It dawned on me when I was reading this in the latest issue of the alumnae bulletin from my alma mater, The College of St. Catherine,  that I was not clear at all about the distinction between a university and a college and that I may have simplified the whole thing into a belief that a "school" just chose to be either a college or a university.  Not so!

"On June 1, 2009, we will officially become St. Catherine University, and the senior staff, trustees and I have been working hard to planfor a restructuring of the College.  The University will include three colleges- a college for graduate studies, one for applied and continuing education and, of course, the undergraduate college for women, which will reamin the "heart of the enterprise."

Four schools will offer studenta a "home" as they pursue their studies.  The include the Schools of Arts, Sciences and Humanities; Business and Leadership; Professional Studies (Education, Social Work and Library and Information Sciences) and the Henrietta  Schmoll School of Health.  If you think of an interlocking matrix, the colleges are the vertical strancs and the schools intersect horizontally.  The arrangement offers every student a home within the University and allows us to continue our precious tradition of excellent service and close student/faculty interaction."    

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College

Some people think of college as referring strictly to an undergraduate, liberal arts, four-year institution. But this is simply not the case. Even the official United States Department of Education definition shows that the term is more complex than that. In a glossary of terms for Graduate Study, the following definition of college is given:

“An institution of higher learning that offers undergraduate programs, usually of a four-year duration, that lead to the bachelor's degree in the arts or sciences (B.A. or B.S.). The term "college" is also used in a general sense to refer to a postsecondary institution. A college may also be a part of the organizational structure of a university.”

But this does not cover all the different meanings. Here are some of the ways the word college is used:

• A college is a post-secondary school, an institution that focuses on undergraduate education. It includes the institutions known as junior colleges and community colleges. Colleges of this sort award degrees such as Associates Degrees as well as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.). In and of itself, the word college may suggest a four-year liberal arts education, but there are also technical colleges that supply other types of experience.

• A college is also an institution of higher education that offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs, though the graduate programs may not be extensive.

• A college is the name of a cohesive educational unit within a university, such as a College of Education or College of Engineering or College of Arts and Sciences, that functions of a subset of the larger institution, with its own faculty and facilities, departments, and degree programs.

• A college can be a unit of graduate or professional education, such as a Graduate College, College of Medicine, or College of Law.

• A college is a religious institution, such as the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church.

• A college is the students and faculty of an institution also called a college.

University

Some people think of university as referring to an institution with a focus on graduate as well as undergraduate programs, a highly qualified faculty involved in cutting edge research, and a wide range of program offerings. The same US Department of Education glossary offers the following definition for university:

“An educational institution that usually maintains one or more four-year undergraduate colleges (or schools) with programs leading to a bachelor's degree, a graduate school of arts and sciences awarding master's degrees and doctorates (Ph.D.s), and graduate professional schools.”

But this is not always the case. A university may simply be an institution that offers at least one graduate degree. You may, in fact, find universities with:

• a lower percentage of Ph.D.’s on the faculty than that found at many colleges

• as few as 100 graduate students

• graduate programs staffed almost entirely by adjunct professors rather than full-time faculty

• offer graduate degrees in only one area (often education)

• offer only on-line courses

• fail to meet accreditation standards

• has faculty without terminal degrees in their field

Whether considering a college or a university, if you have any doubts about what is being offered, it is a good idea to check with standard reviews, such as Barron’s Profile of American Colleges, U.S. News and World Report’s college review or the Princeton Review guide to colleges. 

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Because the name of the college is changing June 1st, they are offering a last chance sale to procure merchandise with the name as it was.  Because I am a sucker for things like that, I not only bought one but two of these hoodies.  I had this nagging thought that one might wear out before I do and I would be so woebegone without a logo sweatshirt.  LOL 

 

COLLEGE OF ST. CATHERINE HOODED SWEATSHIRT GRAY HOODED SWEATSHIRT. GENEROUS SIZING. All sales final. Orders will not ship until May 1, 2009. Item: 2000320 Logo-Color-Size:  Price: $49.99