The University of Mary ... Leading,
Serving, Growing
Since the University of Mary's beginnings in the mid-1950s, its history has been one of rapid expansion. Founded in 1955 by The Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery as a two-year school, the former Mary College became a four-year degree-granting institution in 1959. It achieved university status -- becoming the University of Mary -- in 1986.
The University of Mary is the only private, Catholic university in North Dakota. It has been accredited by The Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1969. Since its incorporation in 1959, the university's enrollment has grown from 69 to more than 2,900.
Ever mindful of its mission to serve the region's religious, academic, and cultural needs, the University of Mary continues to strive for quality in its academic and co-curricular programs. Its undergraduate programs have grown from nursing and education to 44 majors, ranging from accounting to theology. In 1986, the university began offering master's degrees in nursing, management, and education, and went on to add master's programs in business administration, counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and project management. In 2005, the master's degree in physical therapy was replaced by a Doctor of Physical Therapy -- the university's first doctorate, which was first awarded to 26 graduates in 2006.
America's Leadership University
In 2001, the University of Mary unveiled its new vision as America's Leadership University. In this role, the university is committed to providing leadership experiences for every student.
Adult Learning
The University of Mary also has continued its mission by expanding learning options, making education accessible to working adults and supporting lifelong learning in the region and beyond. The University of Mary School of Accelerated and Distance Education (formerly the College for Professional Studies) offers accelerated undergraduate and graduate programs for the adult learner. Today, the University of Mary School of Accelerated and Distance Education has a total of 16 sites in the Upper Midwest and beyond, including the Butler Center in downtown Bismarck, Fargo Center in Fargo, ND, and Billings Center in Billings, MT.
In 2005, the University of Mary further extended the accessibility of its programs by launching M.B.A. programs online. Today, students can earn graduate and undergraduate degrees online through U-Mary's School of Accelerated and Distance Education. U-Mary's online MBA programs were recently rated among the Top 40 "Best Buys" in their class by GetEducated.com, an online consumers' clearinghouse on accredited online degrees. The University of Mary also was among 30 Schools included in Military Advanced Education (MAE) magazine's 2007 listing of 30 Top Colleges and Universities for members of the military service.
NCAA Division II and New Levels of Excellence
Taking leadership to a new level, in 2006, the University of Mary became a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, setting a new standard of quality in programs campus-wide. In July 2007, the NCAA waived the last two required years of U-Mary's provisional status and the university became an active member Sept. 1, 2007.
In 2006, U-Mary also launched the Gary Tharaldson School of Business. Named for North Dakota hospitality entrepreneur and industry innovator Gary Tharaldson, the new school -- the university's first -- is a new model for preparing students for business careers that is uniquely designed to bridge the gap between the academic and business world. It is anticipated that the new 29,000-square-foot, flagship facility that will house the Tharaldson School will open its doors in August 2008.
Today, with a faculty and staff of more than 200, the University of Mary remains committed to continuing the mission of its founders and to serving the people of the region in a spirit that fosters servant-leadership.
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