Christian education perfects the soul. That’s the motto of St. John’s University Queens Campus. Founded in 1870 by the Vincentian Fathers, St. John’s University began with a mission. That mission was to provide New York’s youth with a Catholic university education.
Originally named the College of St. John the Baptist, the first campus was in Brooklyn. Ground broke on St. John’s College Hall on May 28 1868. The cornerstone was laid on July 25 1869. It opened for education on September 5 1870.
St. John’s Vincentian values come from St. Vincent de Paul. He is the patron saint of Christian charity. The university seeks to encourage social justice, charity, and service. The Vincentian Center for Church and Society serves as a developer of Vincentian information. It researches poverty and develops social justice resources. It is an academic and cultural programming center.
The St. John’s University Seal has a Latin and a Greek phrase. The Latin phrase means Seal of St. John’s University New York. The Greek phrase translates to A lamp burning and shining. This references how Jesus describes St. John the Baptist. The University Crest has the Latin phrase Educatio Christiana Animae Perfectio. This translates to A Christian education perfects the soul.
Beginning with the law school in 1925, St. John’s established other schools. It became a university in 1933. In April 1936, St. John’s bought the Hillcrest Golf Club land. The university intended to move the school to the new site. On February 11 1954, St. John’s broke ground on a new campus in Hillcrest Queens. This was on the former site of the Hillcrest Golf Club. The shovel used was the same shovel that had broken ground on the original campus in 1868.
Over the next two decades, the other schools relocated to Queens. The last of the schools moved there in 1972. In 1999, the first residence halls were completed on the Queens campus. This made it easier for out-of-state and international students to attend.
St. John’s University is a Catholic non-profit. It is controlled by a board of trustees chosen by the Vincentian order. Brian J. Shanley is the current president.
St. John’s is a large doctoral and research university. The university is organized into six colleges and schools. These include St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Other schools are the School of Education and the Peter J. Tobin College of Business. Also included are the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the St. John’s University School of Law.
In 2019, St. John’s student body numbered over 21000 students. Students came from 46 states and 119 countries. St. John’s University is one of the most diverse colleges in the United States. The school promotes homeless student enrollment. It emphasizes enrolling students from less favorable financial circumstances. In 2019, St. John’s offered 100% of incoming students scholarships. These averaged over $23000 per student.
St. John’s employs over 1400 faculty members. Over 92 percent possess a doctorate or terminal degree. The student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1.
St. John’s University’s main campus is in Hillcrest Queens. This campus houses academic buildings and residence halls. It also has athletic facilities and the St. Augustine Library. The D’Angelo Center features banquet space, classrooms, and a food court.
St. John’s University students receive preparation to be successful after graduation. They also receive hope, compassion, awareness, and courage. St. John’s-educated leaders find career inspiration from wanting to make the world a better place.