ST. JEROME’S UNIVERSITY

ST. JEROME’S UNIVERSITY

The College of St. Jerome’s was established in 1865 by Roman Catholic priests from the congregation of the Resurrection to educate the growing number of German-speaking students in Waterloo County. With Reverend Dr. Louis Funcken as its first president, the school originally offered two courses of study – a four-year academic program designed to prepare for professional studies or for the priesthood, and a two-year commercial program designed to produce strong Catholic business leaders. In the decades following its founding, the college developed gradually, improving and expanding its curricula. In 1947, it affiliated with the University of Ottawa and in 1959 it gained independent university status and became the University of St. Jerome’s College. The next year, St. Jerome’s entered into federation with the University of Waterloo as the founding church college of that institution. In 2000, the college officially changed its name to St. Jerome’s University.

Ontario Heritage Trust, an agency of the Government of Ontario

Sarah J. McCabe

May 13, 2018