Silver Lake College is a four-year, Catholic liberal arts college located in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States, in the Diocese of Green Bay. Founded as an academy in 1885 by the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, the college achieved four-year college status in 1935 and was then called Holy Family College. In 1972 the college became separately incorporated from the Franciscan order, and was renamed Silver Lake College of the Holy Family. Robert B. Callahan is the college's president.
History
Silver Lake College - Segment Featured on Living with Amy.
Silver Lake College of the Holy Family traces its history to 1885 when the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity established Holy Family Academy and Normal School to prepare young women who entered the religious community for teaching. They founded Holy Family College in 1935. The college began admitting lay women in 1957 and became coeducational in 1969.
The college was located in a wing of Holy Family Convent for 25 years. In the late 1950s, a capital campaign was launched to build a new college building on 36 acres adjacent to Holy Family Convent. The new Holy Family College building opened in 1960. In 1972 the college became separately incorporated from the Franciscan order, and was renamed Silver Lake College of the Holy Family.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Silver Lake College of the Holy Family expanded programs to nontraditional students. Beginning in the mid 1980s, the college also offered degree-completion programs and professional development coursework.
The St. Joseph Parish church and school, located on campus, added space for meetings, classes and offices. It was named the Generose Enrichment Center for the first college president, Mother M. Generose Cahill, and opened in 2003.
George F. Arnold was appointed the college's first lay president and served from 2004 to 2013.
Clare Hall was renovated to offer on-campus student housing in 2009.
Dr. Robert B. Callahan became Silver Lake College's 11th president in 2018.
Enrollment
Enrollment is approximately 500 students from the United States and other countries.
- 32% male
- 68% female
- 14% minority
Academics
Degrees offered
Silver Lake College offers 21 undergraduate programs and three graduate programs. Degrees offered include: Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Music; Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Master of Arts in Education with a focus on teacher leadership or administrator leadership; Master of Music in music education with a Kodály emphasis; and Master of Science with a focus on management and organizational development.
Other programs
Accelerated evening coursework on the main campus in Manitowoc and at outreach sites in the state are offered to those with associate degrees who are pursuing a bachelor's or graduate degree. Programs also include academic counseling and credit for prior learning. Other available coursework includes teacher certification and certificate programs ranging from business to ministry to social work.
Four-year nursing program
With a Bachelor of Science in nursing completion program already in place, Silver Lake College opened a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in its renovated, $1.5 million nursing wing in 2016.
Work college
In 2016 Silver Lake College initiated SLC Works, a program that incorporates jobs into students' schedules in order to give them work experience, build their resumés and apply money earned toward their student debt. In the 2016-17 academic year, all new full-time residential freshmen and transfer students began participating in SLC Works as a condition of enrollment.
Athletics
The college joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 2016. Silver Lake College offers men's basketball, women's basketball, women's volleyball, men's soccer, men's cross country, women's cross country, and golf.
Accreditation
Silver Lake College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the National Association of Schools of Music, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
State of Wisconsin certifications
The college's certifications include the Wisconsin Board of Nursing, Wisconsin Social Work Certificate, and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Memberships
Silver Lake is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Notes
External links
- Silver Lake College website
- Silver Lake College athletics website