DeSales University

DeSales University (DSU) is a private Catholic university in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. The university offers traditional, online, and hybrid courses and programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Named for St. Francis de Sales, the university was founded in 1964 as "Allentown College of Saint Francis de Sales" by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.

DeSales has six academic divisions: Business, Healthcare Professions, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Nursing, Performing Arts, and Sciences & Mathematics. It is classified among "Doctoral/Professional Universities".

History

At the request of Bishop of the Allentown Diocese Joseph McShea, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales began planning for the new college in April 1962, and the charter for Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales, with full power to award the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, was granted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on May 27, 1964. Classes began for freshmen in September 1965. Allentown College was fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools during the 1969–1970 academic year. In September 1970, the college became a co-educational institution. ACCESS, the college's continuing education department, was established in the fall of 1977. In the spring of 1988, the college opened the Easton campus, an extension of its ACCESS evening degree program.

The college's course offerings continued to grow. A Master of Science in Nursing degree was introduced in 1984; the Master of Science in Management Information Systems in September 1988; and an M.Ed. program in the summer of 1989. In August 1991, the college began its MBA program which has now grown to be the second largest MBA program in the state of Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1998, the college became the first Catholic college in the country to offer a major in marriage and family studies.

On March 1, 2000, Allentown College received official notification from the Pennsylvania Department of Education that its application for university status had been approved. In addition, the department approved the use of the name "DeSales University"; (DSU). The college's board of trustees voted in favor of these changes on April 13, 2000.

Rev. James J. Greenfield, OSFS, took over as the university's fourth president on January 1, 2018.

Academics

The student-faculty ratio at DeSales University is 12:1, and the school has 54.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at DeSales University include: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse; Business Administration and Management, General; Psychology, General; Accounting; Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other; Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General; Criminal Justice/Safety Studies; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Finance, General; and Marketing/Marketing Management, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 82 percent.

More than 80% of undergraduate, full-time day students receive some form of financial aid.

University rankings

The 2022-23 edition of ''Best Colleges'' from ''U.S. News & World Report'' ranked DeSales University as 285th (tie) in "National Universities".

The 2020 edition of ''Best Colleges'' from ''U.S. News & World Report'' ranked DeSales University as 59th (tie) in the "Regional Universities North", 36th in "Best Value Schools", and 33rd (tie) in "Best Colleges for Veterans".

Accreditations

DeSales is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The Physician Assistant Program also holds accreditation from the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP). Business and business related programs are accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). DeSales University's Doctor of Physical Therapy program has received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Financial planning programs are CFP Board Registered Programs.

Salesian Center for Faith & Culture

Established in 2000, the Salesian Center for Faith & Culture is the first center for research and development at DeSales
University. On campus, the Salesian Center sponsors annual events for students, including the Heritage Week celebrations, the Center
Valley Forum series, the Ruggiero Lectures, and the John Paul II Arts & Culture series. Students can also become members of the
Salesian Center through enrollment in the Faith & Reason Honors Program or the Ryan Leadership Institute. Students may also
participate in special research projects directed by the center.

The Salesian Center administers the Forum for Ethics in the Workplace whose mission is "to provide opportunities for people to come together for study, reflection, conversation, and action on ethical issues in the workplace, especially in the Greater Lehigh Valley." The Societas Award is awarded annually to one or more companies that demonstrate responsible business conduct. This award program honors those employers who meet the needs of others through the production of goods and services, the organization of good and productive work, and the creation of sustainable wealth distributed justly. The 2017 award winners were BerkOne (large company), Concannon Miller (mid-size company), and KMRD Partners (small company).

Campus

The main DeSales campus is located on over in Upper Saucon Township on the south side of the Lehigh Valley. The developed part of the campus, comprising , is listed as the DeSales University census-designated place, with a residential population of 953 as of the 2010 census.

Buildings

Dooling Hall is named in honor of Fr. J. Stuart Dooling, OSFS, first president of Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales. Dooling Hall is the main academic building consisting of four wings and a central area and is home to the majority of liberal arts classrooms.

The Gambet Center for Business and Health Care Education includes simulation laboratories, globally integrated classrooms and administrative operations for undergraduate and graduate health care and business degree programs. This building is named for Fr. Daniel G. Gambet, OSFS, president emeritus of DeSales University.

The Hurd Science Center is a 36,000 square foot facility located on Station Avenue (on the Brisson Campus side). The center is named in honor of Mrs. Priscilla Payne Hurd, a generous benefactor of numerous buildings and programs throughout the Lehigh Valley. The building features 24-seat laboratories designed specifically for the various science disciplines offered at DeSales, a 99-seat lecture hall, conference rooms, faculty offices, and small individual laboratories for faculty and student research.

The Labuda Center is home to the theatre, dance, and television and film departments. The Labuda Center has three stages, a dance studio, and a TV/Film studio. The production facilities include two dressing rooms, a scene shop, costume shop, and an electric shop. The Iacocca Studio has television and film equipment. The Main Stage Theater is the primary performance space for the theater and dance programs. Its auditorium seats 473 in an orchestra and balcony arrangement. The Schubert Theater is a 200-seat, black-box performing space that offers a non-proscenium experience with the furthest seat no more than 25 feet from the stage. The Labuda Center was named for Monsignor Felix Labuda, pastor of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Bethlehem, who was the major contributor for the building. The dedication and first production were held on February 26, 1982. The Albert M. Iacocca TV/Film Studios were named in honor of Albert M. Iacocca, the late co-owner of Yocco's restaurants and benefactor of the university.

The Trexler Library, dedicated to the memory of local industrialist Harry Clay Trexler, is located in the center of campus. Built in 1988, the 36,000 sq. ft. facility hosts the 55-seat theatre-style Air Products Room, two computer classrooms, the McFadden Room which houses the Salesian collection, and ten group study rooms. The collection includes over 141,000 paper books and 130,000 electronic books, 265 newspaper and paper journal subscriptions, access to over 12,000 full text online journals, and over 8,000 educational streaming videos. The Trexler Library serves as both a university and a community library.

Student life

First-year students participate in Character U to facilitate the transition to college with events and peer mentoring. There are several student clubs and organizations and a student programming center to plan activities (games, movie nights, bus trips, etc.) for the students of DeSales University.

Athletics

Billera Hall is an 82,500 sq. ft. recreational facility with a fitness center
with weights and aerobic areas, a gym with 3 full basketball courts, a running track and roll down curtains that can separate the large
space into 3 smaller stations as needed for basketball, volleyball, or tennis. As one large space, the courts can be used for lacrosse,
baseball, or track practice. Outdoor facilities
include a soccer field, turf field for lacrosse field, softball field, baseball field, and track.

DeSales has 18 varsity athletic teams. They compete in NCAA Division III within the MAC Freedom of the Middle Atlantic Conferences. Club sports include: swimming, tennis, cheerleading, the dance team, equestrian team, men's and women's rugby, men's ice hockey and men's volleyball.

In 2017, DeSales women's basketball earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Mascot

Frankie the Bulldog is a french bulldog, and varsity athletic teams use the nickname "Bulldogs".

Before 2001, the mascot for Allentown College was a centaur, and teams had the moniker "Allentown College Centaurs".

Student media

''The DeSales Messenger'' is the university's only student-run newspaper. WDSR is the university's internet radio-only station.

Affiliations

DeSales is a private, four-year Catholic university for men and women administered by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. DeSales is also a member of the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC), which offers cross-registration and interlibrary loan with other Lehigh Valley-based institutions.

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

The Division of Performing Arts hosts the annual Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival and features a 473-seat theater commercially operated by students.

Center for Data Analytics

The DeSales University Division of Business hosts the Center for Data Analytics.

DeSales Free Clinic at Allentown Rescue Mission

A student-run, student-funded clinic provides completely free primary and acute care, laboratory services and medications to the men seeking shelter or enrolled in a recovery program at the Allentown Rescue Mission.

Notable alumni

*Steve Burns, actor, ''Blue's Clues''
* Jim Chern, Catholic priest and co-host of "''The Catholic Guy Show''" on Sirius XM Satellite Radio
*Alexie Gilmore, actress, ''New Amsterdam''
*Michele Knotz, voice actress, ''The World of Narue, Pokémon''
*Peter Augustine Lawler, member of the Council on Bioethics and award-winning professor, author, and lecturer
* Joseph F. Leeson Jr., judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
*Roger MacLean, former acting mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania
* Niki and Gabi, American twin duo of singers, social media influencers, and actresses (attended but did not graduate)
*Stacie Lynn Renna, actress, ''Star Trek: Enterprise''
*Zack Robidas, actor, Succession'', ''Friends from College'', and ''Sorry for Your Loss''
*Dee Roscioli, Broadway actress, '' Wicked''
*Marnie Schulenburg, actress, ''As the World Turns''

Notable faculty

* Chuck Gloman, cinematographer
* Richard Noll, historian of medicine, anthropologist and clinical psychologist
* Katherine Ramsland, true-crime author

References

External links

Official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Desales University
1964 establishments in Pennsylvania
Catholic universities and colleges in Pennsylvania

Educational institutions established in 1964
Salesian colleges and universities
Universities and colleges in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania