Ashford University

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Ashford University is a private, coeducational liberal arts university located in Clinton, Iowa. The University is owned by Bridgepoint Education, Inc., a for-profit higher education company based in San Diego, California. The University offers Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's degrees through its campus in Clinton and over the internet through its College of External Studies. The school is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. As of April 2007, the student body includes almost 3,500 undergraduates and 351 graduate students.

Campus

Q & A: Ashford University

The Ashford ground campus is located in the central part of Clinton, Iowa. Seated atop a hill, the 24-acre campus is about a half-mile from the Mississippi River and about a mile north of Highway 30. The most notable building on campus is St. Clare Hall, which has served as the Mount St. Clare Convent, Novitiate, Academy, and College. Today, the lower floors in St. Clare Hall house administrative and support staff, while the upper floors contain classrooms. The newest building on campus is the Durgin Educational Center, which houses Kehl Arena, the athletics department, and the animation lab.

Athletics

Ashford University is a member of the NAIA. The school's athletic teams, The Saints, compete in the Midwest Classic Conference. The official team colors are purple and gold, and the mascot for the Saints is a Saint Bernard dog named Champ. The Saints field teams in both men's and women's basketball and golf, soccer. The Saints also compete in women's softball and volleyball, as well as men's baseball. Track and Field will return as an intercollegiate sport in 2007.

Student groups

The Student Government Association (SGA) is the primary organization for the government of the Ashford student body. SGA is responsible for a number of activities on campus, including homecoming, intramurals, and regular extracurricular activities. SGA also allocates funds for other clubs on campus. In addition to SGA, Hall Council is the governing body for on-campus resident students, with a focus on residence life issues and resident-oriented activities.

The school's student-run newspaper, The Clarion, is usually published monthly. The Concert Choir and Wind Ensemble are the two music groups on campus. Honor organizations include Alpha Tau Omega (for juniors and seniors), the Lambda Sigma Society (for sophomores), and Mu Sigma Eta (for students studying biology, chemistry and mathematics). Other organizations on campus include the Fine Arts Club (FAC), Phi Beta Lambda (PBL), Circle K, Student Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), Student Alumni Ambassadors, and The International Club.

History

Ashford University traces its origins back to 1891, when Father John Murray invited the Sisters of St. Francis to help teach in Clinton, Iowa. By 1893, the Sisters were able to purchase some land in Clinton, on which they established their mother house and the Mount St. Clare Academy, a prep school for girls. The Academy and the mother house quickly outgrew their old building. In 1910, the mother house and the academy moved into the newly constructed Mount St. Clare building, which is still in use today.

Seeing a need for teachers in Clinton County and the surrounding area, the Sisters founded Mount St. Clare College, the direct predecessor to Ashford University, in 1918. At that time, the Mount St. Clare Academy, College, and Convent were all housed in the same building.

Expansion

The 1950s and 1960s marked a period of expansion at the institution. In 1950, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools first accredited Mount St. Clare College. Following the accreditation, the school quickly began to expand. The sisters moved into an adjoining convent building in 1956. A new library and gym were opened a few years later. During the sixties, the Science Hall was opened, which also houses the Children's Center. In 1967, the college became coeducational.

For the 1979-1980 school year, the college received approval for its first four-year degree, a bachelor's program in business administration. The following year, the Mount St. Clare Academy merged with St. Mary's High School in Clinton, forming Mater Dei High School (now know as Prince of Peace Academy). With the space freed by the academy's merger, the school began to offer additional four year programs. In 1997, the sisters moved off campus into their new mother house, The Canticle. In 1998, the Durgin Educational Center was opened, which included new athletic facilities, including Kehl arena.

Transition to university

In 2002, Mount St. Clare College began to offer a Master's program over the internet. In conjunction with the expanded course offerings, the school changed its name to The Franciscan University, and the name of the athletic teams were changed from "The Mounties" to "The Saints." In September 2004, the school modified its name to The Franciscan University of the Prairies, in order to avoid confusion with similarly named schools.

In March 2005, the University was purchased by Bridgepoint Education, Inc. After the completion of the sale, the institution's name was changed to Ashford University. The school also dropped its affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church, and it became a for-profit institution at that time.