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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Entering freshman class of 275 students outpaces 2009 record of 253 freshmen |
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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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Faculty and students visit 29 countries through GCU’s growing global education program |
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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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Money magazine names GCU among its Best Colleges for Your Money and Washington Monthly magazine adds GCU graduate programs to its list of Best Bangs for the Buck |
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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 partners with the K–12 Alliance (KTA) on select graduate education programs, positioning GCU for growth at off-site locations in Monmouth, Union, Essex, and Ocean counties. |
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GCU is named in the top 10 percent of the value-added college rankings of The Economist given higher-than-expected median earnings of $45,700 for GCU graduates in the first decade after college |
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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 |
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GCU@Hazlet adds business and interdisciplinary studies programs. GCU enters an agreement with Cumberland County College, now Rowan College of South Jersey–Cumberland Campus (RCSJ–Cumberland), to offer the Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) via GCU@Cumberland |
2018 |
GCU adds partnerships with Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC), Middlesex County College, Immaculata High School (Somerville), and Cathedral High School (Manhattan) |
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GCU is the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit Partner of the Year |
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Approval of B.S. in Health Sciences and B.A. in Health Profession Studies |
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GCU is named to Phi Theta Kappa’s 2018 Transfer Honor Roll and recognized by Abound as one of the nation’s top colleges for adult learners |
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At #39, GCU is in the top 15 percent of regional college and university rankings in the Best Bang for the Buck Colleges list by Washington Monthly |
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GCU student-athletes take first place among all NCAA Division II teams nationwide in Helper Helper community service competition |
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Faculty, students, and staff invest 120,704 hours in volunteer activities |
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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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Approval of five new undergraduate student learning goals, based on GCU’s Bridge General Education program |
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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) |
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The GCU Lions rake in seven conference championships for women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, men’s indoor and outdoor track and field, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and volleyball |
2020 |
Launch of Center for Professional Studies, with courses for enrichment, professional development, and corporate training |
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GCU climbs 30 points in U.S. News & World Report rankings due, in part, to high student retention and graduation rates; also named a Top Performer on Social Mobility |
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In its 2019–20 College Financial Health Grades, Forbes Magazine ranks GCU as the third-healthiest private institution in New Jersey |
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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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GCU listed in the top 25% for lifetime return on investment, according to the Georgetown University Center on Workforce and Education |
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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 freezes undergraduate tuition to assist families strained by the economic impact of COVID-19 |
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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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GCU marks Commencement with four ceremonies, including one recognizing 90-year-old graduate as the university’s oldest degree recipient; attracts national news coverage |
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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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GCU is upgraded by Standard & Poor’s in its annual bond rating review |
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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 expedite the campus master plan that includes a new academic building focused on nursing and health sciences, Casino modernization for a new student center, and improvements to student housing and the Mansion. |
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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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NCAA recognizes GCU with the Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence, ranking in the top 15% of member schools for academic performance |
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GCU rises in U.S. News & World Report rankings, climbing eight positions to 101st in the Best Regional Universities North category |
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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 |
Approval of B.S. in Dance Science |
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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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Five GCU students are awarded NASA NJ Space Grants for undergraduate research for the 2022-2023 academic school year |
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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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Georgian Court receives the NCAA Team Works Community Service Competition award, recognizing student-athletes' service to their respective communities through divisional competitions |
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GCU Lions add women's acrobatics and tumbling |