of countries. Students who wish to go abroad during their junior year should begin the application process during their sophomore year. Students may participate in a summer program as early as their freshman year. The Office of International Programs (OIP) helps students select a study abroad program that will meet their academic and personal needs.
- Pellegrinaggio in Italia: For more than a decade, students have been traveling to Italy to follow in the footsteps of Saint Augustine. The purpose of this trip is to help pilgrims to grow in their understanding of Merrimack's identity and mission. The structure of the work provides pilgrims with the chance to experience the Augustinian characteristics: community, spirituality and service.
Student life
The Office of Student Involvement
The Office of Student Involvement engages students in purposeful out of classroom experiences which enlighten students through social, cultural, spiritual, transitional, and interpersonal development. Student Involvement empowers students to live the mission of Merrimack College by promoting leadership, community building, awareness, scholarship, and service in daily life. Student Involvement accomplishes its mission through various programs and services including Greek Life, Intramural Programs, Leadership Programs, Student Organizations, and the various Social and Educational programs sponsored or supported by the office.
There are over 50 student organizations and clubs available to students. Through a popular intramurals and recreation programs, students can choose from 15 different leagues and a growing number of club sports including rugby and lacrosse.
Greek life
Merrimack College is host to one Fraternity as well as three Sororities. Each Greek Letter organization on Merrimack College’s campus has specific values and philanthropies they are aligned with. The Greek Letter Organizations are run through varying governing bodies run by students.
- Greek Council (Greek Life Governing Board)
- Panhellenic Council (Sorority Governing Board)
There is also a Greek Life honor society on campus called the Order of Omega.
Fraternities
- Tau Kappa Epsilon
Sororities
- Theta Phi Alpha
- Zeta Tau Alpha
Campus Ministry and religious life
Campus Ministry is committed to meeting students at all points in their relationship with God and faith. Campus Ministries faith/spiritual life enrichment includes retreat experiences, daily liturgy, sacramental preparation, interfaith prayer, and forums for discussing Catholic theology and how it impacts issues of today. All of these programs encourage students to explore, question and grow in spirituality so as to integrate faith with daily life.
Campus Ministries service programs encourage students to experience the reality of poverty first-hand, and have a positive impact in the lives of people. These include weekly opportunities in the local community and a week-long Alternative Spring Break that sends students to service sites across the United States. In keeping with Campus Ministries Catholic Augustinian tradition, Campus Ministry pursues issues of social justice and peace, exploring the causes of poverty and oppression.
Campus Ministries many activities for both students and faculty include MerrimAction, Merrimack Out-Reach Experience (M.O.R.E.), Hike for Hope, Thanksgiving Basket Drive, Christmas Giving Tree, Alternative Winter Break (AWB), Alternative Spring Break (ASB), Merrimack in the City Day, Sweeps Week.
Athletics
Merrimack offers 24 varsity sports for men and women, including NCAA Division I men's and women's ice hockey competing in the highly competitive Hockey East conference. Merrimack's NCAA Division II sports compete in the Northeast-10 Conference and include men's and women's soccer, lacrosse, cross country, track and field (indoor/outdoor), tennis, and basketball. There is also men's American football and baseball, and women's field hockey, softball, volleyball, golf, swimming and rowing.
Notable alumni
- Anthony Aquino, AHL and DEL hockey player
- Joe Cannata, NHL Hockey player with the Washington Capitals
- Joe Clancy, record-setting Merrimack quarterback, AFL player
- Greg Classen, NHL hockey player for the Nashville Predators (2000â€"2003)
- Sandy Cohen, ECHL hockey player
- Brian Cresta, (B.S. 1992), member of the Mass. House of Representatives (1994 - 2001)
- Charlie Day, actor
- Stéphane Da Costa, Former NHL player (Ottawa Senators)
- Christopher G. Fallon, (B.S. 1975), member of the Mass. House of Representatives (1996â€"present)
- Matt Foy, Former NHL Hockey player for the Minnesota Wild (Present)
- Sally Ann Freedman, former beauty queen, professional model, and band vocalist
- Nolan Godfrey, Major League Lacrosse player for the Philadelphia Barrage and Boston Cannons (2007â€"2008)
- John Jakopin, NHL hockey player for the Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks (1997â€"2003)
- Rob Lalonde, AHL hockey player
- Kelly Lange, journalist
- Shawn Loiseau, professional football player for the Indianapolis Colts
- Dave McGillivray, Boston Marathon race director
- Steve McKenna, NHL hockey player for the Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins (1996â€"2004)
- Brian C. Mitchell, former president of Bucknell University
- Rob Ricci, ECHL hockey player
- Marco Rosa, AHL hockey player
- Bryan Schmidt, AHL and DEL ice hockey player
- Brian Shannon, author and technical analyst
- Dick Stello, National League umpire
- Rev Theory, alternative metal band
- Jim Vesey former NHL hockey player with the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins
- Carl Yastrzemski, Hall of Fame Major League Baseball player who played for the Red Sox
Notable Faculty
- Theodore E. Long, former Provost of Merrimack College, former President of Elizabethtown College
References
External links
- Official Website
- Official Athletics Website