Sacred Heart University

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School Says - General Information
Characterized by the personal attention it provides its students, Sacred Heart University (SHU) in Fairfield, Connecticut is an independent, comprehensive liberal arts university in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. With more than 45 academic programs for undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students in the arts, sciences, business, education, and health professions, Sacred Heart University is nationally recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, cutting-edge technology, championship Division I athletic teams, and award-winning community service program.

Fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), SHU is the second-largest Catholic university in New England and the first in America to be led and staffed by lay people. A vibrant residential University with 3,500 full-time undergraduates and more than 6,000 total undergraduate and graduate students, the University's academic programs are housed in its four distinctive colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, AACSB-accredited John F. Welch College of Business, College of Education and Health Professions, and University College.

Exemplified by its mission and the Catholic intellectual tradition, Sacred Heart University is dedicated to the holistic development of its students through active, engaged learning that educates the whole person - mind, body and spirit. Hands-on learning through research, internships, clinical placements, service learning, and study abroad programs encourages students to apply their skills and knowledge outside the classroom, contributing to an exemplary 96% job and graduate school placement rate for graduating seniors.

School Says - Student Body
SHU's academic and experiential learning opportunities are complemented by a rich student life program offering over 80 student organizations including popular performing arts groups (band, chorale, and theatre arts), media groups, spirit groups, national Greek letter organizations, intramural and club sports, community service organizations, ministry groups, leadership programs, student governance groups, multicultural organizations, and academic honor societies. Cultural events abound on campus, including live entertainment and poetry nights featured at the Holy Grounds Cafe, the Student Affairs Lecture Series which brings renowned guest speakers to campus, and professional-quality theatrical, musical, and dance performances at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts.

SHU's robust school spirit is embodied by the University's successful Division I intercollegiate athletics program. Among the largest Division I programs in the country, the Pioneers compete in 31 varsity sports: Baseball (w), Basketball (m/w), Bowling (w), Cross-Country (m/w), Equestrian (w), Fencing (m/w), Field Hockey (w), Football (m), Golf, (m/w), Ice Hockey (m/w), Lacrosse (m/w), Rowing (w), Soccer (m/w), Softball (w), Swimming (w), Tennis (m/w), Track & Field: Indoor/Outdoor (m/w), Volleyball (m/w), and Wrestling (m), who are supported by the talented Cheerleading Team and Dance Team. Over 500 students also participate in 30 Club Sport teams: Baseball (m), Basketball (m/w), Bowling (m), Curling, (co-ed), Dance (w), Field Hockey (w), Gaelic Football (w), Golf (co-ed), Gymnastics (co-ed), Ice Hockey (m/w), Lacrosse (m/w), Rugby (m/w), Sailing (co-ed), Soccer (m/w), Softball (w), Swimming (m), Tennis (co-ed), Volleyball (m/w), and Weightlifting (co-ed), which compete against the junior varsity and club teams of colleges and universities across the region.

School Says - Academics
Sacred Heart's unique "Major in Success" program offered through the Career Development and Placement Center provides individual and group career counseling that helps students identify and match their talents, interests, and values with research on corresponding majors and careers. This program is open to all undergraduate students, and is geared towards undeclared students as well as students who are considering changing majors or career paths.

Undergraduate students in the AACSB-accredited John F. Welch College of Business participate in the Welch Experience, an integrated professional and academic program which includes experiential learning opportunities such as internships and study abroad, career planning, advising and mentoring programs, and research opportunities.

Thomas More Honors Program students enjoy a student-directed learning experience complete with a multitude of experiential learning opportunities that extend beyond the customary classroom environment. Comprised of an 18-credit minor in Honors, students in the program benefit from a diverse and dynamic learning community in which they are both students and teachers to one another.

SHU's international campuses in Luxembourg and Ireland demonstrate the University's commitment to global education, and along with dozens of other University-approved sites, provide students with seamless opportunities to study abroad year-round and worldwide.

School Says - Admissions
Sacred Heart University believes in a personalized process in evaluating students for admission. The Admissions Office utilizes the Common Application and also requires high school transcripts and a letter of recommendation. A campus visit and interview are strongly encouraged for all applicants and required for Early Decision candidates. Sacred Heart University will consider SAT or ACT scores if students elect to submit them; however standardized test scores are not required. The Common Application is available online beginning August 1, 2011. To schedule a visit to campus, call 203-371-7881 or go to www.sacredheart.edu/visitplanner.cfm.

School Says - Campus Life
Sacred Heart University's campus location offers the best of both worlds: a safe, suburban campus located on 69 acres in beautiful Fairfield, Connecticut and a central location between the urban centers of New York City (55 miles) and Boston, MA (150 miles). With guaranteed housing for four years and over 90% of first-year students residing on campus, the atmosphere at SHU is an intimate residential campus with easily accessible academic and student life facilities, Division I sporting events, and other activities which are continually running on campus such as concerts, lectures, poetry readings, game nights, cultural exhibits, spiritual activities, and theatrical performances.

Drawing on the rich resources in New England and the Metro-New York area, students are immersed in enriching activities throughout the year including group events in NYC such as Broadway shows, and trips to historical Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Metro-North Railroad and the Port Jefferson ferry serving Long Island are each just a ten minute drive from campus. The University's shuttle system provides free service to the local transportation centers as well as popular downtown Fairfield, the nearby shopping mall, movie theatres, and other shopping and recreational attractions, in addition to offering trips to student-favorite spots such as the culturally rich city of New Haven, and the beach during late spring and early fall.

School Says - Cost Aid
2010-11 full-time undergraduate tuition and fees is $31,440. Room and board is an additional $12,340. Board only (for commuter students) ranges from $1,050 to $3,500 depending on the meal plan. Part-time undergraduate tuition is $475 per credit with an $85 registration fee per term.Financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to admitted undergraduate students and may include need-based aid and/or merit-based aid for academic and athletic achievement. Participation grants for select performing arts and community service programs are also awarded. Completion of the CSS Profile and the FAFSA are required in order to receive financial assistance.

Students Say - Academics
Business is big business at Sacred Heart University, where one-third of a recent class graduated with an undergraduate business degree. The "up-and-coming" Welch College of Business (named for former General Electric CEO Jack Welch) utilizes the school's proximity to New York City to "enable students majoring in business, finance, media studies, etc., with tremendous opportunities" for internships. Nursing, physical therapy, and athletic training are among the school's other strong programs. "The surrounding towns provide amazing sites for...clinical experiences," so many members of SHU's career-minded student body leave here with solid experience under their belts to go along with course knowledge. However, pre-professional preparation is only part of the picture at this "small, Catholic university that prides itself [on] religion and faith." To ensure that students gain general knowledge along with expertise in their specialization (and to reinforce the school's commitment to the liberal-arts driven Catholic Intellectual Tradition), SHU recently introduced a Common Core Curriculum focusing on such lofty topics as justice and humanity's place in the cosmos. A number of students complain about the added requirements and deem the program "a waste of time," but most prefer to focus on the positives, telling us that SHU is "full of spirit along with great academics in a well-balanced manner that allows for the best and fullest college experience one could ask for."

Students Say - Campus Life
People are heavily involved in community service, [with] Habitat for Humanity being the largest [service organization] on campus. "If you're into community service and volunteering"-and most students here are-"you'll be in your glory with the opportunities that are available for students." SHU undergrads take the school's mission of service seriously, although that doesn't mean they don't also know how to have a good time. "During the week the school is pretty laid back," but on weekends "a good portion of the student population goes out to clubs to drink." One student explains that "Sacred Heart isn't a party school so much as a bar school." Weekends are spent "frivolously" by many, although those who shun the alcohol scene say "the school does supply fun activities on campus" for them, including movie nights and concerts. Intercollegiate football, basketball, and hockey are all popular as well. Hometown Fairfield "offers shopping, good food, and the beach during warmer months" in addition to the clubs, and "The train is very close [to cam- pus] so you can ride to New Haven or New York City for the day."

Students Say - Student Body
The typical SHU undergrad "is pretty well-rounded [and is] involved in sports, community service, and clubs." She (two out of three students are female) is "preppy, friendly, and likes to have fun." The small size of the student body means that "everyone is involved in many different groups on campus" and that many "are student athletes. If they are not on one of the Division I sports teams then they are doing some type of club team." There are "a lot of people from Long Island" and an overall "strong Northeast presence (New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts in addition to Connecticut natives)." Many students (though hardly all) come from affluent families. As one student observes, "The parking lot says a lot. Lots of BMWs, Mercedes, and Audis." Other than their charitable undertakings, which are considerable, students tend not to look far beyond their daily lives and obligations. "The majority of students are not very active thinkers on world and political issues outside of their own lives," one student observes.

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