Notre Dame of Maryland University is a
privateCatholic university in
Baltimore, Maryland. NDMU offers certificate, undergraduate, and graduate programs for women and men.
History
The Roman Catholic academic/educational religious congregation of the
School Sisters of Notre Dame founded the school in 1873. It originally established and named the Notre Dame of Maryland Preparatory School and Collegiate Institute.[3]
In 1896, the Collegiate Institute became the first four-year
Roman Catholic college for women in the United States.[5]
In 2011, the College of Notre Dame of Maryland attained university status with the addition of several graduate-level programs and changed its name to the Notre Dame of Maryland University, by the approval of the state legislature, the
General Assembly of Maryland, various regional accrediting agencies and the
Catholic Church in the state.[6][7] Previously a
women's college, the board of trustees voted unanimously to become co-educational in September 2022[8] and admitted its first undergraduate men in the fall semester of 2023.[9] Many students and alumnae did not want the university to include people of all gender identities and protested the board's decision.[10][11][12]
Notre Dame of Maryland's campus is located on
North Charles Street, the main commercial/business and cultural street leading north to the formerly rural, now suburban
Baltimore County from downtown
Baltimore. NDMU is situated between the wealthy residential neighborhoods from the early 20th Century of
Homeland and
Guilford, just north of the cross-town, Cold Spring Lane, and adjacent to the campus of
Loyola University Maryland (formerly Loyola College) to the south (occupied since 1922). It borders to the south,
Evergreen Museum & Library, the historic landmark
Greek Revival styled mansion of the
Garrett family.
Adjacent to the Montrose House (1850) on the original property site purchased by the
School Sisters of Notre Dame, one of the first buildings, "Gibbons Hall," was constructed in an "
L-shaped" structure. It surmounted by its landmark white wooden tower, and opened in 1873 and became the landmark site symbolizing "Notre Dame of Maryland," which offered instruction to girls and young women. Gibbons Hall was named for the then incumbent
Archbishop of Baltimore and second American
Cardinal of the Church,
James Gibbons.
The university's Marikle Chapel of the Annunciation was originally designed by notable architects
Ephraim Francis Baldwin and
Josias Pennington. It was restored in 2002.[14] Fourier Hall is an example of
Art Moderne architecture. The renamed "Noyes Alumnae House", which was the former Montrose estate of a red brick
Greek Revival style of architecture was built in 1850,[clarification needed] on the southwest corner of the campus.[15] Several buildings on the campus were designed by architect
George Archer[16]
The university shares a library with the neighboring Loyola University Maryland. The Loyola/Notre Dame Library was built primarily in a valley on land primarily owned by Notre Dame of Maryland and located between the two
Roman Catholic campuses, with a road access to the east to
York Road (Maryland Route 45) and the
Govans community.[17]
The Undergraduate Studies features special and competitive programs such as the Morrissy Honors Program and Trailblazers, a support program for first-generation college students.
Notre Dame has pre-professional programs, including pre-law, pre-medical and pre-pharmacy.[20]
The College of Adult Undergraduate Studies offers ten majors and features part-time flexible and accelerated schedules for working adults who are pursuing bachelor's degrees.[citation needed]
The College of Graduate Studies provides coeducational weekend and evening classes in education, management, contemporary communication and nonprofit management, a Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations, and a Doctor of Pharmacy.[clarification needed]
The college offers two noncredit programs:
The English Language Institute provides instruction in English language and American culture for international students, professionals and visitors to the United States. The majority of these students are in their mid- to late twenties.[citation needed]
The Renaissance Institute is a voluntary association of women and men age 50 and older who pursue study of a variety of topics on a not-for-credit basis. Courses have included: literature, public affairs, writing, history, philosophy, music, art, languages, tai chi, film, science, computers, travel, strength and balance, dance and acting.[citation needed]
Notre Dame has 1,254 undergraduate students and 1,647 graduate students, 140 of whom are enrolled in the School of Pharmacy.[7]
Notre Dame of Maryland University's mascot is the "Gator." A redesigned "Gator" logo for the university and its athletic teams was unveiled in May 2010.[21]
Notable alumni
Frances Benjamin Johnston, (Class of 1883 – when Notre Dame was called Notre Dame of Maryland Collegiate Institute for Young Ladies) photographer [22]
Marta Cunningham, (Class of 1887) – when Notre Dame was still a high school) singer and philanthropist
Kathleen Feeley, (Class of 1962) – president of Notre Dame of Maryland University (1971–1992)[23]
Brigadier General
Elizabeth P. Hoisington, (Class of 1940) one of the first woman generals in the U.S. Army