As the oldest Catholic college in Florida, founded in the town of Saint Leo by Benedictine monks and sisters in 1889, Saint Leo University has served as an important center for intellectual growth and spiritual and ethical development. We share these treasures with our students and guests who are Catholic, with those of another religious affiliation, and those with no religious affiliation. Our welcoming attitude is part of our caring Catholic culture, as well as a feature specific to the Benedictine tradition of hospitality and service to community.
In the current day, our students and visitors will see and feel our Catholic roots in a variety of ways. The most visible manifestations are seen in the religious art and architecture of our main campus, which can lead both to artistic study and spiritual reflection. These works range from the Benedictine crosses installed on our new landmark clock tower, atop Saint Jude Chapel in the Student Activities Building, to the older religious statues and stained glass windows adorning our more historic buildings, and to custom-made figures and crucifixes on display in various locations.
Students also find the school’s University Ministry program conducts voluntary religious services for them and offers counseling and fellowship. They see, too, that other students joyfully organize and create Catholic-inspired musical performances and plays, and carry out community-service projects close to their hearts. In these aspects of student life, Saint Leo helps nourish the spiritual development of those who wish to grow in their Catholicism, while maintaining a respectful, safe, and welcoming atmosphere for all.
Our faculty members reflect the mission of bringing the best values-based education possible to all. Students encounter this whether they study at our Continuing Education Centers, on our traditional campus, or online. The course guide given to each student at the beginning of the semester explains how the content will be linked to one of the university’s core values, such as respect, integrity, or excellence. Teachers are as accessible as possible to students through the scheduling of small-size classes and regular means for students to follow-up with questions. Saint Leo faculty want our students to feel that they have been encouraged as well as taught, and given the opportunity to grow in terms of personal development and knowledge.
We differ, in one significant way, from the school’s founders in our expression of our Catholic identity. Those who came in the generations before us educated and cared for students who lived in central Florida permanently, or at least for the academic year. Saint Leo today employs the technology of the 21st century to teach and inspire students around the country, and sometimes internationally. We apply as many of our resources as possible toward this cause, and we feel blessed and thankful for the opportunity to serve.
