University of Scranton The University of Scranton is a private , co - educational Catholic and Jesuit university , located in Scranton , Pennsylvania , United States , in the northeast region of the state . The school was founded in 1888 by Most Rev . William O ' Hara , the first Bishop of Scranton , as St . Thomas College . It was elevated to university status in 1938 , taking the name the University of Scranton . The institution was operated by the Diocese of Scranton , and later the Lasallian Christian Brothers , from 1888 to 1942 . In 1942 , Bishop William Joseph Hafey invited the Society of Jesus to take charge of the university . Today , The University of Scranton is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is served by the Scranton Jesuit Community . The university is composed of four colleges : The College of Arts and Sciences , The Kania School of Management , The Panuska College of Professional Studies , and The College of Graduate and Continuing Education ( a recent merger of the Graduate School and The Dexter Hanley College ) . Areas of academic study . The university grants undergraduate degree s ( Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science ) in 57 majors . Students may also utilize many pre - professional concentrations , such as pre - medical , pre - law , and pre - dental . The university also has an Honors Program , and the SJLA ( Special Jesuit Liberal Arts ) Program in which select students complete courses in moral philosophy , ethics , theology , and the humanities in addition to their normal course load . The university also grants graduate degree s ( Master of Arts , Master of Science , Master of Business Administration , Master of Science in Nursing , Master of Health Administration , Master of Occupational Therapy , Master of Science in Education ) in 24 fields , among them Accounting , Chemistry , Biochemistry , Computing Sciences , Counseling and Human Services , Curriculum & Instruction , Educational Administration , Elementary and Special Education , Health Administration , Human Resources , Nursing , Software Engineering , and Theology . The university also offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy program . Curriculum . The university offers a liberal arts program . Students are required to take the core courses in public speaking , computer literacy and composition . Students are also required to take two theology courses , two philosophy courses , as well as an elective in one of these two areas . Filling out the general education requirements are 6 credits in science courses , 6 credits in writing intensive courses , 6 credits in cultural diversity courses , 3 credits in a mathematics course , 12 credits in humanities courses and 3 credits in physical education . Ranking . The university has received accolades from in a number of national publications including the Princeton Review , Kaplan ' s Publishing , U . S . News & World Report and Newsweek . For 16 consecutive years , beginning in 1994 , The University of Scranton has been ranked in the top 10 schools in U . S . News & World Report ' s rankings of the Best Master ' s Universities - North . In the 2010 edition , Scranton was named as one of 77 universities nationally on the " Up and Coming List " ( fourth in the north ) and one of 80 nationally recognized for " A Strong Commitment to Teaching " ( third in the north ) . The Princeton Review has named the university to its annual “ The 371 Best Colleges , " from 2002 to its most recent list in 2011 . A combined 2008 Newsweek / Kaplan college guide also named The University of Scranton as one of the United States ' “ 372 Most Interesting Schools ” for the second straight year . The University of Scranton was in the top 50 of universities listed in Kiplinger ’ s “ Best Values in Private Colleges . ” In 2011 The Huffington Post recognized The University of Scranton as the sixth friendliest school in the United States . Campus buildings and landmarks . Retreat center at Chapman Lake . Retreats offered at Chapman Lake are usually offered and run by staff and students from The University of Scranton ' s Office of University Ministries . They are very popular with the student body and are usually held several times a year , with around 40 students participating at a time . The Freshman Retreat and the Search Retreats are among the most popular and are held multiple times each semester . The Senior Retreat is usually held once a year during the Spring Semester for graduating seniors . Student housing . The university has 13 traditional residences , housing mostly for freshmen . Christopher and Margaret Condron Hall ( 2008 ) , Francis E . Redington Hall , and John R . Gavigan Hall provide housing for upperclassmen students . The university owns over 20 additional houses and apartment buildings in the areas surrounding the campus , offering over 30 housing options for students , including Mulberry Plaza and Madison Square , two townhouse - style complexes featuring air conditioning , full kitchens , living areas and bedrooms . Athletics . Scranton athletes compete at the NCAA Division III . In 2007 , Scranton joined the newly formed Landmark Conference , which ended a long history with the Middle Atlantic / Freedom Conference . The school offers 18 varsity sports and has won national championships in Men ' s Basketball in 1976 and 1983 and Women ' s Basketball in 1985 . The university ' s basketball teams play at the John Long Center located in the heart of the campus . The university ' s soccer and field hockey teams play at Fitzpatrick Field , also on campus . In February 2012 , the university fully acquired the South Side Sports Complex in Scranton . The complex will be converted into NCAA - regulation fields for soccer , baseball , and softball . The complex will also include a child ' s play area and public basketball courts . Student life . The University of Scranton alma mater . The hours too quickly slip away < br > And mingle into years < br > But memories of our Scranton days will last < br > Whatever next appears . < br > The legacy from those before < br > Is briefly ours to hold , < br > We leave the best behind for others < br > As the coming years unfold . With faith in lives that touch us here < br > And paths that ours have crossed < br > We know that reaching for the rising sun < br > Is surely worth the cost . < br > May God be ever at our side , < br > May goodness fill our days . < br > We hail as loving sons and daughters < br > Alma mater ours always . The University of Scranton student government . History of the Student Senate . The Student Senate came about in the spring semester of 2002 with the ratification of its Constitution . On May 3 , 2002 the first Student Senate meeting was held in the Office of Student Activities . Today , the Student Senate assembles for regular sessions on a biweekly basis and for emergency sessions as necessary . The Student Senate is the main avenue of governance for the students . The Student Senate deals with pertinent issues that affect the day - to - day lives of students at The University of Scranton . The Senate is chaired by the Vice - President of Student Government who votes only in the case of a tie . The other Executive members of Student Government are the President , a nonvoting member with veto authority , as well as the Secretary and Treasurer , both non - voting members . The body of the Student Senate is made up of the non - voting executive positions , and four equal representatives from each class , two commuter representatives , two off - campus representatives , and two resident representatives for a total of 26 members , 22 of which have voting rights . There are four standing committees formed out of the Senate : Safety and Crime Prevention , Student Life and Dining Services , Academic Affairs , and Appropriations . Proposed legislation is sent to the appropriate committee for research and development at the discretion of the Chair . The Executive Treasurer advises the Appropriations Committee ; a Senator appointed by the Executive Council chairs each of the committees . Future of the university . On April 26 , 2008 , the university held a public launch its new fundraising campaign . The campaign includes the DeNaples Center , Condron Hall , renovations to the Estate as a new home for admissions and the development of a new science facility . The building , now known as the Loyola Science Center , is in the planning stages with a tentative construction start date in Spring 2009 ( according to October 2007 Provost ' s Report ) . Other campaign priorities include building endowment for financial aid , scholarships and faculty development and growing support in annual giving . On October 26 , 2009 , the university began construction on a new science / humanities facility , the Loyola Science Center . On May 6 , 2010 , the university announced plans to build a new apartment style Residence Hall with a food option as well as a new fitness facility on the first floor . This will be located across the street from the DeNaples Center on the 900 block of Mulberry Street . On August 30 , 2010 , President Scott Pilarz , S . J . announced that he would leave the university at the end of the academic year to become the president of Marquette University . On December 15 , 2010 , Christopher " Kip " Condron announced that Kevin Quinn , S . J . would become the 25th President of the University of Scranton . Quinn is originally from New York , a graduate of Fordham University and was , prior to his appointment , the executive director of the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education at Santa Clara University , where he was also a professor of law . On May 11 , 2011 it was announced that the West building of the new Mulberry Street Complex will be named " Pilarz Hall " in honor of outgoing president Rev . Scott Pilarz , S . J . It was dedicated on November 11 , 2011 . Similarly , the east Mulberry Street Complex building was dedicated on December 1 , 2011 as Montrone Hall , in honor of Sandra H ' 03 and Paul Montrone ' 62 , H ' 86 . University of Scranton Presidents . List of Presidents since elevation to University status in 1938 : University of Scranton Press . The University of Scranton Press is a university press that is part of The University of Scranton . Its publications include books on religious and philosophical issues and local ( Northeastern Pennsylvania ) history , including coal mining . In the summer of 2010 the university announced that it was no longer accepting submissions for publication and would discontinue the Press after all current projects were completed .