Villanova University Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township , a suburb northwest of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , in the United States . Named for Saint Thomas of Villanova , the school is the oldest Catholic university in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . Founded in 1842 by the Order of Saint Augustine , the university traces its roots to old Saint Augustine ' s Church , Philadelphia , which the Augustinian friars founded in 1796 , and to its parish school , Saint Augustine ' s Academy , which was established in 1811 . History . In October 1841 , two Augustinian friars from Saint Augustine ' s Church in Philadelphia purchased the " Belle Air " estate in Radnor Township with the intention of starting a school . The school , which was called the " Augustinian College of Vilanova , " opened in 1842 . However , the Philadelphia Nativist Riots of 1844 that burned Saint Augustine ' s Church in Philadelphia caused financial difficulties for the Augustinians , and the college was closed in February 1845 . The college reopened in 1846 and graduated its first class in 1847 . In March 1848 , the governor of Pennsylvania incorporated the school and gave it the power to grant degrees . In 1859 , the first master ' s degree was conferred on a student . In 1857 , the school closed again as the demand for priests in Philadelphia prevented adequate staffing , and the crisis of the Panic of 1857 strained the school financially . The school remained closed throughout the Civil War and reopened in September 1865 ; since then it has operated continuously . The first great expansion of Villanova began in the late 1890s . Desiring an institution that would " rank among the best in the United States , " the college built more classrooms , dormitories , and recreational facilities , and bought instructional equipment . The School of Technology was established in 1905 . In 1915 , a two - year pre - medical program was established to help students meet medical schools ' new requirements . This led to a four - year pre - medical program , the B . S . in biology , and the founding of the sciences division in 1926 . Villanova was all - male until 1918 , when the college began evening classes to educate nun s to teach in parochial school s . In 1938 , a laywoman received a Villanova degree for the first time . It was not until the nursing school opened in 1953 that women permanently began attending Villanova full - time . In 1958 , the College of Engineering admitted its first female student ; other colleges admitted women only as commuters . Villanova University became fully coeducational in 1968 . During World War II , Villanova was one of 131 colleges and universities nationally that took part in the V - 12 Navy College Training Program which offered students a path to a Navy commission . After World War II , Villanova expanded , returning veterans swelling enrollments and the faculty growing fourfold . Additional facilities were built and in 1953 , the College of Nursing and the School of Law were established . Villanova achieved university status on November 18 , 1953 . Between 1954 and 1963 , 10 new buildings were built or bought on land adjacent to the campus , including Bartley , Mendel , and Dougherty Halls . During the 1970s and 1980s , Villanova worked to become a nationally recognized university . The quality of faculty and students improved dramatically and international studies programs were introduced . Additional residential and recreational facilities were constructed , and efforts to increase the endowment were undertaken . In the 1980s , endowed chairs were established in theology , philosophy , engineering , and business ; scholarship funding was increased , and the curriculum expanded and improved . An extensive building campaign created facilities for the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences , Engineering , Commerce and Finance , and student residences on the south and the west campuses . In 1985 , the school also won the Men ' s NCAA basketball tournament , giving the school increased national exposure . Over the history of the university , it has also served as a headquarters of the Order of Saint Augustine in North America , and has provided staff to establish Catholic high schools throughout the United States , such as St . Augustine High School in San Diego , which was established in 1922 with teaching staff dispatched from Villanova . Campus . Villanova University sits on just from Philadelphia . The campus was formerly known as Arboretum Villanova which includes roughly 1 , 500 trees across campus , including the only known instance of a naturally - growing sequoia east of the Mississippi River . Official Arboretum status has been revoked due to the university ' s lack of upkeep to Arboretum rules and standards such as the planting of new trees and the offering of tours . There are three named areas on the campus , all within easy walking distance : Main Campus . The most prominent feature of the Villanova campus is St . Thomas of Villanova Church , whose dual spires are Villanova ' s tallest structure . The cornerstone for the church was laid in 1883 , with construction continuing until 1887 . The church underwent major renovations in 1943 and 1992 . It is built in Gothic Revival style . The church lies at the head of the path crossing Lancaster Avenue into the parking lots and toward South Campus . As such , it is a popular meeting place for students , and hosts three student - oriented masses on Sunday nights at 6 : 00 pm , 8 : 00 pm , and 10 : 00 pm . The church is also home to St . Thomas of Villanova Parish , whose Masses take place Sunday morning . The stained - glass windows of the church depict the life of St . Augustine of Hippo . Situated behind the Church is Mendel Field , around which sit six major campus buildings : Mendel Hall , Tolentine Hall , White Hall , Falvey Hall , John Barry Hall , and the Chemical Engineering Building . Mendel Hall , named for pioneering geneticist and Augustinian monk Gregor Mendel , holds science labs , lecture halls , and other facilities . Mendel Hall ' s two large buildings are connected underground and by a second - floor indoor bridge that forms the gateway between West and Main Campus . In 1998 , the college commissioned a bronze sculpture of Mendel by Philadelphia sculptor James Peniston , and installed it outside the hall ' s entrance . Tolentine Hall , one of the oldest buildings on campus , houses classrooms , academic offices such as the Registrar ' s Office and the Office of the President , and computer labs , and is connected to Villanova ' s monastery , St . Thomas Hall . White Hall , consisting mainly of classrooms and laboratories , is directly connected to the Chemical Engineering Building , which was built in 1947 . " Old Falvey " is the annex of the Falvey Memorial Library , named for Rev . Daniel Falvey who served as librarian from 1940 until his death in 1962 . It is home to some classrooms in the Art History and Education departments as well as some offices , along with The Math Center , The Writing Center , and The Augustinian Heritage Institute , and the Matthew J . Ryan Center . John Barry Hall , named for naval officer Commodore John Barry , houses the Navy ROTC Program . To the West of the Church , the Center for Engineering Education and Research ( CEER ) , which opened in 1998 , holds engineering labs , engineering classrooms , an engineering computer lab , and an auditorium hall for projections and slideshows . Slightly east of Mendel Field sits The Grotto , a landscaped haven between Falvey Library and two residence halls : Alumni Hall , home to the Service Learning Community ; and Corr Hall , the location of the Center for Peace and Justice Studies . Often home to outdoor mass es and other large gatherings , the Grotto is sometimes perfect for quiet contemplation . The grotto includes a statue depicting Our Lady of Good Counsel and plaques dedicated to the veterans of World War II and the Vietnam War . Across from Alumni Hall and The Grotto are St . Rita ' s Hall and Austin Hall . In addition to being two residence halls , these two buildings also house the Campus Ministry Office and University Admissions Office , respectively . Falvey Library , the campus ' s main research library , houses over 1 , 000 , 000 books , thousands of periodicals , television production studios , and quiet places for solitary or group study . Behind Falvey Library is the Saint Augustine Center for Liberal Arts , commonly called " SAC " , which is home to many departments in the College of Liberal Arts , numerous offices , several seminar - type classrooms , and is home to the Advising and Professional Development Program . East of Corr Hall sits Kennedy Hall , which houses the University Shop , the campus bookstore . Across a small courtyard is Dougherty Hall , the campus ' s main dining hall , referred to as " The Pit " because of its underground location , one of three all - you - can - eat facilities on campus . Dougherty also houses several smaller eateries and many Student Activity Offices . Next to Kennedy is Connelly Center with its radically different architecture resembling an alpine ski lodge , containing : the Belle Aire Terrace , which serves a variety of food ; several meeting rooms ; areas for group study ; the Commuter Student Lounge on the upper level ; another lounge on the lower level , the campus cinema ( movie theater ) ; a large conference room ; a smoothie shop ; and Holy Grounds , the name of Villanova ' s coffee shop . Between the dining halls of Dougherty and the meeting halls of Connelly is " The Oreo " . A large black - and - white sculpture by Jay Dugan , some of the major campus celebrations have occurred in its circular shadow – including celebratory vandalism in the wake of the 1985 NCAA Men ' s Basketball Championship . Sitting just west of The Quad , " The Awakening " ( as it is officially known ) has served as a meeting place in the heart of the campus for generations of Villanovans . Still further east , there is " The Quad " where there lies a square formation between two dormitories , Sheehan Hall and Sullivan Hall . Bartley Hall , home to the Villanova School of Business is the last building before Ithan Avenue , which is where main campus ends . Bartley is adjacent to another entrance to Main Campus , at the intersection of Lancaster Avenue and Ithan Avenue . Behind Bartley Hall are two new buildings : The Health Services Building , home to the Counseling and Medical Centers ; and Driscoll Hall , home to the College of Nursing . West Campus . Situated across the SEPTA tracks north and west of Mendel hall is West Campus : home to St . Mary ' s Hall , the West Campus Apartments , and the Law School . St . Mary ' s , a labyrinthine building of classrooms , residence rooms , a cafeteria , and large chapel , was originally built as a seminary , and was once home to the College of Nursing . Behind St . Mary ' s sit the Apartments – eight buildings that house junior and senior resident students . One of three commuter train stops on campus , the Villanova Rail Station on the Paoli / Thorndale Line provides access to the city of Philadelphia , about 30 minutes away . South Campus . Sitting diagonally across Lancaster Ave . and Ithan Ave . from Bartley Hall , South Campus is home to several residence halls – usually reserved for underclassmen – and Donahue Hall , home to " The Spit " , short for " South Pit " . Donahue hall also houses Donahue Market , commonly referred to by students as " The Sparket " . The second and third of three on - campus train stops , the Villanova stop and the Stadium stop on the SEPTA Route 100 line provides access to the city of Philadelphia , about 30 minutes away . Environmentalism . In May 2007 , the University ’ s president signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment , promising to support research and education to end global warming . The new College of Nursing and the new School of Law are being built according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED ) specifications . On November 16 , 2007 , the College of Engineering unveiled a Solar Electric System atop its Center for Engineering Education and Research ( CEER ) that will supply up to 4 , 000 watts . Academics . University rankings . For more than a decade , Villanova University has been ranked No . 1 by " U . S . News and World Report " in the Best Masters Universities - category , Northern Region , a ranking for schools in the North which offer strong Masters , and undergraduate programs while having lesser doctorate programs . Villanova has several highly regarded academic programs , including an engineering school that is ranked No . 9 among undergraduate engineering programs whose highest degree is a masters . The Villanova School of Business was ranked No . 13 in the 2012 " Business Week " rankings of undergraduate business schools , No . 69 in the 2012 " U . S . News and World Report " rankings of undergraduate business schools , and No . 29 in the Financial Times ' ranking of top executive MBA programs . Villanova University School of Law is ranked as a Top Law School by the 2009 edition of U . S . News & World Report ' s " Best Graduate Schools , " placing 61st overall . However , in 2011 it was determined that admissions staff had engaged in inflating reported LSAT scores for admitted students . According to the ABA , these infractions were enough to justify a removal of the school ' s accreditation , however the quick response to the issue by the University resulted only in a censure of the school . In December 2006 , " PC Magazine " and " The Princeton Review " ranked Villanova No . 1 in its review of top " wired colleges " in the United States . The College of Nursing has been designated a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing in 2004 and again in 2007 . Villanova ’ s Master ’ s program in Psychology was ranked among the top 10 Master ’ s - only departments ( 95th percentile ) in the United States and Canada with regard to research productivity . Due to false reporting and an ABA sanction , Villanova Law school ranking was dropped to 101st in USN & WR 2012 edition . Admissions and retention statistics . Villanova University has an overall undergraduate acceptance rate of 39 . 1 % , accepting just over 6 , 000 of the 15 , 398 applicants in 2011 . Of the accepted students , 84 % ranked in the top 10 % of their high school class , and 99 % ranked in the top 20 % . The GPA range for a typical student is 3 . 81 – 4 . 21 / 4 . 00 on a weighted scale . The middle 50 percent range of SAT scores for the typical accepted applicant was 1340 - 1440 / 1600 , and the middle 50 percent range of the composite ACT score for the typical accepted applicant was 30 – 33 . Student life . Villanova ' s student organizations include standard club sports , cultural organizations , Greek - letter fraternities and sororities , and more . Villanova students participate in charitable and philanthropic activities and organizations , including the largest student - run Special Olympics in the world . Charity and community service organizations . The Blue Key Society consists of around 200 volunteer campus tour guides who work with the Admissions Office to give three tours each weekday , various special tours as needed and selected weekend tours throughout the school year . Being a Roman Catholic Augustinian school , the University has an active Campus Ministry . Campus Ministry touches every aspect of University life through prayer , liturgy , community service , and pastoral care . Campus Ministry encourages all to integrate personal faith into the academic and social environment of the University . Campus Ministry promotes the Augustinian ideal of an intellectual community seeking both wisdom and a fuller spiritual life . The annual Special Olympics Fall Festival at Villanova University is the largest and most successful student - run Special Olympics in the world . It draws more than 1 , 000 athletes and 400 coaches from 44 Pennsylvania counties . Athletes may advance through the festival to regional and international competition . Students apply to be a part of the 82 - volunteer planning committee , which works for more than nine months alongside Special Olympics Pennsylvania ( SOPA ) , which oversees more than 300 events statewide . The event is put on with the aid of some 2 , 500 student volunteers and more than 1 , 000 other volunteers from the Villanova community . The Villanova University community is noted for its participation in Habitat for Humanity In 2004 , Villanova had more participants in the Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge than any other U . S . university . Villanova ' s School of Engineering maintains a student chapter of Engineers Without Borders , a non - profit organization that focuses on helping to improve the living conditions of communities worldwide . Villanova EWB is one of the fasting growing student organizations on campus , expanding from a mere handful of engineering students in the spring of 2006 to a current membership of approximately 75 students in multi - disciplinary programs . The chapter ’ s inaugural project was to design and build a playground for a grade school in New Orleans following the tragic events of Hurricane Katrina . Villanova EWB was the only student organization to win an award from the regional Project Management Institute , receiving an Honorable Mention from PMI for project of the year . The most recent project involved designing and building a water treatment and distribution system which provided an orphanage and surrounding villages in northern Thailand with drinking water and irrigation for their crops . There are also plans for a variety of projects in the Philadelphia area , including K - 12 outreach programs , as well as many more international projects . Formerly known as Project Sunshine , The Office of Community Service , commonly called " Rays of Sunshine " , is a student - led community service organization dedicated to reaching out to all kinds of communities with kindness and compassion . Through tutoring , mentoring , or visiting the elderly , sick , and disabled , Rays of Sunshine works to " bring some sunshine " into the lives of others . Greek life . Roughly 30 % of Villanova students identify with one of twelve fraternities , eleven sororities , and one service fraternity . There are no fraternity or sorority houses on - campus . The first Greek organization at the school was established in 1902 as a social organization and circle of individuals interested in classical studies . Sororities . National Panhellenic Conference Sororities National Pan - Hellenic Council Sorority National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations Sorority National APIA Panhellenic Association Sorority Fraternities . North - American Interfraternity Conference Fraternities National Pan - Hellenic Council Fraternity National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations Fraternity Service fraternity . The Sigma Eta chapter of Alpha Phi Omega , whose motto is " Leadership , Friendship , and Service , " meets weekly on Villanova ' s campus to plan service projects on and off campus , including school cleanups through Philly Cares Day , working at soup kitchens and tutoring children in Math and Science at Philadelphia public schools . Villanova Emergency Medical Service . Villanova Emergency Medical Service ( VEMS ) , is a student - run ambulance service licensed and dedicated to serving the campus community . VEMS membership consists of more than 40 undergraduate student volunteers ; the majority of whom are certified as Emergency Medical Technicians , volunteering more than 25 , 000 hours annually . Villanova is one of only a handful of colleges to provide EMS services to their campus , and one of only 52 who provide emergency response and transport to at least the Basic Life Support ( BLS ) Level . VEMS has been recognized on a national level multiple times by the National Collegiate EMS Foundation ( NCEMSF ) , specifically being named 2001 Campus Organization of the Year and receiving EMS website of the year in 2000 , 2004 , and 2006 . Their skills competition team also placed in second at the 2011 Annual Physio - Control BLS Skills Competition . The team consisted of Capt . William Pandos , Lt . Christopher Cahill , Lt . John Skinner , Treasurer Philip Walker , EMT Erin Mack , and EMT Kyle Lewis . VEMS hosted the second annual NCEMSF Conference in 1995 as well as the twelfth annual conference in Philadelphia in 2005 . Campus publications and media . " The Villanovan " has been the officially recognized and accredited student newspaper since its founding in 1916 . The newspaper of record of Villanova University , the tabloid - sized weekly produces usually 12 issues per semester at a circulation of 6 , 500 copies . The paper ' s awards include 2nd Place for Tabloid Feature Cover from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association ' s Collegiate Circle ( 2007 ) ; Certificate of Merit for Editorial Writing from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association ' s Collegiate Circle ( 2007 ) ; Certificate of Merit for portfolio of work in the Feature Photograph category from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association ' s Collegiate Circle ( 2007 ) ; Pennsylvania Newspaper Association ' s Keystone Award for Best Feature Story ; and 1st Place with Special Merit and Outstanding Sports Coverage from the American Scholastic Press Association . " The Villanova Times " , the independent , free speech , bi - weekly student newspaper , won the Collegiate Network Award for Layout and Design in 2005 – 2006 , 2007 – 2008 and 2008 – 2009 . WVTV ( Villanova ) is the student - run campus television station . Starting in 1999 as the Villanova TV Production Club , the station produces news , events , films and other programming for the Villanova community , and can be seen on the campus television network . WXVU , the student - operated FM radio station , operates at 89 . 1 megahertz . With an output of 75 watts , WXVU can be heard in an radius around the campus . Since 1991 , the station has supplied the Villanova community with a varied program of music , news , sports , public affairs , and specialty programming . POLIS Literary Magazine , a student publication printed once a semester by the Villanova University Honors Program , features writing and artwork by Villanova students and professors . Each issue features creative nonfiction , poetry , short fiction , and black - and - white photography focusing on a central theme . Each issue also features articles on literature , entertainment , and dining . NROTC . Villanova NROTC is part of the Philadelphia NROTC Consortium ; consisting of Villanova University and the University of Pennsylvania ( including the cross town agreements with Drexel and Temple University ) . Located in Commodore John Barry Hall , the NROTC has been a part of the University since immediately after World War II . The battalion consists of more than 100 Navy and Marine Corps midshipmen under the advisement of a staff of Navy and Marine Corps officers and senior enlisted members . Midshipmen in the Villanova NROTC program are required to take specific Navy and Marine Corps classes , wear their service ' s uniform on Tuesdays , attend physical training events , participate in extra - curricular programs that range from sports teams to rifle - shooting , and adhere to the basic premise that “ a midshipman does not lie , cheat , or steal ” . Since its inception in the summer of 1946 , the NROTC unit on campus has produced 22 Admirals and Generals in the United States Navy and Marine Corps . At one point , there had only been two four - star generals in the U . S . Marine Corps , one of them the Commandant of the Marine Corps , and they had both been graduates of Villanova NROTC . In 2004 , the commanders of both U . S . Naval Forces Atlantic ( Admiral William J . Fallon ) and U . S . Naval Forces Pacific ( Admiral Walter F . Doran ) were Villanova NROTC graduates . Admiral Fallon was later assigned as Commander , U . S . Central Command from March 2007 to March 2008 . ADM Fallon was the first Navy officer to hold that position . Music activities . Villanova University is without a formal music department ; therefore , the Office of Music Activities is charged with the organization of the student performing arts groups on campus . Due to the lack of a music department , student musicians are from every school in the university . Nearly 10 % of the student body participates in various music related organizations . The Villanova Band is the largest and oldest musical group at Villanova with over 100 members . The Villanova Band has five divisions : the Concert Band , the Scramble Band , the Pep Band , the Jazz Ensemble , and the Villanova Orchestra . The Concert Band plays one concert at the end of each semester . It also performs throughout the Villanova community and on its annual " Fall Tour . " The Scramble Band performs for Villanova Football games between plays and at halftime on the field . The Villanova Pep Band performs at Villanova Men ' s and Women ' s Basketball games , including post - season games such as the Big East Tournament . The Jazz Ensemble and Orchestra has end - of - semester concerts and performs around the Philadelphia area several times a year . The band is made up of students of every school within Villanova . The second - largest musical group at Villanova , the Pastoral Musicians have about 60 voices and 35 instrumentalists , primarily undergraduates , up from 30 musicians in 1995 . Their musical selection shows the diversity of style within the Roman Catholic tradition : contemporary praise music from different cultures , Bach , Palestrina , Mozart , Lauridsen , and others . Villanova ' s men ' s chorus , the Villanova Singers , was founded in 1953 by Dean Harold Gill Reuschlein , then Dean of the Law School . The Singers were established for the stated purpose of singing various types of music and enriching the cultural life of the university . Entirely student - run , the Singers are governed by an 9 - member board of students and sing a wide range of musical styles and types , ranging from classical to contemporary . Within the Singers , there exists a smaller , student - directed " a cappella " group known as the Spires . Alumni of the Spires include Jim Croce , Tommy West and Manhattan Transfer member Tim Hauser . The Villanova Voices women ' s chorus is the oldest women ' s organization at the university . Originally called the Villanova Women ' s Glee Club , the group was founded by 20 women from the university ' s College of Nursing in 1960 , shortly after Villanova became coeducational . Their attendant " a cappella " group , the Haveners , is student - directed . Athletics . Villanova University teams are known as the Wildcats . They compete as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division I level ( non - football sub - level ) , primarily competing in the Big East Conference for all sports since the 1980 - 81 season . The Wildcats previously competed in the Atlantic 10 Conference ( A - 10 ) from 1975 - 76 to 1979 - 80 . Men ' s sports include baseball , basketball , cross country , football , golf , lacrosse , soccer , swimming & diving , tennis and track & field ; while women ' s sports include basketball , cross country , field hockey , lacrosse , rowing , soccer , softball , swimming & diving , tennis , track & field , volleyball and water polo . The football team competes as an associate member in the Colonial Athletic Association of the Football Championship Subdivision ( FCS ) , while the women ' s lacrosse team competes in the Patriot League . The Wildcats are also part of the Philadelphia Big 5 , the traditional Philadelphia - area basketball rivalry . Their fiercest city rivalry , which is called the " Holy War " , is with St . Joseph ' s University . In the NCAA graduation report released on November 18 , 2009 , Villanova has a graduation - success rate of 96 percent for student - athletes who entered college in 2002 – 03 . Villanova women ' s basketball team is among the athletic program ' s 14 teams with a 100 percent graduation rate for 2002 – 03 . The Wildcats ' nationally ranked men ' s basketball and football teams are both at 92 percent . The men ' s basketball team ' s graduation - success rate places it fifth nationally among Division I schools . In 2009 , Villanova ' s football team won the national title in the Football Championship Subdivision ( formerly Division I - AA ) . " Our number - one priority at Villanova has always been recruiting kids who want to get a good education , " Wildcats football coach Andy Talley said . Talley added that no matter how many games or titles Villanova wins , the athletic department ' s goal is to prepare students for life after college . Despite those comments , Villanova is currently evaluating whether or not the football program should accept a possible invitation to join the Big East Conference if so invited . Joining the Big East would allow Villanova to generate much more revenue from membership in a BCS conference . " Our football evaluation is ongoing , " Villanova AD Vince Nicastro told The Associated Press . " We are moving forward as quickly as we can , but not at the expense of being absolutely thorough . We still don ' t have a specific decision date , but it is likely to be resolved some time during this academic year . " Men ' s Basketball . In 1985 , under the direction of coach Rollie Massimino , the men ' s basketball team won the NCAA Men ' s Division I Basketball Tournament in the first year of the 64 - team field . The final game , against defending champion and ten - point - favorite Georgetown , is often cited among the greatest upsets in college basketball history . In 2005 , under the direction of coach Jay Wright , Villanova ' s men ' s basketball team reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 , losing to No . 1 seed and eventual champion North Carolina by one point on a traveling call on Allan Ray . In 2005 – 2006 , the team began the year ranked No . 4 in the major polls from " USA Today " and the Associated Press . A 75 – 62 loss to eventual champion Florida ended the team ' s run for a second NCAA championship in the Regional Final . This team was led by a four guard set , a unique type of lineup designed by coach Jay Wright . In the 2006 – 2007 season , the Wildcats had a record of 22 – 11 , and lost to Kentucky in the first round of the 2007 tournament . In the 2008 NCAA Men ' s Division I Basketball Tournament , the team was eliminated by the top - seeded , eventual champion Kansas Jayhawks in the Sweet 16 , after upsetting the fifth seeded Clemson Tigers in the 1st round and defeating the thirteenth seeded Siena Saints in the 2nd round . In the 2009 tournament , the Wildcats upset the No . 1 seed Pittsburgh Panthers on a last second shot by guard Scottie Reynolds to win the East Region and advance to the Final Four . The team was then defeated by the eventual champion North Carolina Tar Heels in the 2009 Final Four game . The home venues for the Wildcats include the on - campus 6 , 500 seat Pavilion for smaller attendance games , as well as the larger , 21 , 600 seat Wells Fargo Center ( Philadelphia ) ( formerly , Wachovia Center ) at the Philadelphia sports complex . The February 13 , 2006 meeting between Villanova and the University of Connecticut set the record for the highest attendance at a college basketball game in Pennsylvania , with 20 , 859 attendees . Men ' s Football . The Villanova men ' s football team competes in NCAA Division I - AA as a member of the Football Championship Subdivision in the Colonial Athletic Association . On December 18 , 2009 the team defeated the Montana Grizzlies to be crowned the 2009 NCAA Division I - AA champions , and were co - conference champions with the Richmond Spiders in the same year . On September 10 , 2010 , ESPN reported that the Big East Conference had informally invited the program to compete in that BCS conference . The same report stated that the University was considering the invite . Men ' s Lacrosse . The Villanova men ' s lacrosse team competes in NCAA Division I as a member of the Big East Conference . Through 2009 , Villanova men ' s lacrosse was a member of the Colonial Athletic Association and in 2009 , Villanova won the CAA tournament as the fourth seed ( the lowest - seeded championship team in conference history ) for its first title . The team also made its first NCAA tournament appearance that year . Women ' s cross country . In 2010 and 2009 , the women ' s cross country team won the NCAA National Championships under Coach Gina Procaccio . The 2010 victory was led by individual national champion Sheila Reid of Villanova . The Wildcats also hold the NCAA record for the most Division 1 team and individual wins in women ' s cross country with 9 team victories ( ' 89 , ' 90 , ' 91 , ' 92 , ' 93 , ' 94 , ' 98 , ' 09 , ' 10 ) and 8 individual champions , 7 of which coincided . Track and Field . Villanova University ' s track and field team has a long history of athletic success that has spanned from Big East Conference Championships to NCAA Championships . The men ' s team has produced 69 NCAA Championships , 36 Indoor and 33 Outdoor . The team has had 8 NCAA team Championships ( 4 Cross Country , 3 Indoor , 1 Outdoor ) . Villanova has produced 28 athletes who have made appearances in the Olympics , 10 of whom have medaled ( 7 Gold medals , 3 Silver medals ) . The men ' s team has also won 112 Penn Relay Championships , which stands as the most wins by any school . The men ' s current coaches include head coach Marcus O ' Sullivan and assistant head coach Anthony Williams . The women ' s team has also had a multitude of success , producing 11 Big East team Championships and 9 NCAA team Championships , most recently winning the 2009 and 2010 NCAA Championships . They have also produced nine Olympians including Ronnie Delany , Eamonn Coughlan , Vicki Huber , Sonia O ' Sullivan , Kim Certain , Kate Fonshell , Jen Rhines , Carmen Douma , and Carrie Tollefson . The Women ' s team has won 28 Penn Relay Championships , which is the most wins by any women ' s team . The current women ' s coaches include head coach Gina Procaccio and assistant head coach Anthony Williams . At least one Villanovan athlete has competed in every Summer Olympics since 1948 , winning a total of 13 medals ( 9 gold , 4 silver ) . Traditions . The University Seal . An adaptation of the seal of the Order of St . Augustine , the seal of Villanova University is one of the campus ' s most ubiquitous images , adorning everything from buildings to chairs to backpacks . A ribbon carries the University motto : " Veritas , Unitas , Caritas " ( Truth , Unity , and Charity ) , virtue s to which every member of the Villanova community should aspire . A book symbolizes Augustine ' s dedication to education and the New Testament where he found Christianity . A cincture is part of the habit worn by members of the Order of Saint Augustine . Hovering above is the flaming heart , symbol of Augustine ' s search for God and his love of neighbors . Behind the book is the crosier — a staff traditionally held by a Bishop — commemorating Augustine ' s service as Bishop of Hippo . Above and behind the book are two cross es , symbolic of Augustine ' s conversion and the University ' s commitment to Christianity . Framing the central portion of the seal is a laurel wreath exemplifying victory through the pursuit of knowledge , and 1842 is the year of the University ' s founding . Surrounding the seal is the incorporated fide of the University : " Universitas Villanova In Statu Pennsylvaniae " . The Liberty Bell ' s " Sister Bell " . Villanova University is also home to the Liberty Bell ' s " Sister Bell , " the replacement bell ordered from the Whitechapel Bell Foundry after the original bell cracked in 1753 . This new bell was installed at the Pennsylvania State House ( Independence Hall ) , and attached to the State House clock . The Sister Bell rang the hours until the late 1820s , when the bell was removed during a renovation and loaned to the Olde St . Augustine Church in Philadelphia . In 1829 , the bell was hung in a new cupola and tower designed by architect William Strickland . There it remained until May 8 , 1844 , when it was destroyed , along with the Olde St . Augustine Church , during the Philadelphia Nativist Riots . The friars of the Order of Saint Augustine had the " Sister Bell " recast and transferred to Villanova University . At the university ' s centennial celebration , the bell was rung by Archbishop Dennis Joseph Dougherty to open the ceremonies . In 1954 , the bell was displayed as part of an exhibit at Gimbels department store in Philadelphia that focused on the growth and development of the university . The Sister Bell is currently enshrined in the Heritage Room on the basement floor of the St . Augustine Monastery on Villanova ' s campus . Campus Myths . A number of legends are spread around campus by students . Some of these include the existence of secret tunnels and catacombs under campus , the haunting of some of the older dormitories ( sometimes linked to their use as hospitals during the Civil War ) , and speculation over the existence of an entire wing of St . Mary ' s Hall which is completely blocked off . The three buildings most commonly discussed as being haunted are Alumni Hall ( located by St . Thomas of Villanova church on the main campus ) , St . Mary ' s Hall and Dundale ( both located on the west campus ) . Alumni Hall dates back to 1848 and stands as one of the oldest structures on campus . The school was closed in 1861 due to the Civil War and reopened in 1865 . In that time this hall is believed to have been used as a military hospital and potential evidence of that use , such as a pulley located at the top of the main stairwell for moving bodies up and down , can still be seen . The building was used as a hospital again for influenza patients after World War I . This history has led to rumors that the building is haunted . St . Mary ' s Hall was built in 1962 and served as an Augustinian Seminary until 1972 . Laid out with long corridors and over a thousand rooms , there is a large chapel and many partial floors , basements and sub - basements to feed the legends of blocked off wings . The property on which Dundale Hall is located was originally purchased by an industrialist , Israel Morris II , in 1874 , and was built as a mansion for his family . Purchased from his family in 1978 , it has been used for a variety of meetings and is home to several offices . On more than a handful of occasions , the school ' s Public Safety officers have been called out late at night to investigate lights in the building coming on inexplicably . Alumni . Villanova University has produced several notable alumni . Golden Globe - nominated actress Maria Bello got her first taste of the stage in a production at Vasey Hall . Actor and Coen Brothers favorite Jon Polito has garnered both stage and screen awards , and NFL Hall of Famer , longtime FOX commentator and feature film actor Howie Long graduated in 1982 . Tim Hauser , founder of Manhattan Transfer , Jim Croce , and Don McLean have all been prominent members of the musical tradition at Villanova . Tony Award - winning playwright and screenwriter David Rabe premiered " In the Boom Boom Room " at Villanova ' s Vasey Hall . Brian Westbrook and Michael Bradley both attended Villanova before launching their careers in professional sports . Villanova has produced several military and governmental officials , including former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell , former Connecticut Governor John G . Rowland , and current Second Lady of the United States Jill Biden . Wife to the governor and federal judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit , Marjorie Rendell , is also a graduate . Numerous Marine generals and Naval Admirals are products of Villanova ' s Naval ROTC program , including William J . Fallon , Admiral in the United States Navy and Commander of United States Central Command ; George B . Crist , Marine General and the first Marine to be designated Commander in Chief , Central Command ; and Anthony Zinni , retired four - star General in the United States Marine Corps . The business world , too , has had several prominent businessmen who got their start at Villanova . Robert J . Darretta , Jr . – chief financial officer and vice chairman of Johnson & Johnson , John Drosdick – former CEO of Sunoco , Thomas G . Labrecque – former Chairman and CEO of Chase Manhattan Bank , Francis Saul – president of Chevy Chase ( Bank ) , and Martin McGuinn – former CEO of Mellon Financial Corp . have all studied at Villanova at some point in their careers . John Joseph O ' Connor , Cardinal Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York , obtained a Masters degree in Advanced Ethics at Villanova University . John L . Hennessy , president of Stanford University earned a Bachelor ' s in Electrical Engineering , and Deirdre Imus , Head of the Diedre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology ( and wife to radio host Don Imus ) is also a graduate .