Lewis University history

The school was incorporated in 1934 under the name Lewis Holy Name Technical School.

As a consequence, when regular classes resumed in the autumn of 1944, the reorganized school included a junior college.

More appropriately named, the Lewis College of Science and Technology granted its first baccalaureate degrees in 1952.

A new phase in the history of Lewis began in 1960 when the Brothers of the Christian Schools assumed direction of the institution at the invitation of the Most Reverend Martin D. McNamara, Bishop of Joliet.

Although the merger did not occur, this cooperation was reflected during the 1970-71 academic year by the use of the name Lewis-St Francis of Illinois.

These colleges, together with the College of Arts and Sciences, thus came to represent an organizational structure that no longer seemed appropriately designated by the term “college.” For that reason, among others, the decision was made in 1973 to become a university.

The inaugural program was the Master of Science in Criminal/Social Justice which began offering classes in 1974.

In the fall of 1975, the Master of Arts in Education was developed with the Specialization in Reading.

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) offered graduate classes beginning in 1983 with a concentration in community health nursing.

In 1999, the College of Nursing began offering online a master’s degree in nursing case management, the first online MSN case management option in the Chicagoland area.

In 2000, the School of Education achieved NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) accreditation.

In 2001, De La Salle Hall was purchased from the De La Salle Christian Brothers to provide for additional academic space, and faculty and staff offices.

To meet the needs of a growing student population, the University embarked on several construction projects over the summer of 2004.

In 2005, an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership was approved, the first doctoral program to be offered by the University.

Mother Teresa Hall, located immediately west, opened in the summer of 2006.

The third of the planned six residence hall village, Dorothy Day Hall, opened in the fall of 2009.

In addition, the University Office of Graduate Studies was opened and the first Graduate Dean was appointed in August 2010 to provide an institution-wide perspective to oversight of graduate education.

Livingston succeeded Brother Gaffney, who retired June 30, 2016, after 28 years of leadership and service to Lewis University and its students.