Edgewood College history

During the spring of 1942, Edgewood College received accreditation from the University of Wisconsin; in June of the same year, the first 25 students received their Bachelor of Science degrees in education.

In 1948 the first international students were enrolled: two from Shanghai, China; one from Cali, Colombia; and one from Arequipa, Peru.

Additionally, the college began in 1951 to assist in students’ preparation as teachers of Saturday classes to involve them in catechetical instruction in the parishes of the Diocese.

The current Edgewood Campus School facility opened in 1953 under the leadership of Sister Nona McGreal, OP. The school was staffed by Dominican Sisters who had advanced degrees from several colleges and universities.

In 1954, for the first time, the college faculty was officially separated from the high school faculty.

In 1955, a new addition (“Marshall Junior”) was built to adjoin the east and south sides of Marshall Hall.

Mazzuchelli Biological Station was completed on the shores of Lake Wingra in 1956.

In 1959, Edgewood joined the Association of American Colleges, which further enhanced its opportunities for accreditation.

The physical education building known as the Edgedome was completed in 1961.

Two years later, the college was recognized by the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE); this was finally formalized in May 1962.

In the winter of 1970, a major decision was made—Edgewood College became co-ed.

The Educational Development Committee of the college proposed a Human Issues program in 1975, requiring students to complete a "human issues experience" before qualifying for graduation.

In the next year, a continuing education program in day and evening schedules was begun and quickly grew from fewer than 100 students to over 500 in 1977.

In 1979, the College introduced the undergraduate Weekend Degree Program.

In 1983, when Sister Mary Ewens became the president of Edgewood College, she dealt with budget deficits, causing the elimination of the position of the Human Issues director, the athletic director, the inter-collegiate department program, and all theater courses and student productions.

Accredited master’s degree programs in business administration, education, and religious studies were introduced in 1985.

In 1988, for the first time in the school's history, a president was selected who was neither female nor a Dominican Sister: James Ebben.

With a grant from the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation, Weber Hall reconstruction began in 1990.

The Sonderegger Science Center opened in January 1999.

Many images in this collection were taken from Phoenix from the Fire: A History of Edgewood College by Mary Paynter OP, published as part of the college’s 75th jubilee celebration in 2002.

In the Fall of 2007, the first students moved into Dominican Hall, the largest residence hall on campus, which has received LEED certification for its design, construction, and operation.

The start of the Fall semester of 2012 saw the dedication of The Stream, the College’s visual and theatre arts center, which has also received LEED certification.

In the summer of 2013, the front entrance to the Campus School was remodeled to create a more esthetic and secure entry for students and visitors.

In 2018, the middle school, which is based within Edgewood High School, moved to a new location that is home to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classrooms, a library media center, testing room, relaxation room, offices, and a student lounge area.