Providence College Providence College ( also known as Providence or " PC " ) is a private , coeducational , Roman Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence , Rhode Island , United States , the state ' s capital city . With a 2012 – 2013 enrollment of 3 , 852 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students , the college specializes in academic programs in the liberal arts . It is the only college or university in North America administered by the Dominican Order of friars . Founded in 1917 , the college offers 49 majors and 34 minors and , beginning with the class of 2016 , requires all its students to complete 16 credits in the Development of Western Civilization , which serves as a major part of the college ' s core curriculum ( down from 20 credits previously ) . Fr . Brian Shanley has been the school ' s president since 2005 . In athletics , Providence College competes in NCAA ' s Division I and is a founding member of the Big East Conference and Hockey East . In December 2012 , the College announced it and six other Catholic colleges would leave the Big East Conference to form its own league . History . Founding . In 1917 , Providence College was founded as an all - male school through the efforts of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence and the Dominican Province of St . Joseph . The central figure in the college ' s incorporation was Matthew Harkins , Bishop of Providence , who sought an institution which would establish a center of advanced learning for the Catholic youth of Rhode Island . Opening its doors at the corner of Eaton Street and River Avenue in 1919 and with only one building , Harkins Hall , the college under inaugural president Dennis Albert Casey , O . P . ( 1917 – 1921 ) began with 71 students and nine Dominican faculty members . Under second president William D . Noon , O . P . ( 1921 – 1927 ) , the college added its first lay faculty member and opened its first dormitory , Guzman Hall ( now known as Martin Hall ) . Under President Lorenzo C . McCarthy , O . P . ( 1927 – 1936 ) , Providence College athletics soon received their moniker , as the " Friars " in black and white had early success in basketball , football , and baseball . In 1933 , the school received regional accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges . The college conferred its first Master of Arts , Doctor of Philosophy , and Master of Science degrees by 1935 , the year when the school ' s newspaper ( " The Cowl " ) was first published . By 1939 , Aquinas Hall dormitory had been built to accommodate more students enrolling in general studies , but with the impact of World War II upon enrollment , President John J . Dillon , O . P . ( 1936 – 1944 ) lobbied Rhode Island ’ s congressional delegation to pressure the War Department to assign Providence College an Army Specialized Training Program unit . Unit # 1188 arrived on campus in the Summer of 1943 , allowing the college to continue operation . A class of approximately 380 soldiers - in - training studied in engineering at Providence for a year before going overseas . Post - World War II expansion . Robert J . Slavin , O . P . served as president from 1947 to 1961 . During his tenure in 1955 , Providence acquired the House of Good Shepard property that pushed the original boundaries of campus to Huxley Avenue . Slavin also oversaw the establishment of the Reserve Officers ' Training Corps ( ROTC ) on campus in 1951 , and the Liberal Arts Honors Program in 1957 . The athletics program of the college gained acceptance into the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) in 1948 . Prior to the opening of Alumni Hall in 1955 , the men ' s basketball team played in local Providence high schools . The college also hired Joe Mullaney as the men ' s basketball coach . President Vincent C . Dore , O . P . ( 1961 – 1965 ) opened the doors of the college ' s graduate school as well as a new dormitory building , now called Meagher Hall . President William P . Haas , O . P . ( 1965 – 1971 ) opened Phillips Memorial Library in 1969 . Co - educational shift . In 1967 , the college added its first lay faculty members in its Departments of Theology and Philosophy , as well as its first full - time female faculty member . Two years later , the student dress code was abolished . In 1970 , the college decided to admit women starting with the 1971 – 1972 school year . The same year , the first female administrator was hired . Subsequent president Thomas R . Peterson , O . P . ( 1971 – 1985 ) instituted the Development of Western Civilization program , while in 1974 , the college acquired the property of the former Charles V . Chapin Hospital on the other side of Huxley Avenue . The campus was then split in half by Huxley Avenue , providing an " Upper " campus ( due to the uphill nature of the landscape on Smith Hill ) and " Lower " campus ( the new , flatter area of the College ) . In 1974 , the School of Continuing Education awarded the college ' s first Associate ' s degree . With men ' s basketball tickets becoming a hot commodity at the 2 , 600 - seat Alumni Hall gymnasium , and with the opening of the Providence Civic Center in 1972 , the Friars moved downtown in time for their Final Four appearance behind Providence natives Ernie DiGregorio and Marvin Barnes . The same year , the men ' s hockey team played their first season in their new home on campus , Schneider Arena . In the early morning hours of December 13 , 1977 , a dormitory fire killed ten female residents of Aquinas Hall . Meanwhile , the demographics of the student body continued to change , as women outnumbered men in incoming classes and non - Rhode Island students soon outnumbered in - state students . In 1984 , Peterson also opened St . Thomas Aquinas Priory at the entrance of campus to accommodate the growing number of Dominican brethren living on campus . Recent expansion . John F . Cunningham , O . P . ( 1985 – 1994 ) succeeded Peterson as president in 1985 and saw the Friars men ' s hockey team win the inaugural Hockey East Championship the same year over rival Boston College and reach the championship game of the NCAA Tournament to lose 2 – 1 to RPI . Men ' s basketball again took center stage on the Providence campus , as coach Rick Pitino and senior Billy Donovan took the Friars to their second Final Four appearance in the 1987 NCAA Men ' s Division I Basketball Tournament . Cunningham used the exposure and fundraising opportunities to build two apartment - style residence halls on campus , Davis and Bedford Halls , providing an alternative to dormitory and off - campus housing for upperclassmen . Philip A . Smith , O . P . ( 1994 – 2005 ) succeeded Cunningham in 1994 and oversaw the new influence of women ' s athletics at Providence , as several alumni and then - current students won the gold medal for women ' s ice hockey as part of the U . S . national team in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano , Japan . By 2001 , a new on - campus chapel was built , St . Dominic Chapel , followed three years later by the construction of two other major buildings on " Lower " campus : Suites Hall , a suite - style residence hall to provide added upperclassmen housing , and the Smith Center for the Arts . Elected in 2005 , President Brian J . Shanley , O . P . ( 2005 – present ) has overseen the construction of the Concannon Fitness Center in 2007 as part of an overall renovation to Alumni Hall , as well as renovation and expansion of the Slavin Center in 2009 . In 2012 , a groundbreaking was held for the Ruane Center for the Humanities . Shanley also removed the college ' s SAT requirement for admissions in addition to transferring a significant portion of the school ' s scholarship funds to need - based aid , in order to give more diverse students the opportunity to afford the college . In 2008 , Shanley oversaw the founding of the Providence College School of Business ( PCSB ) , creating separate Schools of Arts and Sciences and Professional Studies . Campus . The college is located on a gated campus in the city ' s Elmhurst neighborhood atop Smith Hill , the highest point in the city of Providence . The campus is located in a residential urban neighborhood about two miles west of downtown Providence . The Smith Hill neighborhood , which abuts the east end of campus , is a predominantly low - income area with crime rates higher than the city average . There are three main gates to campus , at Cunningham Square ( the intersection of River Avenue and Eaton Street ) and on Huxley Avenue to the upper campus , and at the southeast corner of the lower campus , along Eaton Street . The campus consists of nineteen academic and administrative buildings , nine dormitories , five apartment complexes , three residences , four athletic buildings , a power plant , a physical plant , and a security office gate house . There is also a Dominican cemetery , two quads , four athletic fields , a six - court tennis court , an artificial turf field , and several parking areas ( including a structure below the turf field ) . In 2011 , the college received an overall grade of " C - minus " from " The College Sustainability Report Card . " Renovations completed in 2009 to the Slavin Center , the campus student union , added solar panel s and a bioretention system . Organization and administration . Since 1934 , Providence College has been governed by a 12 - member corporation and a board of trustees consisting of 25 to 35 members . The corporation consists of four ex officio members : the president of the college , the Prior Provincial of the Dominican Province of St . Joseph , the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence , and the chairman of the Board of Trustees . In addition , there are eight other members , each of whom serve three - year terms ; four are Dominican friars and four are lay persons . The corporation has the " ultimate authority to exercise control over ownership of property , to promulgate and amend the by - laws , to accept or reject the recommendation for election to the Presidency of the College by the Board of Trustees , and to elect members of the Corporation and of the Board of Trustees . " All other affairs of the college not reserved to the corporation are handled by the board of trustees , which meets three times a year . These duties include " establishing major institutional goals , engaging in long - range planning and policy - making , overseeing the annual operating budget of the College and overseeing the review process and recommending a Dominican Friar for election to the Presidency of the College . " All members of the corporation and the executive vice president of the College serve on the board of trustees as ex officio , in addition to candidates elected by the corporation who serve a maximum of three , three - year terms . Academics . Overview . As of 2010 , Providence College has an admissions acceptance rate of 59 . 8 percent and is considered to be " more selective " by the " U . S . News & World Report " . The average class size is 21 students , with nearly half of all classes including fewer than 20 students . There is a student - to - faculty ratio of 12 - to - 1 . All classes are taught by full - time professors . The college offers 49 majors and 34 minors . The majority of students declare majors in the liberal arts or business . Regardless of major , all students are required to a complete a core curriculum which includes credits in the Development of Western Civilization , mathematics , philosophy , theology , natural science , English , fine arts , and social science . Beginning with the Class of 2016 , the core curriculum was modified to reduce the required credits in natural science and social science , while adding credits in a " core focus " area , as well as proficiencies in intensive writing , oral communication , diversity , and civic engagement . Constructed in 1969 , the Phillips Memorial Library consists of 350 , 000 volumes and is a member of the HELIN library consortium of Rhode Island . Academic divisions . Providence College comprises four schools : School of Arts & Sciences . The School of Arts & Sciences was created in 2008 as part of the college ' s addition of a stand - alone School of Business . The School offers undergraduate degrees in social science s , natural science s , mathematics , the humanities , and fine arts . It also offers graduate programs with Masters of Arts in history , biblical studies , mathematics , and theology , as well as a Master of Theological Studies degree . School of Business . The School of Business was created in 2008 and immediately began the accreditation process for the AASCB . The college ' s successful accreditation was received in 2012 . The school offers four undergraduate degrees , in management , finance , accountancy , and marketing , in addition to a Master of Business Administration ( MBA ) graduate program . The school also offers a certificate program in business studies . School of Professional Studies . Created as a separate school in 2008 , the School of Professional Studies includes undergraduate and graduate degree programs in education and special education , social work , and health policy . It also offers a certificate program in special education administration . School of Continuing Education . The School of Continuing Education offers courses to complete an associate ' s degree or bachelor ' s degree with programs including social sciences , theology , organizational studies , humanities , and liberal studies . In addition , it offers numerous certificate programs , including a Teacher Certification Program ( TCP ) . Academic programs . Liberal Arts Honors Program . The Liberal Arts Honors Program was created in 1957 and accepts approximately the top 125 students in each freshman class , offering three levels of academic scholarships for participation in the program . Honors students take separate Development of Western Civilization courses with smaller classes , in addition to one or two honors - level classes in other programs and a capstone honors " colloquium " course . Development of Western Civilization . The Development of Western Civilization ( commonly referred to by students as " Civ " or " DWC " ) is a two year - long program of courses required of all students attending the school , taken in students ' first four semesters at the school . Meeting in Moore Hall , a lecture hall specifically redesigned for the course , the class meets five days a week , with one day being typically reserved for seminar work and / or exams . The class is taught by a team of professors , usually four - one who specializes in literature , one in theology , one in philosophy and one in history . Students move through Western history , studying original texts in each of the four course disciplines . There is a tradition which has grown over time from the course called " civ scream . " The event takes place the night before DWC final exams in December and May , and is usually centered on the " quad " area between Aquinas , Meagher , and McDermott Halls . It is intended to be a harmless gathering to let off steam from the long hours of studying for the intense course ' s final exam , and is completely unsanctioned . As such , the " civ scream " can become loud with wild behavior . A new Development of Western Civilization Program was implemented in late 2012 , for the incoming freshmen class . There are three normal semesters of the original DWC program but the last semester is designed as a colloquium more concentrated to the students ' interests or majors . Student life . The Providence College student population is made up of about 3 , 852 undergraduates and 735 postgraduate students . As of 2012 , 58 percent of the student body is female , while 42 percent is male . The student population is drawn mostly from the southern New England states of Rhode Island , Massachusetts , and Connecticut , as well as New York , New Jersey , and other Mid - Atlantic states . About one - third of incoming students attended Catholic high schools . A 2007 survey published by " The Princeton Review " rated Providence College as having the most homogeneous student population in the country , as well as ranking the college eighth nationally in the survey ' s " little race / class interaction " category . As of 2012 , 88 percent of the student body is white or unreported , while only four percent of students come from outside of the United States . In 2011 , President Brian Shanley created an Office of Institutional Diversity , while hiring a Chief Diversity Officer , to " help balance the College ' s socioeconomic representation . " While 95 percent of the student population are residents , 17 percent live in nearby off - campus housing . With the exception of Aquinas Hall , all dormitories are single - sex , and all students living on campus must comply with " parietals , " which limit visitation hours of opposite - sex students in dormitories . As of 2011 , Providence College is ranked first in the country by " The Princeton Review " in the " Lots of Hard Liquor " category . Clubs and activities . Students run the college ' s radio station , WDOM , as well the on - campus television station , PCTV . The station was ranked the 11th - best college radio station in the country by the Princeton Review in 2011 . The student - run campus newspaper since 1935 has been " The Cowl . " The school is known for having a great Div 2 rugby team going 20 - 0 so far this 2012 - 2013 season . The college does not officially sanction Greek life ; there are no fraternities or sororities on - or off - campus . Athletics . The school ' s 19 varsity men ' s and women ' s sports teams are called the " Friar s " , after the Dominican Catholic order that runs the school . They are the only collegiate team to use the name . All teams participate in the NCAA ' s Division I and in the Big East Conference , except for the men ' s and women ' s ice hockey programs , which compete in Hockey East and the women ' s volleyball program , which competes in the America East Conference . However , the school is scheduled to leave the Big East in 2015 along with six other Catholic schools , DePaul University , Georgetown University , Marquette University , St . John ' s University ( New York ) , Seton Hall University and Villanova University . The school ' s current athletic director is Robert Driscoll . The team colors are black and white , the same as the Dominicans , with silver as an accent color . The school ' s current logos and identity marks were released in 2002 , and feature the profile of a friar wearing the black cappa ( hood ) of the Dominicans , above the word mark . All teams use the primary logo except the hockey teams , which have used the " skating Friar " logo since 1973 . In addition to the Friar mascot , the school ' s animal mascot was a Dalmatian named " Friar Boy . " The school ' s closest rivalries are Boston University and Boston College in hockey and the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island in the school ' s other sports , especially in soccer , swimming and diving , and basketball . Men ' s basketball . The Friars men ' s basketball team is an original member of the Big East Conference , which was created in 1979 by a group led by former Providence coach Dave Gavitt and headquartered in Providence . The Friars play their home games at the 13 , 000 - seat Dunkin ' Donuts Center in downtown Providence , a facility that underwent an $ 80 million renovation completed in 2008 . Despite having the smallest enrollment of any Big East Conference school , the Friars have routinely averaged over 10 , 000 fans per game during the 30 - plus year history of the facility , all while earning postseason berths and placing many players in the National Basketball Association . In addition to producing NBA players , former Friars players and coaches have also gone on to become basketball icons in the coaching world , such as Rick Pitino , Billy Donovan , Lenny Wilkens , Pete Gillen , Rick Barnes , and John Thompson . They are currently coached by Ed Cooley . Providence College won the 1961 and 1963 NIT championship and participated in the 1973 and 1987 Final Four , and the 1997 squad advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight . Overall , the team has earned 15 NCAA basketball tournament berths and 18 NIT berths , as well as having numerous players named All - Americans . Marks and seals . The college ' s graphic identity represents the shape of a window in Harkins Hall with a flame inside , representing " Veritas " , or " Truth " , the official college motto . The college motto was borrowed from the Dominican Order , and has been used since the college ' s inception . The official seal of Providence College is an ornate triangle , representing the Trinity , with the flame of learning and a scroll with the College Motto , " Veritas , " superimposed on it . The seal is surrounded by a ring with the words " Sigillum Collegii Providentiensis " ( " Seal of Providence College " ) inside it . Notable alumni . A number of prominent local and national politicians and judges are Providence College alumni . Former United States Senator from Connecticut Chris Dodd graduated in 1966 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in English literature , while his father , Thomas J . Dodd , also a long - serving U . S . Senator from Connecticut , graduated in 1930 with a degree in philosophy . Former United States Representative from Rhode Island Patrick J . Kennedy , the son of former United States Senator Ted Kennedy , earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991 . In addition , 1963 graduate and star basketball player Raymond Flynn earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in education - social studies before serving as a three - term Mayor of Boston and the United States Ambassador to the Holy See . Six - term Mayor of Chicago Richard M . Daley graduated in 1964 from Providence College . Former United States Attorney General , United States Senator from Rhode Island , and Governor of Rhode Island J . Howard McGrath was a 1926 graduate of the College . In athletics , two Basketball Hall of Fame players or coaches have graduated from Providence College : Lenny Wilkens and John Thompson . In addition , two - time NCAA Men ' s Division I Basketball Tournament champion , Florida Gators men ' s basketball head coach Billy Donovan , graduated from Providence College . Former Big East Conference commissioner John Marinatto is a Providence College graduate , while former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke , New Jersey Devils CEO / President Lou Lamoriello , and Boston Celtics president Rich Gotham are also alumni . Actor John O ' Hurley and film director Peter Farrelly are graduates of Providence College , as are ESPN women ' s basketball commentator Doris Burke , sports journalist Sean McAdam , and esteemed classical film critic John Vesce IV .