| 1908 |
Georgian Court College founded by the Sisters of Mercy in North Plainfield, New Jersey, under the title Mount Saint Mary’s College and accredited by the State of New Jersey |
| 1911 |
College destroyed by fire and immediately rebuilt |
| 1912 |
First class graduated |
| 1922 |
Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| 1924 |
George Jay Gould estate, bordering Lake Carasaljo in Lakewood, New Jersey, purchased as the new site for the campus to house a growing student body. The original name of Georgian Court was maintained as a stipulation of the purchase agreement. The estate included the Mansion, Raymond Hall, the Casino, and the Gatekeeper’s Lodge, along with the gardens, fountains, and woodlands. |
| 1925 |
Mercedes Hall, a Lakewood residence, along with the original parish church of the town (now the McAuley Heritage Chapel) moved across the fields of Lakewood to campus. |
| 1929 |
Hamilton Hall purchased; our first building “outside the gates” |
| 1931 |
Kingscote acquired |
| 1940 |
Kearney House added, first called the Campus Club, then the Music Center, then the Lake House |
| 1951 |
Farley Memorial Library constructed to house The Court’s growing scholarly collection |
| 1961 |
The State of New Jersey approved Georgian Court’s teacher education program |
| 1961 |
Saint Joseph Hall built in response to burgeoning college resident population |
| 1964 |
Arts and Science Center completed |
| 1967 |
Maria Hall, our second residence hall, opened |
| 1974 |
New wing doubled the capacity of Farley Memorial Library |
| 1976 |
First year for the Master of Arts in Education program |
| 1978 |
Master of Arts degrees first conferred on 41 students |
| 1978 |
Entire campus entered into the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey Register |
| 1979 |
Coeducational Undergraduate Program instituted |
| 1982 |
Approval of Master of Arts in Special Education |
| 1985 |
Entire campus designated a National Historic Landmark |
| 1988 |
Completion of Mercy Center |
| 1989 |
Approval of Master of Arts in Education with teaching certification |
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The Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum, comprising the entire campus, founded |
| 1993 |
Completion of new library and student lounge complex |
| 1993 |
Approval of Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and school psychologist certification |
| 1995 |
Approval of Master of Business Administration |
| 1997 |
Approval of Master of Arts in Theology |
| 1999 |
The library named in honor of Sister Mary Joseph Cunningham, former treasurer of the college |
| 2001 |
Approval of Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies |
| 2003 |
Women in Leadership Development program instituted |
| 2004 |
Georgian Court College received university status from the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education |
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Completion of Mercy Hall and St. Catherine Hall, two new residence halls |
| 2005 |
Dorothy Marron University Community Chapel completed |
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Completion of two-story Audrey Birish George Science Center |
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Purchase of the Eighth Street House on Lakewood Avenue |
| 2006 |
Completion of expansion of the Court Café (now the Café at GCU) |
| 2007 |
Purchase of the Ninth Street house |
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Approval of three new undergraduate majors in dance; tourism, hospitality, and recreation management; and exercise science, wellness, and sports |
| 2008 |
Completion of the Wellness Center |
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Approval of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing |
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Launch of GCU’s year-long Centennial celebration |
| 2009 |
Accreditation of teacher education and school leadership programs by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) |
| 2010 |
Approval of undergraduate and graduate programs in early childhood (P–3) education |
| 2011 |
Launch of M.S. in Homeland Security (now M.A. in Criminal Justice and Human Rights), M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis, and B.A. in Latino/a and Business Studies (now B.A. in Latino Business Studies) |
| 2012 |
Approval of B.A. in Digital Design and B.F.A. in Graphic Design and Multimedia; launch of GCU’s 100% online master’s program in Holistic Health Studies (now M.A. in Integrative Health) |
| 2013 |
GCU becomes fully coeducational, opening all classes and student life programs to men, and adds men’s track and field (indoor and outdoor), basketball, and soccer |
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The GCU-Meridian Health School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. |
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The university secures $8.4 million in state bond funding to upgrade and renovate campus buildings and classrooms |
| 2014 |
GCU-Brookdale Community College Guaranteed Admissions Initiative is announced |
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The International Collaboration Center opens in Farley Center, allowing GCU to conduct asynchronous lectures, projects, and presentations worldwide |
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After 14 years as president, Sister Rosemary E. Jeffries announces plans to step down at the end of the 2014–2015 academic year |
| 2015 |
GCU renames the Arts and Science Center, GCU’s largest academic building, Jeffries Hall, in honor of President Emerita Rosemary E. Jeffries |
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A new minor in social media marketing begins, and a new postbaccalaureate online certificate in Mercy spirituality is approved for launch |
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GCU wins a Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award for sustainability efforts |
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GCU Lions add men’s lacrosse, with competition beginning in 2016 |
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The GCU Board of Trustees announces Joseph R. Marbach, Ph.D., as GCU’s next president, beginning July 1 |
| 2016 |
The GCU School of Business and Digital Media changes its name to reflect new marketplace emphasis on digital technology |
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The university’s new Applied Behavior Analysis Clinic, an outgrowth of the ABA graduate psychology program, launches and offers services to the general public |
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GCU strengthens its ties to Catholic education by launching the Catholic Schools Initiative; the effort includes additional scholarship funding and book awards for area Catholic high school students |
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GCU’s partnership with Brookdale Community College is expanded, giving students the option of earning undergraduate English, education, and psychology degrees from GCU@Hazlet |
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Approval of new business majors in finance, management, and marketing |
| 2017 |
GCU graduates its first fully coeducational undergraduate class with nearly 400 students |
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The U.S. Department of Education awards $1.99 million to GCU for "Chart the Course" to improve retention and graduation rates |
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GCU’s Catholic partnerships expand to Trenton Catholic Academy, Holy Spirit High School, Union Catholic, Donovan Catholic, St. John Vianney, and others |
| 2018 |
Approval of B.S. in Health Sciences and B.A. in Health Profession Studies |
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After more than two years of preparation and serious self-examination, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) re-affirmed that Georgian Court University meets all of the standards for being accredited |
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His Royal Highness The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, plays the historic game of court tennis at GCU. The visit, promoting the Duke of Edinburgh’s leadership program for young adults, generates an advertising value equivalency of $4.8 million in media coverage |
| 2019 |
Launch of The Strategic Compass . . . for an Even Better Tomorrow, which focuses on academic excellence, the student experience, revenue generation and diversification, and efficiencies |
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Approval of Psy.D. in School Psychology, the university’s first doctoral degree |
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Approval of M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration and M.S. in Communication and Digital Marketing |
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Launch of Apollo Fountain restoration project with two gifts of $50,000 each; full plan is created to repair and upgrade the iconic fountain |
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First B.S.W. students graduate from GCU@Cumberland’s (now RCSJ–Cumberland) |
| 2020 |
Launch of Center for Professional Studies, with courses for enrichment, professional development, and corporate training |
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Approval of B.A. in Political Science, ABSN (accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing), and re-introduction of the B.A. in Computer Information Systems |
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New 3+1 program between GCU and Brookdale Community College creates new, affordable pathway to a bachelor’s degree |
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Georgian Court is shuttered by COVID-19, the global pandemic that shifted nearly all classes 100 percent online. Faculty, students, and staff successfully adapt to remote learning and business operations |
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GCU hosts first-ever virtual celebration and Apollo Fountain drive-by salute to graduates |
| 2021 |
University fund-raising reaches a five-year high in corporate and foundation funding and in major gifts |
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President Joseph R. Marbach introduces Renew GCU, focused on the myriad projects reflecting the spiritual, intellectual, physical, and operational renewal of Georgian Court |
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The university lands a five-year, $1.69 million TRIO–SSS grant from the U.S. Department of Education, sustaining the program at GCU for 40 years |
| 2022 |
Georgian Court University sells 42 mostly unused, undeveloped acres to Beth Medrash Govoha. Proceeds from the sale are to be used to support campus development, improvements, and initiatives |
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Approval of B.S. in Sport Management, DE MSN (Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing), and MSW (Master of Social Work) |
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Georgian Court becomes a 100% smoke-free and tobacco-free campus, encouraging healthy habits for all students, employees, and campus visitors |
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GCU's Brookdale Partnership programs move from Hazlet to the Brookdale Community College main campus in Lincroft |
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Georgian Court - Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing becomes the Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing & Wellness at Georgian Court, with the addition of the Departments of Integrative Health & Exercise Science, and Department of Social Work, to the Department of Nursing |
| 2023 |
Three new programs are launched at GCU: a Bachelor of Science in Dance Science, English as a Second Language Certification Program, and a Digital Marketing Concentration available through the Marketing major |
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School of Business & Digital Media launches inaugural Lion's Den pitch & innovation competition |
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GCU hosts the 19th Annual Undergraduate Research Colloquium of the New Jersey Women and Gender Studies Consortium |
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GCU renames Mercy Center as Scully Registration and Finance Center, in honor of Mother Mary Cecilia Scully, the first president of Georgian Court, who served in that role from 1908-1940 |
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GCU Lions add women's acrobatics and tumbling |
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Georgian Court named a 2023 Empowering Women Honoree by NJBIZ, one of the state's leading business publications |
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GCU establishes new partnership with Uwill, an online telehealth platform for student mental health and wellness, providing students with immediate counseling assistance and support year-round |
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Georgian Court announces first head coach for new baseball program |
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The university launches its "GCU Promise" initiative, providing additional financial resources to students who receive PELL and New Jersey TAG support |
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Georgian Court receives international award for climate education exchange program with Universidad Viña del Mar |
| 2024 |
Immigration and migration issues are explored during GCU's Critical Concerns Week, featuring a keynote by Dr. Carolyn Woo, former President & CEO of Catholic Relief Services |
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Renewed partnerships with St. George’s University and Northeast College of Health Sciences for pre-medicine/veterinary/chiropractic options for students |
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Georgian Court's Board of Trustees approves a tuition and fee freeze for the 2024-2025 academic year to provide support to students and their families facing economic challenges |
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Launched Sports Media Minor and new education programs, including Student Assistance Coordinator, Early Literacy Specialist Endorsement, and three Multisensory Literacy options with the following certifications: ESL, Reading Specialist, and Teacher of Students with Disabilities |
