Editing Assumption University (Worcester)

{{Short description|Catholic university in Massachusetts, US}}
{{Use American English|date = April 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox university
| name                  = Assumption University
| image                 = Assumption University seal.svg
| image_upright         = 0.7
| former_name           = Assumption College (1904–2020)
| motto                 = Until Christ be Formed in You
| type                  = [[Private university]]
| established           = {{Start date and age|1904|10|1}}<ref name="moynihan">Assumption College: A Centennial History 1904 - 2004, Kenneth J. Moynihan. Pp. 40.</ref>
| founder               = Congregation of the [[Augustinians of the Assumption]]
| religious_affiliation = [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] ([[Augustinians of the Assumption|Assumptionist]])
| academic_affiliations = [[National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities|NAICU]], [[Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities|ACCU]], [[International Federation of Catholic Universities|IFCU]], [[Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts|HECCMA]]
| endowment             = $93.9 million (2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/EndowmentFiles/2016-Endowment-Market-Values.pdf|title=U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2016 Endowment Market Value and Change* in Endowment Market Value from FY2015 to FY2016|date=February 2017|website=NACUBO|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215040947/http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/EndowmentFiles/2016%2DEndowment%2DMarket%2DValues.pdf|archive-date=February 15, 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=March 23, 2017}}</ref>
| president             = Gregory S. Weiner<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.assumption.edu/news-and-events/news/assumption-university-names-interim-president-greg-weiner-phd-17th-president |title=Assumption University Names Interim President Greg Weiner, Ph.D., as 17th President &#124; Assumption University |access-date=December 26, 2022 |archive-date=December 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226162649/https://www.assumption.edu/news-and-events/news/assumption-university-names-interim-president-greg-weiner-phd-17th-president |url-status=live }}</ref>
| faculty               = 139 Full-time
| students              = 2,349
| undergrad             = 1,955<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Assumption+College&s=all&id=164562|title=College Navigator - Assumption College|website=nces.ed.gov|access-date=November 25, 2019|archive-date=December 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202095041/https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Assumption+College&s=all&id=164562|url-status=live}}</ref>
| postgrad              = 394<ref name="auto"/>
| city                  = [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]]
| state                 = [[Massachusetts]]
| country               = United States
| coordinates           = {{coord|42.2905|N|71.8295|W|region:US_type:edu|display=inline,title}}
| campus                = [[Suburban]], {{convert|185|acre|1}}
| colors                = Blue {{colour box|blue|border=silver}} and {{colour box|white|border=silver}} White<ref>{{cite web|title=Assumption College Publication Standards-Assumption College|url=http://www.assumption.edu/news/publication-standards|publisher=Assumption College|access-date=September 26, 2014|archive-date=September 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140918104103/http://www.assumption.edu/news/publication-standards|url-status=live}}</ref>
| sports_nickname       = [[Assumption Greyhounds|Greyhounds]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.assumptiongreyhounds.com/landing/index|title=Assumption University Greyhounds Athletics News|website=Assumption|access-date=June 26, 2020|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101024754/https://www.assumptiongreyhounds.com/landing/index|url-status=live}}</ref>
| sporting_affiliations = [[NCAA Division II]] – [[Northeast-10 Conference]]
| mascot                = Pierre the Greyhound
| athletics             = 
| website               = {{URL|https://www.assumption.edu/|assumption.edu}}
| logo                  = Assumpt univ textlogo.png
| logo_size             = 200
}}

'''Assumption University''' is a [[Private university|private]], [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] university in [[Worcester, Massachusetts]], United States. Assumption was founded in 1904 by the [[Augustinians of the Assumption]]. It enrolls about 2,000 students<ref name="USN">{{Cite web |title=College Navigator - Assumption University |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Assumption+College&s=all&id=164562#enrolmt |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=nces.ed.gov}}</ref> and offers 37 majors and 50 minors. The university confers [[Bachelor of Arts]] and [[Bachelor of Science]] degrees in its undergraduate program, and [[Master of Arts]], [[Master of Science]], and [[Master of Business Administration]] degrees as well as graduate study certificates.

With the transition from Assumption College to Assumption University in 2020, Assumption reorganized into five schools: the D'Amour College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Grenon School of Business, the Froelich School of Nursing, the School of Health Professions, and the School of Graduate Studies.

==History==
===Early years===
Assumption was founded in 1904 by the [[Augustinians of the Assumption]], a Catholic order under the [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] Rule dedicated to service through teaching and the hastening of the Kingdom of God, as reflected in their motto "Until Christ be Formed in You". The original campus was in the Greendale section of Worcester, on a tract of hillside land.  In these early years, enrollment was exclusively male, primarily of [[French-Canadian]] heritage. Most courses were taught in [[French language|French]], with only a small number taught in English.  On March 24, 1923, an arson fire destroyed the Greendale building that held both the college classrooms and the student dormitories.<ref>"College Burns Down, Incendiary Suspected— Students of Catholic Institution in Greendale, Mass., Escape in Their Night Clothes, ''The New York Times'', March 25, 1923, p. 1</ref>

On June 9, 1953, [[1953 Worcester Tornado|a violent F4 tornado]] cut a path of destruction through several western and central [[Massachusetts]] communities, including the city of Worcester.  Several campus buildings were destroyed or severely damaged. Although the previously co-located [[Assumption Preparatory School]] stayed on the rebuilt campus until 1970, the college relocated to a new campus off Salisbury Street, on the west side of the city, officially opening in 1956. The old Assumption campus complex was sold to the state after the prep school closed and is today the home of [[Quinsigamond Community College]].

=== Transition to university ===
On June 10, 2020, Assumption College officially transitioned to Assumption University. With this transition, the university reorganized into five schools: the D'Amour College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Grenon School of Business, the Froelich School of Nursing, the School of Health Professions, and the School of Graduate Studies.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hanson |first=Melissa |date=2020-06-11 |title=Assumption College in Worcester officially transitions to Assumption University |url=https://www.masslive.com/worcester/2020/06/assumption-college-in-worcester-officially-transitions-to-assumption-university.html |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=MassLive |language=en}}</ref>

On October 17, 2022, interim president Greg Weiner was appointed the 17th president of Assumption. President Weiner was formally installed at his inauguration held on March 23, 2023. He is the first Jewish president of a Catholic college or university in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Smilk |first=Carin M. |date=2023-03-29 |title=Greg Weiner becomes first Jewish president of US Catholic university to date |url=https://www.jns.org/greg-weiner-becomes-first-jewish-president-of-us-catholic-university-to-date/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=Jewish News Syndicate|language=en-US}}</ref>

Assumption's first class of nursing students graduated from the Froelich School of Nursing in 2023 with a 100 percent passing rate on the [[National Council Licensure Examination]] for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nursing Class of 2023 Has 100 Percent NCLEX-RN® Passing Rate |url=https://www.assumption.edu/news-and-events/news/nursing-class-of-2023-has-100-percent-nclex-rn-passing-rate |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=Assumption University |language=en-US}}</ref> The program was then granted professional accreditation in 2024 from the [[Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Assumption University {{!}} Council for Higher Education Accreditation |url=https://www.chea.org/assumption-university |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=chea.org}}</ref>

In October 2024, Assumption's Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program was granted accreditation-provisional status from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burton |first=Kristi |title=Accreditation History-Assumption U |url=https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-assumption-university/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=ARC-PA |language=en-US}}</ref> The first cohort of PA students began in January 2025.

In December 2024, five students at Assumption University were charged with kidnapping and conspiracy after an incident in which police said the students attacked an active-duty member of the U.S. military, accusing him of being a sexual predator. Police said there was no evidence that the man was trying to date anyone under age 18, but he had been lured to campus by a student who identified herself on the dating app [[Tinder (app)|Tinder]] as an adult. One of the five students was also charged with intimidation and another with assault and battery with a deadly weapon, after telling campus police that he slammed the victim's head into a car door. A sixth student involved was a minor. Police said the students posted videos of the attack online, participating in a fad on the video app [[TikTok]] based on the former reality TV show ''[[To Catch a Predator]]''. Assumption president Greg Weiner said the behavior described by police was "abhorrent and antithetical to Assumption University's mission and values."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/05/us/assumption-university-students-catch-a-predator-tiktok.html | title=Students Charged in 'To Catch a Predator' TikTok Scheme | work=The New York Times | last=Holpuch | first=Amanda }}</ref>

== Campus ==
Assumption's 185-acre (75 ha) campus is in [[Worcester, Massachusetts]], [[New England]]'s second-largest city behind [[Boston]], and located 43 miles (69&nbsp;km) to the east. The campus sits in a neighborhood off Salisbury Street on the northwest side of the city.

The original Assumption campus was in the Greendale section of Worcester but was destroyed in the 1953 [[1953 Worcester tornado|Worcester tornado]] that killed nearly 94 people in central Massachusetts. Assumption relocated to its current location off Salisbury Street, officially opening in 1956 with the completion of La Maison Francaise. Many campus buildings prominently feature [[stained glass]] windows in their design, and in some cases (such as in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit) the windows were recovered from the university's Greendale campus, which was destroyed by the 1953 tornado, and are now dedicated in memory of the three Assumption community members who perished in the storm.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kush|first=Bronislaus B. |title=Windows back at Assumption after suffering twister's wrath |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/north/2013/06/02/windows-back-at-assumption-after/45747283007/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Worcester Telegram & Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref>

As of 2025, the campus consists of 47 buildings, including 16 residential options, 10 academic buildings, and six athletic facilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Assumption University |url=https://assumption.university-tour.com/interactive-map |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=assumption.university-tour.com |language=en}}</ref> The campus is also home to the Emmanuel d'Alzon Library, completed in 1988 and named after [[Emmanuel d'Alzon]], a [[French Catholic]] priest who founded the [[Assumptionists]].

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit serves as the center of the university's spiritual community. The Chapel and adjoining Tinsley Campus Ministry Center welcome students regardless of their religion to freely practice their faith through the various Catholic and interfaith services and facilities they offer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prayer and Worship Opportunities on Campus |url=https://www.assumption.edu/campus-life/spiritual-life/prayer-and-worship |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=Assumption University |language=en-US}}</ref>

As part of a university investment in developing a [[nursing]] program, the Richard J. and Sophia Catrambone Health Sciences Center was completed in November 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hanson|first=Melissa |date=2019-05-11 |title=Assumption College knew small colleges were going to face trouble; Here's what they did to stay sustainable |url=https://www.masslive.com/worcester/2019/05/assumption-college-knew-small-colleges-were-going-to-face-trouble-president-says-forward-thinking-lead-them-to-construct-new-building.html |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=MassLive |language=en}}</ref> The 41,000-square-foot, three-story building features state-of-the-art nursing education equipment and is home to the Froelich School of Nursing.

In 2020, Assumption formally named Brian Kelly '83 Stadium in honor of football head coach [[Brian Kelly (American football coach)|Brian Kelly]], a member of the class of 1983.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Matthews|first=Tom|date=2020-11-30 |title=Assumption University names stadium after alum, Notre Dame football head coach Brian Kelly |url=https://www.masslive.com/worcester/2020/11/notre-dame-football-coach-brian-kelly-has-stadium-at-assumption-university-in-worcester-named-after-him.html |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=MassLive |language=en}}</ref>

The university's primary dining hall, Taylor Dining Hall, underwent a $1 million renovation project in 2024 as a part of a new partnership with [[Aramark]] Collegiate Hospitality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Assumption swaps dining services provider as university prepares for $1M renovation of dining hall |url=https://www.wbjournal.com/article/assumption-swaps-dining-services-provider-as-university-prepares-for-1m-renovation-of |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=Worcester Business Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Athletics==
{{main|Assumption Greyhounds}}
Assumption University teams participate as a member of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]'s [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] in most sports. The Greyhounds are a member of the [[Northeast-10 Conference]] (NE10).

In 1979, Assumption became one of the founding member institutions of the NE10 (then the Northeast-7). Longtime Assumption men's basketball head coach Andy Laska is considered a "founding father" of the conference.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Conference History |url=https://northeast10.org/sports/2024/6/10/History.aspx#:~:text=The%20NE10%20began%20with%20just,men's%20soccer%20and%20women's%20tennis. |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=northeast10.org |language=en}}</ref>

In 2022, it was announced that the women's ice hockey team would compete in the [[New England Women's Hockey Alliance]], an NCAA [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] conference.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2022-06-29 |title=Assumption accepts invitation to join NEWHA as its eighth member |url=https://www.newhaonline.com/general/2021-22/releases/20220629o1o8px |language=en}}</ref> It is the only team at Assumption to compete in Division I.

Current men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis and track & field; women's sports include basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.

Assumption also offers several club sports, including men's and women's basketball, cheerleading, a dance team, equestrian, figure skating, fishing, gymnastics, Latin dance, martial arts, running, ultimate frisbee, men's and women's volleyball, women's soccer, and women's weightlifting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Club Sports |url=https://www.assumption.edu/campus-life/student-groups-and-activities/intramural-and-club-sports/club-sports |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=Assumption University |language=en-US}}</ref>

In addition, Assumption offers intramural sports tournaments each academic year. These sports include 5v5 basketball, battleship, beach volleyball, dodgeball, flag football, floor hockey, indoor soccer, kickball, lawn games, ping-pong, soccer, soccer billiards, softball, volleyball, wallyball, and wiffle ball.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Intramural Sports |url=https://www.assumption.edu/campus-life/student-groups-and-activities/intramural-and-club-sports/intramural-sports |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=Assumption University |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2024, Assumption earned its 14th straight NCAA President's Award for Academic Excellence, presented annually to NCAA Division II athletics programs with a 90 percent or higher academic success rate (ASR). Assumption is just one of seven schools to win the award each year it has been presented.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-21 |title=44 DII schools receive Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence |url=https://www.ncaa.org/news/2024/11/21/media-center-43-dii-schools-receive-presidents-award-for-academic-excellence.aspx |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=NCAA.org |language=en}}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
[[Assumption Preparatory School]] graduates are included in this list of notable Assumption University alumni:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www1.assumption.edu/alums/Prep/history.html | title=History of Assumption Preparatory School | publisher=Assumption College | access-date=October 16, 2009 | archive-date=July 12, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712180436/http://www1.assumption.edu/alums/Prep/history.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Robert Catalanotti]] (1980), [[United States Army]] [[Major general (United States)|major general]]
* [[Chris Colabello]] (2003), [[Major League Baseball]] player
* [[Jacques Ducharme]] (1932), novelist and historian
* [[Ernest Fortin]] (1946), theology professor
* [[Jay A. García-Gregory]] (1966), [[United States federal judge]]
* [[Ashton Grant]] (2019), [[National Football League]] quarterbacks coach
* [[Mike Gravel]] (1949), [[United States Senate|United States senator]] from [[Alaska]]
* [[Frank C. Guinta]] (1993), [[United States House of Representatives|United States congressman]] representing NH-01
* [[Andy Hallett]] (1997), singer and actor
* [[Deonte Harty]] (2019), National Football League player
* [[Jake Jones (basketball)|Jake Jones]] (1971), [[National Basketball Association]] player
* [[Brian Kelly (American football coach)|Brian Kelly]] (1983), [[college football]] coach
* [[Dan McKee]] (1973), 76th [[Governor of Rhode Island]]
* [[Nitza Morán]], member of the [[Senate of Puerto Rico]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Senado de Puerto Rico |url=https://senado.pr.gov/senators/hon-nitza-mor%C3%A1n-trinidad |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=senado.pr.gov}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>
* [[Harold Naughton Jr.]] (1982), [[Massachusetts House of Representatives|Massachusetts State Legislator]]
* [[Joe O'Brien (basketball)|Joe O'Brien]] (1957), [[college basketball]] coach
* [[Mary O'Grady]] (1979), ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' editor
* [[Michael Ritchie (artistic director)|Michael Ritchie]] (1979), artistic director of the [[Center Theatre Group]]
* [[Richard Ryscavage]] (1967), sociology professor
* [[Timothy J. Savage]] (1968), United States federal judge
* [[Scott Simonson]] (2014), National Football League player
* [[Jeffrey W. Talley]] (1985), 32nd Chief of [[United States Army Reserve]]
* [[Zach Triner]] (2014), National Football League player

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://assumptiongreyhounds.com/ Athletics website]

{{COWC}}
{{Northeast-10 Conference navbox}}
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[[Category:Assumption University (Worcester)| ]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Worcester, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Catholic universities and colleges in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1904]]
[[Category:Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities]]
[[Category:1904 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Augustinians of the Assumption]]
[[Category:Liberal arts colleges in Massachusetts]]