Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College: A Legacy of Education and Empowerment
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC), a private Catholic liberal arts college located in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, holds a distinguished place in the history of American education. Founded in 1840 by Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and the Sisters of Providence, SMWC initially served as an academy for young women. Over time, it has evolved into a coeducational institution while maintaining its commitment to academic excellence and the development of the whole person - mind, body, and spirit.
A Storied History
The journey of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and her five companions from Ruille-sur-Loir, France, to the wilderness of Indiana is a testament to their unwavering dedication to education. Responding to a request from the bishop of Vincennes, they sought to establish an academy for women amidst the growing Catholic immigrant population. After a perilous 40-day ocean voyage and arduous travel across the American continent, they arrived at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods on October 22, 1840.
Despite facing initial challenges, including financial setbacks and unfamiliar surroundings, the Sisters of Providence persevered. Students sought them out even before the first buildings were erected, demonstrating the community's eagerness for education. In 1846, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College received the first charter for the higher education of women in the state of Indiana. The college conferred its first Bachelor of Arts degree in 1899.
Throughout its history, SMWC has been at the forefront of educational innovation. It was the first women's college to offer journalism courses and degree work in secondary education, home economics, and secretarial science. Recognizing the needs of adult learners, SMWC introduced one of the nation's first independent study programs in 1973, the Women's External Degree Program, later renamed Woods Online. In 2005, the College expanded access to its undergraduate distance program to men, all the while embracing its rich history as a women’s college.
Academics: A Foundation for the Future
SMWC offers a diverse range of academic programs for campus-based undergraduate, online undergraduate, and graduate students. The curriculum is rooted in a traditional liberal arts education, fostering critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. SMWC prepares students not only to answer "what" but also to explore "why," encouraging them to become independent thinkers and leaders in their chosen fields.
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The College takes pride in its long history of traditions and commitment to academic excellence. SMWC strives to constantly evaluate student needs and evolve to meet those needs. It remains rooted in the past but is always focused on the future.
In recent years, SMWC has expanded its academic offerings to meet the evolving demands of the job market. Nursing continues to be one of the largest programs on campus and has been nationally ranked by US News & World Report. In the last five years, the College has added more than 15 academic programs, including recent additions of paramedic science, healthcare administration and the Ph.D.
SMWC is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and approved for teacher training by the Indiana Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Campus Life: A Holistic Experience
Student life at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College complements academic life by providing an atmosphere for learning to live, understand, and contribute to a community made up of people from different backgrounds. All new resident and commuter students are required to participate in New Student Orientation during their first semester. New Student Orientation is designed to help new students begin their transition into college and to find a sense of belonging at The Woods. The program has something for all of our new students, including first year, transfer, and international students. Orientation includes events, conversations, and activities that enrich your Woods experience and help you feel at home. Returning students play an important part in the planning and implementation of these programs, keeping them fresh, exciting, and geared to student needs. Students joining the College in January are given a brief orientation when they arrive.
All full-time students in the campus program are required to live on campus unless they meet the specific criteria to be classified as a commuter. Students residing on campus choose to live in Le Fer Hall, Les Bois, the Lake House or University Village off campus in Terre Haute. They can select a room that uses a community-style bathroom or one that has a suite-style bathroom. Student rooms are equipped with wireless internet. New students are assigned rooms prior to their arrival on campus, while returning students select their rooms for the following year during the Spring semester. Assistant Hall Directors (graduate assistants) and resident assistants live on campus to assist with emergencies.
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Social, educational and community service activities are planned by Campus Life and student clubs and organizations. Students will find a wide variety of activities and events on campus each week. In addition to intercollegiate athletic competitions, students are encouraged to take advantage of other social and recreational opportunities on campus including intramural and club sports. Available for student use are a fitness room and many acres of fine walking, biking, and jogging areas. The Health Service Center and the Student Counseling Center offer free services to undergraduate students currently enrolled at the College. The Health Services Center is operated by Union Health and is located in the Rooney Center. The Health Services Center is staffed by a nurse practitioner, nurses, and support staff. If the healthcare needs of the student cannot be met by the Health Services Center, the student can be referred to the proper provider. The Student Counseling Center is staffed by a full-time licensed counselor. The counselor works with students experiencing personal problems and conflicts. Before enrolling, students are required to submit a current immunization record and emergency contact form.
Aurora, founded in 1870, is the campus literary magazine published once a semester under the direction of a faculty member. Staff positions are open to all students. The primary organization for student government on campus is Student Senate. It acts as a liaison between the student body and the College administration by preparing and presenting legislation.
Campus Ministry at SMWC is grounded in the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church and in the spirit of the Sisters of Providence. Students of all faith traditions are encouraged to participate in programs and activities both on and off campus.
The College is committed to providing reasonable and appropriate accommodations to students with documented disabilities in order to afford them an equal opportunity to participate in the College’s programs, courses, activities and housing. In order for the College to assist students with disabilities effectively under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), students who have been accepted for enrollment and request accommodations must provide documentation of their disability from a physician, psychologist, testing center, state or federal agency, or other qualified evaluator. To be approved for accommodations, one of the following documents must be included with your application. Verification from a treating professional (physician, therapist, etc.) will be required. The treating professional must confirm the diagnosis and the need for the requested housing accommodation. The ADA advisor will review all documentation. Once a determination is made, the ADA advisor will inform the student of the decision. The Conferences and Events Office manages housing in Le Fer Residence and Les Bois Halls in the summer months.
Athletics: The Pomeroys
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) adheres to the philosophy that intercollegiate athletics, intramurals, and fitness activities remain an integral part of the institution's combined academic efforts. The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (SMWC) athletic teams are called the Pomeroys, and the college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Since the 2021-22 academic year, its teams compete primarily in the River States Conference (RSC).
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SMWC sponsors 18 intercollegiate athletic programs. SMWC competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity teams: Men's sports include basketball, cross country, equestrian, golf, soccer, sprint football, track & field and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, equestrian, golf, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball; as well as hunt seat.
The Pomeroys first scholarship athletic program began in 1994 with women’s basketball. In 2000-01, SMWC transitioned from the National Small College Athletic Association (NSCAA) to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). In 2000, women’s soccer entered the fold, the institution did not add another sport until equestrian and women’s golf in 2008. In the following year, women’s cross country joined the mix. Since 2015, one sport has been added each year beginning with volleyball in 2015, men’s golf in 2016, men’s cross country in 2017, and men’s soccer in 2018. SMWC added men’s and women’s track & field for the 2019-20 calendar year. Men's basketball began in Fall 2021. SMWC added sprint football, a weight-restricted form of American football that is not governed by the NAIA, the USCAA, or the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), in 2022.
As SMWC enters its 28th season of intercollegiate athletic scholarship competition, the Pomeroys have established a great deal of success. The Crosstown Classic is a hometown rivalry winter basketball game between SMWC and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. This annual competition has resulted in a 13-7 record favoring the Pomeroys. Prior to 2016, the game was known as the "Clabber Girl Classic", named for the famed Clabber Girl trophy presented by the Clabber Girl of Hulman and Company. The SMWC softball team boasts 12 National Championships including four consecutive USCAA National Softball Championships (2002-2005). The SMWC Equestrian Team competes throughout the year in both Western and English, traveling to about 20 shows per season. SMWC has been the site for regional horse shows, managed by the SMWC equestrian team members. In 2009, the Pomeroy soccer team experienced a "Cinderella" season, in which they entered the USCAA National Championship Tournament as the eighth seed (the lowest seed) and advanced all the way to the national championship before being defeated by Marygrove College. Just days before the soccer team brought home the silver cup from Burlington, Vermont, the first-year cross-country squad won the USCAA National Championship in New Hampshire. On October 7, 2020, SMWC announced that they had been accepted as members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and would become provisional members of the River States Conference (RSC) starting July 1, 2021. The department currently offers seven non-scholarship club sport options; Competitive Cheer, Cycling, Dance, eSports, Powerlifting, Rowing, and Tennis. Intramurals offer both competitive and non-competitive options through both the fall and spring semesters.
Career Development: A Journey, Not a Destination
When it comes to landing a job in a student’s desired field, it is best to look at the process as a journey and not a destination. Think about your passion and calling. By starting the planning process early, students are provided with time to research career options, network, and make vital connections to gain the necessary experience and tools to hit the ground running upon graduation. The Career Center focuses on building relationships between students, alumni, faculty, and employers that lead to transformational experiences and outcomes. Utilizing these relationships, the Career Center develops programs, events, and resources that include networking opportunities, professional development activities, and experiential learning. Are you interested in Studying Abroad? The Career Center is the place to get your travel experience started. Schedule an appointment in Handshake to learn more about the process of planning and applying for a semester abroad! Don’t want to travel alone, ask the Career Center about faculty-led study abroad experiences. Registered students and alumni have 24/7 access to job and internship postings, event registration, an alumni database, and links to helpful career-related resources and announcements.
The Campus: A Blend of History and Modernity
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is a 67-acre wooded campus located five miles northwest of Terre Haute, Indiana. The peaceful and beautiful campus features a fitness trail, lake and stables amid the stately academic buildings. C.A.N.D.L.E.S. Woods students take advantage of the area's growing culture, shopping and dining. Indianapolis International Airport is the closest airport.
The campus boasts a mix of historic and modern buildings, reflecting the college's rich heritage and commitment to progress. The Indianapolis architectural firm of D. A. Bohlen, Architect, and its successors, completed "more than sixty projects" for the Sisters of Providence, including six historic buildings dating from 1913 to 1969: Guerin Hall (1913), Conservatory of Music (1913), Le Fer Hall (1924), Owens Hall (1960), Rooney Library (1964), and Hulman Hall (1969). The historic buildings on campus were representative of popular architectural styles at the time of their construction. Campus architects retained its pastoral setting, while a "French influence reminiscent of Georges-Eugène Haussmann" is visible in the "straight walkways and open views".
Historic Landmarks
- Guerin Hall: Designed by Oscar D. Bohlen in a Renaissance Revival style, Guerin Hall is named in honor of the foundress of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Construction for the four-story brick building began in 1911; it was dedicated on October 12, 1913. Guerin Hall was the college's first residence for students. Its lower floor contained offices, classrooms, and a chapel, while its upper floors offered semi-private rooms, a new trend in student housing at that time. The ornate front entrance features heavily carved Corinthian capitals on pilasters, made of Indiana limestone.
- Saint Cecilia Conservatory of Music: Designed by Oscar D. Bohlen and constructed between 1911 and 1913, the Conservatory is located "on the site of the second Saint Mary-of-the-Woods village church and cemetery." The three-story, Italian Renaissance Revival-style Conservatory was constructed of light brick and Bedford limestone.
- Le Fer Hall: Named in honor of Sisters Saint Francis Xavier and Mary Joseph Le Fer, two of Saint Mother Théodore Guérin's companions, Le Fer Hall serves as a residence hall for students. The Indianapolis architectural firm of D. A. Bohlen and Son designed the four-story, French Renaissance Revival-style building. Construction began in 1921.
- The Mary and Andy Rooney Library: a contemporary structure built at a cost of $1.28 million, was designed in 1961 by Indianapolis architects August C. Bohlen and Melvin B. G. Meyer of Bohlen and Burns.
- Mary Fendrich Hulman Hall: was designed by Melvin B. G. Meyers, president of Bohlen, Meyer, Gibson and Associates, in a Mid-century modern style. Its design is similar to Owens Hall and Rooney Library.
Recent Additions
In recent years, SMWC has undertaken several construction projects to enhance the campus and provide students with modern facilities.
- Les Bois Hall: Erected in the summer of 2021 following a large influx of on-campus students.
- Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center: Completed in 2014, the Knoerle Center was the first new building on campus since Hulman Hall was built in 1969.
- Lake Le Fer Project: In 2017, construction began on a walking trail, environmental habitat and outdoor classroom at Lake Le Fer. By the 2021-2022 school year, these projects were complete.
- Mary and Bayless Butler Classroom: Completed and dedicated in Fall of 2021. Campus programs, including environmental science, use the space for class.
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