# Edgewood College

Edgewood College is a private Dominican college in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. The college occupies a 55 acres (22 ha) campus overlooking the shores of Lake Wingra. It offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and 25 graduate degrees, and has an enrollment of approximately 2,000 students.

## History
### Establishment and junior college (1927)

In 1855, Edgewood College’s property was purchased by Mr. Ashmead from Governor Leonard J. Farwell and later developed by Samuel Marshall. Governor Cadwallader C. Washburn bought Edgewood Villa in 1873 and later donated it to the Dominican Sisters for educational use. In 1881, the Sisters opened St. Regina Academy, a private boarding school for girls, with an initial enrollment of 16 students. A new building was constructed in 1893, but a devastating fire later that year took the lives of three children and destroyed much of the property. The Sisters quickly raised funds and rebuilt the school, which reopened as Sacred Heart Academy in 1894.
By 1927, the growing school sought recognition as a junior college by the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The request was approved, and Edgewood Junior College opened in 1927 with 12 women enrolled. It offered a liberal arts curriculum and was financially accessible with tuition under $600 per year. Enrollment grew slowly through the Great Depression, with a focus on supporting women’s education. During this period, the college shared facilities and services with Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart. Edgewood’s junior college operated alongside the high school until it transitioned to a full-fledged college.
In 1941, Edgewood became a four-year college, receiving approval from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to award Bachelor of Science degrees in education. By 1942, the first 25 students graduated with degrees in education. Although enrollment grew slowly in the college's early years, many older students and Dominican Sisters attended to earn degrees in elementary education. Summer sessions attracted notable faculty, including world-renowned musician Nadia Boulanger. By 1948, the first international students enrolled, and in 1949, the college admitted its first African-American students.
The growth of Edgewood continued in the late 1940s with an increasingly diverse student body. The college hired its first African-American faculty member, Sharon Wexler, in 1956. The institution’s development, especially during the early to mid-20th century, highlighted its commitment to expanding educational opportunities and supporting students from a variety of backgrounds.

### Expansion to modern college (1950)

In 1950, Sister Mary Nona McGreal became president of the college, leading to significant academic changes, including the introduction of the Graduate Record Examination for seniors and American Council on Education tests for sophomores. The college also saw an influx of students from diverse backgrounds and began offering Saturday catechetical instruction. During this period, Edgewood expanded its campus with new buildings, including a biological station by Lake Wingra in 1956, and increased its enrollment. By 1966, the student body had grown from 142 to over 1,000. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Edgewood gained accreditation through organizations such as the Association of American Colleges and the Accreditation of Teacher Education.
In 1968, Edgewood became co-ed, and by the mid-1970s, enrollment and program offerings continued to expand. Sister Cecilia's leadership saw the introduction of a revised curriculum, a growing continuing education program, and the reinstatement of the Associate of Arts program in 1974. The 1980s brought challenges, including declining enrollment and financial struggles, but the college responded with fundraising campaigns, new programs, and grants. Notably, the nursing program received federal funding, and in 1983, the college's first male president, James Ebben, took office. Under his leadership, the college underwent significant improvements, including the renovation of the gym and the construction of new buildings such as the library and Weber Hall.
From 1988 to 2002, Edgewood experienced a building boom, with major construction projects such as the Sonderegger Science Center and the Henry J. Predolin Humanities Center. The college also saw an increase in retention rates and the diversity of its student body, with international students peaking in the late 1990s. Edgewood expanded its graduate programs and in 2002 introduced the Bachelor of Business Administration degree. This period marked a shift in the college's demographics, with fewer Catholic students and a growing focus on global connections.
These years also saw an emphasis on improving academic offerings, with new interdisciplinary programs like Women's Studies, the introduction of master's degrees in business and education, and accreditation for nursing programs. The college also made strides in strengthening its community connections, highlighted by new infrastructure like the Pleasure Drive and ongoing efforts to support both traditional and non-traditional students.

### From Edgewood College to Edgewood University (2025)

Following the approval of the college's board of trustees and the leadership council of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, leaders of Edgewood College plan to rename it Edgewood University in July of 2025 during its centennial year.

## Campus

Marshall Hall, which is located on the hillside overlooking the campus is the oldest building on campus. The hall was erected in the late 19th century and later renovated into living quarters.
The Oscar Rennebohm Library, a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m$^2$) structure, was completed in 1991. Overlooking Lake Wingra, it has a collection of over 120,000 books, newspapers, videos, journals, microforms, music, computer software and K-12 curriculum materials, along with media rooms, and approximately 140 computers. Edgewood's Library website also provides access to full-text journals, electronic book collections, and other online databases. Edgewood students have the privilege of using the University of Wisconsin–Madison libraries and the Madison Public Library system because of arrangements with those libraries.
There are two cafés, Phil's and Wingra. Phil's, the first campus dining facility to earn Green Restaurant Certification, provides a more traditional dining experience compared to the grab-and-go style of Wingra Cafe.
Edgewood College has a variety of housing, both on and off campus. The LEED-Silver certified Dominican Hall of 2007 houses students in single and double rooms, within suites. Edgewood offers co-educational housing as well as all girls’ singles in Regina Hall and boys' singles in Marshall Hall. Some students live on campus in more apartment lifestyle housing in the Weber and Sienna Heights Apartments. Much of on campus housing has a prime view of the shores of Lake Wingra. Edgewood also offers off-campus living in area apartment buildings.
The Stream is Edgewood College's visual and theatre arts center. It houses the Art and Theatre Arts Departments and is home to the Edgewood College Gallery and The Black Box, the college's theatre. The building overlooks the surrounding woods and Lake Wingra.
In 2006, Edgewood College became the first college in Wisconsin to be Green Tier Certified by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

## Academics

Edgewood College offers more than 40 majors and 40 minors, as well as 25 graduate programs. Many of the graduate programs are housed on the Deming Way campus, nine miles west of the main campus. The college also offers international study and internship programs. More than 75% of classes have fewer than 20 students and the average class is 15 students. Edgewood has a student-to-teacher ratio of 12:1 and a student retention rate of 33%. Edgewood's Career Services Department offers professional help in resume writing, mock interviewing, job assistance, and one-on-one student counseling.
The college's agreement with the University of Wisconsin system allows Edgewood students to take classes Edgewood does not offer. Edgewood allows the credits and grades to appear on students' transcripts. To participate, students must pay tuition to Edgewood and maintain solid academic standing.
Edgewood belongs to over 30 associations and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Its business program is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, its nursing program by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Wisconsin State Board of Nursing, and its teaching and administration programs by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Edgewood offers the Collaborative program option for students who want to take classes that apply to their major through the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Students in this program can take one class per semester and not more than five credits per year from the university.

## Student life

Edgewood College features a variety of resources on its campus. Regular events include Brewer games, Friday After Class (FAC), cook-offs, Mazzuchelli Fest, and holiday parties, and are announced in the campus newspaper On the Edge, published every three weeks during the academic year.

### Performing arts

Performing arts at Edgewood began in the early 1960s with the production of Synge's Riders to the Sea. In the next four decades, performances have included Gypsy, Dead Man Walking, The Glass Menagerie, and The Importance of Being Earnest, as well as a number of Shakespearean plays. The Performing Arts Department typically puts on four productions a year, for which anyone from the community can audition. Students also direct their own one-act plays every other year. Edgewood offers several theater scholarships.
The Performing Arts Program at Edgewood College has two other organizations: an Improv group named Wacktastics, and the student-operated Theatre Assembly, which provides information, resources, and activities students who want to participate in theatre.
The music department features a diverse array of performing organizations, including choirs, orchestra, band, jazz ensemble, chamber groups, and Western African and Middle Eastern drumming. 25% of all undergraduate students enroll in a music course each semester. In addition, there are performing opportunities for Madison-area community members.

## Athletics

The Edgewood athletic teams are called the Eagles. The college is a member of the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) since the 2006–07 academic year. The Eagles previously competed in the defunct Lake Michigan Conference (LMC) from 1974–75 to 2005–06; as well as competing in the Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) only during the 1988–89 school year (while holding dual affiliation membership with the NAIA and the NCAA).
Edgewood competes in 19 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track & field and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include eSports.

### History

Women's athletics began in 1975, when the school was in the Wisconsin Independent Colleges Women's Athletic Conference (WIC-WAC). The men's athletic teams were originally in the Wisconsin Conference of Independent Colleges in 1974. In 1981, the conference changed its name to the Lake Michigan Conference (LMC). In the 1989–90 season, the members of the WIC-WAC women's conference joined the LMC, so that the men's and women's programs were in the same conference.
The 2005–06 season was the final year of the LMC. In 2006, all LMC members merged with the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference (NIIC) members to form the Northern Athletics Conference, an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
Edgewood College has a dance team that performs at home athletic events and during Homecoming.

### Accomplishments

In the Lake Michigan Conference, Edgewood won 35 conference titles. Men's athletics won eight conference titles; men's basketball in 1991–92, 1992–93, 1996–1997, 2000–2001, men's golf in 2005, men's soccer in 1996 and 2000, and baseball in 2005 and 2006. The women's athletics won 27 conference titles; women's basketball in 1991–1992, 1992–1993, 2000–2001, 2004–05, women's cross country in 2003, women's soccer in 1994-2000 and 2005, softball in 1994, 1996, 2005, 2006, women's golf in 1999 and 2004, women's tennis in 1991-1997 and 2000, and volleyball 1994 and 1996.
In 2009 the Edgewood College cross country men's team took first place at the NAC conference meet and the women's team took second, both the best team finishes in program history.

### Club sports

Edgewood also offers intramural sports including basketball, volleyball, soccer, bowling, and yoga.

### Facilities

Today the sport areas for the teams at Edgewood consist of the Todd Wehr Edgedome (volleyball and basketball), Breese Stevens Field, Madison (soccer), Yahara Golf Course, Madison (women's golf), the Oaks Golf Course (men's golf), McKee Farms Park, Fitchburg (tennis), Verona Little League Complex, Verona (softball), and Stampfl Field, Verona (baseball).
Edgewood's fitness center, which is free to Edgewood students and faculty, is located in the lower level of the Sonderegger Science Center. It provides equipment ranging from treadmills, ellipticals, bicycles, free weights, and selectorized weight equipment. The facility is also equipped with six televisions.

## Notable alumni

* Alex Dallman, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
* Jeff Erlanger, advocate and activist for disability rights
* Becca Hamilton, Olympian and national women's champion curler
* Alexis Herman, 23rd United States Secretary of Labor
* Dianne Hesselbein, minority leader of the Wisconsin Senate
* Meg Johnson, poet and lecturer

## Footnotes

* ↑ "Edgewood College, Inc. Financial Statements June 30, 2023 and 2022" (PDF). Baker Tilly US, LLP. November 7, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
* ↑ "New President Announced" (Press release). April 14, 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Fast Facts". Edgewood College. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
* ↑ "Edgewood Theme Colors". Edgewood College.
* ↑ Paynter 3-4
* ↑ Paynter 4
* 1 2 Paynter 16
* ↑ Paynter 19
* 1 2 Paynter 33-34
* ↑ Paynter 49-52
* ↑ Paynter 49
* ↑ Paynter 59
* ↑ Paynter 69
* ↑ Paynter 69
* ↑ Taylor, Ed (2025-01-13). "Edgewood College Becomes Edgewood University in 2025". Edgewood College. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
* ↑ "Phil's Certified a 'Green' Campus Restaurant Once Again". Default. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
* ↑ "Edgewood College first college accepted into Green Tier program". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. October 9, 2006. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
* ↑ "America's Top Colleges 2024". Forbes. September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
* ↑ "2024-2025 Best National Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. September 23, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
* ↑ Locate Colleges on Edgewood College
* ↑ "Eagles win first conference title in school history".
* ↑ "More About Alex". Alex Dallman for Assembly. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
* ↑ "Curling – Athlete Profile: Becca HAMILTON – Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games". Olympics. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
* ↑ Henry, Diana (Fall 2016). "Edgewood College Magazine". issuu. p. 7. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
* ↑ "Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (2023)". Wisconsin Legislature. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
* ↑ Cheslock, Stephanie (January 10, 2012). "Meg Johnson". Edgewood College. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2015.