Loyola University New Orleans

Jesuits were among the pioneering settlers in New Orleans and Louisiana in the early days of the 18th century. Fast forward to 1904, their vision evolved into something monumental – the birth of Loyola University. The bedrock of this multifarious institution was a land parcel once part of Foucher Plantation. It all started when a young Jesuit, Fr. Albert Biever, received a mere nickel from his superiors to venture through Uptown on the St. Charles Streetcar, with the colossal task of establishing a university.

Loyola's infancy saw who it cohabiting with a preparatory academy. Its first classrooms were established in a domicile behind the Most Holy Name of Jesus Church. The journey of Loyola from an ephemeral set-up to a permanent institution embarked with the construction of Marquette Hall in 1907. Fr. Biever was christened as the University's first president.

In the chronological timeline of Loyola, the year 1911 holds prominence. It was a period of re-organisation of Jesuit education in New Orleans. The College of the Immaculate Conception, running since 1847, separated its high school and college wings. The former transformed into a dedicated secondary institution, now known as Jesuit High School. Meanwhile, Loyola, now recognized as the collegiate establishment, received their charter as Loyola University on July 10, 1912.

Loyola's growth was steady and impressive. In the ten years since its inception, the university bloomed to include the College of Arts and Sciences, a School of Law, a School of Dentistry, and a College of Pharmacy. Expansion continued, and the addition of a School of Music contributed to the zeal in academics. This period also saw Loyola boasting of the first radio broadcast in the Deep South, a historic breakthrough that commended the University's innovative inclination.

Loyola's campus transformed further with the 1964 addition of the Joseph A. Danna Student Center; Albert Biever Hall, a student residence hall; and a central heating/cooling plant. Henrietta Buddig Hall, another student residence, erected in 1967, stands as Loyola’s tallest building at twelve stories. In the same timeline, the J. Edgar Monroe Science Building, the largest academic building to date, was an added jewel in Loyola’s crown.

At the dawn of the 1970s, under the auspices of Vatican II reforms, Loyola underwent significant changes. A decisive shift in academic curriculum and Jesuit governance mirrored transitions in many universities of that era. The university's stature evolved from a regional commuter college to a school that magnetized students across the United States.

In 1984, Loyola welcomed the facilities of St. Mary's Dominican College to its assets. This introduced the lovable Broadway campus, home to Loyola's School of Law, Cabra Residence Hall, and a Department of Visual Arts. This growth story unfolded despite the backlashes of natural disasters and socio-political hurdles.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina forced a temporary shuttering of Loyola. The university reopened its doors to education six months later, in January 2006. True to its spirit, Loyola also became the first New Orleans college to hold commencement ceremonies post-Katrina.

Focusing on reinvigorating the university after the recent devastation, in 2006, President Kevin Wm. Wildes, S.J., introduced the strategic post-Katrina plan, 'Pathways - Toward Our Second Century.' Despite initial controversy, the plan successfully steered Loyola to a robust recovery, placing the institution back on the path of progressive academics.

Much has changed since the establishing of Loyola College in 1904, but its core mission remains the same: to provide a Jesuit education that transforms students into thoughtful, responsible leaders. The journey of Loyola, through the tides of time, stands testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.