University of Mary - History

History

Since the University of Mary's beginnings as U-Mary in the mid-1950s, its history has been one of rapid expansion. Founded in 1955 by The Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery as a two-year school, the college became a four-year degree-granting institution in 1959. It achieved university status — becoming the University of Mary — in 1986.

The University of Mary is the only private, Catholic university in North Dakota. It has been accredited by The Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1969. Since its incorporation in 1959, the university's enrollment has grown from 69 to more than 3,000. Ever mindful of its mission to serve the region's religious, academic, and cultural needs, the University of Mary continues to strive for quality in its academic and co-curricular programs. Its undergraduate programs have grown from nursing and education to 44 majors, ranging from accounting to theology.

In 1986, the university began offering master's degrees in nursing, management, and education, and went on to add master's programs in business administration, counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy, strategic leadership, and project management. In 2005, the master's degree in physical therapy was replaced by a Doctor of Physical Therapy — the university's first doctorate, which was first awarded to 26 graduates in 2006. In 2001, the University of Mary unveiled its vision as "America's Leadership University." In this role, the university is committed to providing leadership experiences for every student.

The University of Mary also has continued its mission by expanding learning options, making education accessible to working adults and supporting lifelong learning in the region and beyond. The University of Mary Centers for Accelerated and Distance Education offers accelerated undergraduate and graduate programs for the adult learner. Today, the University of Mary Centers for Accelerated and Distance Education has a total of 18 sites in the Upper Midwest and beyond, including the Butler Center in downtown Bismarck, Fargo Center in Fargo, ND, and Billings Center in Billings, MT. In 2005, the University of Mary further extended the accessibility of its programs by launching M.B.A. programs online. Today, students can earn graduate and undergraduate degrees online through U-Mary's Centers for Accelerated and Distance Education.

In 2006, U-Mary also launched the Gary Tharaldson School of Business. Named for North Dakota hospitality entrepreneur and industry innovator Gary Tharaldson, the new school — the university's first — is a new model for preparing students for business careers that is uniquely designed to bridge the gap between the academic and business world. The new 29,000-square-foot (2,700 m2), flagship facility that houses the Tharaldson School opened its doors in September 2008.

Today, with a full-time faculty and staff of more than 200, the University of Mary remains committed to continuing the mission of its founding Sisters: serving the people of the region in a spirit that fosters servant-leadership, preparing leaders in the service of truth.