Seton Hill University Seton Hill University is a Catholic liberal arts university of about 2 , 500 students in Greensburg , Pennsylvania , near Pittsburgh . Formerly a women ' s college , it became a coeducational university in 2002 . Recently , Seton Hill received attention for being the first university to provide iPads to all students . History . The school was founded in 1885 by the Sisters of Charity . It is named for Elizabeth Ann Seton ( 1774 – 1821 ) , who founded the Sisters of Charity and who , after her death , was canonized as the United States ' first native - born saint . ( Seton Hall University and the College of Saint Elizabeth in New Jersey are also named after Elizabeth Ann Seton . ) In 1914 , Seton Hill Junior college was opened by the Sisters of Charity . With the approval of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , Seton Hill College was created four years later . In 1946 , 40 male World War II veterans were accepted as students at Seton Hill . During the 1980s , men were regularly admitted to many programs at Seton Hill College , including music and theater . In 2002 , Seton Hill was officially granted university status by the Pennsylvania Department of Education . After president JoAnne Boyle formalized the school ' s new status as a university , the teams ' nickname was changed from " Spirits " to " Griffins , " and several men ' s athletics teams were added , including American football . In 2006 , Seton Hill announced it was transferring to NCAA Division II and joining the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference ( WVIAC ) . They had belonged to the NAIA . In 2012 , Seton Hill announced its move to the PSAC . Seton Hill University received widespread public attention after announcing a technology plan that includes providing an iPad to all full - time students , as well a 13 " MacBook to all incoming freshmen , and a plan to upgrade the student machines after two years . Upon graduation , students keep both machines . Beginning in the fall of 2013 , new full - time students will receive an iPad Mini and new full - time freshmen will be provided with a MacBook Air . Undergraduate programs . As of the 2012 - 2013 academic year , Seton Hill divides its undergraduate programs into six divisions : Social Sciences , Natural and Health Sciences , Humanities , Education , Business , and the Visual and Performing Arts , which includes art , music and theater . In addition to their major , all students take liberal arts core classes in arts , mathematics , sciences , culture , history , and writing . Graduate programs . As of the 2012 - 2013 academic year , Seton Hill offers twelve graduate programs . Subjects include art , writing , education , therapy , business , orthodontics , and physician assistant studies . Athletics . Seton Hill athletics , known as the Griffins , compete in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletics Association ( NCAA ) . During the 2012 - 2013 academic year , Seton Hill was a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference ( WVIAC ) . As of July 1 , 2013 , following the breakup of the WVIAC , along with the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown , also from the WVIAC , Seton Hill is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference ( PSAC ) . Seton Hill varsity men ' s and women ' s sports include football , men ' s & women ' s basketball , men ' s and women ' s cross country , men ' s wrestling , men ' s and women ' s lacrosse , men ' s and women ' s track and field , softball , baseball , women ' s cheerleading , women ' s field hockey , women ' s equestrian , men ' s and women ' s soccer , women ' s volleyball , women ' s golf , and women ' s tennis . In 2005 , 60 % of the entering class was male , due to an influx of male students who were interested in new sports programs such as football . In 2008 , the football team had a 10 - 3 record . The football team and the men ' s soccer team each won the inaugural West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference ' s team sportsmanship award in 2008 . In 2006 , the baseball team received a berth to the NAIA World Series in the program ' s third year of existence . Campus life . In 2003 , the school conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree upon Steve Forbes , president and CEO of Forbes , Inc . In 2006 , the convocation speaker was U . S . Representative John Murtha ( D - Pa ) . Seton Hill has a student - to - faculty ratio of 15 : 1 . The typical class size for courses in the major is about 20 - 25 . Liberal arts core classes tend to be larger , at 30 - 45 students . Recent changes on campus include the addition of a site of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine ( LECOM ) , and two arts facilities in downtown Greensburg : a visual arts center and a new performing arts building ( devoted to music , theater , and dance ) . In early 2013 , the University received a $ 7 million grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation . The grant is the largest in Seton Hill ' s history and is a component of the University ’ s $ 75 million plan for campus expansion and renewal . Active clubs representing the diverse cultural and student interests include the Chemistry Club , Biology Club , Forensic Science Club , Math Club , Gay - Straight Alliance , Respect Life Club , Students in Free Enterprise , and the Griffins @ Work club .