Rosemont College

Rosemont College was founded in 1921 by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus on the Sinnott estate in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. From those early days until the present, the spirit of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus has been an integral part of the growth of the college. Holy Child education is both a clearly defined and flexible ideal. It is a tradition rooted in Christian values and expressions and attuned to learning opportunities which enable students to respond to life with joy, zeal, and compassion. Rosemont College encourage students to meet diversity and change with confidence in their own gifts and in God who has made covenant with the human family.

In the 19th century, Cornelia Connelly, an American convert to Catholicism, founded the Society of the Holy Child Jesus and opened her first school in England. Cornelia's Society was grounded in the Incarnation: In becoming one of us, God conferred dignity on humankind. Thus, Cornelia reasoned simply, each person is worthy of respect and reverence. Cornelia Connelly, foundress of the sponsoring congregation, has been the force behind Rosemont's mission to educate women and men "to meet the wants of the age."

Rosemont is empowered by its Charter to grant degrees in Arts, Science and Letters. Today Rosemont is one college with three schools: the Undergraduate College, the School of Graduate Studies and the School of Graduate & Professional Studies. In 2001, the Board of Trustees affirmed the purpose of Rosemont College: to offer undergraduate degrees to women and men through the Undergraduate College and graduate and undergraduate degrees to women and men through the Schools of Graduate and Graduate & Professional Studies.

The Undergraduate College grants Bachelor of Arts degrees, Bachelor of Science degrees, and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in 22 major subjects. The Undergraduate College also provides students the opportunity to participate in study abroad programs, art exchanges, internships, and special programs in pre-law and pre-medicine.

The School of Graduate Studies, established in 1986 with the introduction of a single program, grants Master of Education degrees in Technology and Education, Master of Arts degrees in English, Counseling Psychology, English and Publishing, and Master of Education degrees in Middle School Education and Educational Studies.

In 1994, the School of Graduate & Professional Studies (formerly known as ROCAD) was founded to meet the needs of working professional women and men. Through sites in and around the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys, the School of Graduate & Professional Studies grants Bachelor of Science degrees in accounting, human resource management, and management, Bachelor of Arts degrees in organizational development and business communication, Master of Science degrees in management, and Master of Business Administration degrees in an accelerated format. The School of Graduate & Professional Studies also offers women the opportunity to begin or complete an undergraduate degree through part-time study through the Rosemont Educational Advancement Program (REAP), as well offering non-credit courses to the local community through Enrichment Classes and to women and men over the age of 55 through The Rosemont Forum.

Rosemont Timeline
1941
The Immaculate Conception Chapel is completed. World War II begins and Rosemont students and alumnae contribute time and money in war relief efforts.

1954
The Science Hall and McShain Auditorium are built.

1956
Cardinal Hall, a new dining hall, is built and named after Dennis Cardinal Dougherty, Archbishop of Philadelphia and supporter of the College since its beginning.

1957
Senator John F. Kennedy visits Rosemont and speaks to students and faculty in Main Building.

1958
Kaul Hall is built as a new dormitory and named after Bertha Kaul Kistler, mother of Gertrude Kistler.

1961
Alumnae Hall is built, housing the new "T" Deli and Gymnasium.

1962
Mother Mary George O'Reilly, SHCJ becomes the seventh president of Rosemont College.

1964
Heffernan Hall is built as a dormitory and named in memory of Margaret Heffernan, mother of Clare Heffernan Shlora ‘47 and Frances Heffernan Rooney ‘48.

1967
The Student Government Association begins a drive toward participation in decision making, resulting in the formation of a College Council. Debates over the next few years flourish over curfews, parietals, curricula, and dress codes.

1968
Lawrence Hall is built for more classroom space, art studios, and faculty and administrative offices.

1971
"The Grind" is created as a student entertainment center on the lower level of Cardinal Hall. (It is later moved to Alumnae Hall.)

1979
Dorothy McKenna Brown, Ed D Sc. becomes the first lay person to be inaugurated as the president of Rosemont College.

1981
A fire destroys Connelly Hall's living room.

1986
The School of Graduate Studies is established.

1990
The first earned graduate degree is conferred on Anne H. Franz.

1991
The Science Hall is gutted, redesigned, and renamed the Dorothy McKenna Brown Science Building.

1994
The School of Graduate & Professional Studies is established.

2000
Rathalla is refurbished and renamed Main Building to honor the days of the College's founding