Founded in 1919 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Emmanuel was a women's college until 2001, at which point it went completely coed. Prior to that, men could only become students through the ECAP program [1], graduate and professional programs [1], or as adult learners.
At the heart of the campus is Emmanuel's Chapel. It is a beautiful example of Gothic architecture, and it was restored in the late 1990s. (There's a photo at [1] , but it really doesn't do it justice.)
Emmanuel has consistently offered numerous reputable programs [1], such as education, performing arts, and communication. It boasts a small student-to-teacher ratio and a committed faculty. Most students engage in an off-campus internship to gain professional experience in their field of choice.
A part of Emmanuel's Catholic-rooted mission [1] is reaching out to students who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to attend college. As such, the student body is quite diverse.
Emmanuel also offers a number of excellent scholarships. At the time of this writing, students with a high GPA and SAT scores of at least 1270 could apply for a full-tuition "presidential scholarship" [1] -- one of the best scholarship deals in the city.
One unique characteristic of the college is that the admissions office accepts applications on a rolling deadline [1]. This means that students can apply for admission at ANY TIME, right up to the beginning of the semester! However, scholarship and financial aid deadlines are firm, so students should plan carefully.
Emmanuel's student life [1] is vibrant. The college has a Theater Guild founded by students in 1997, which has in recent years grown tremendously and won regional theater awards; a literary magazine; a Peace and Justice club; numerous NCAA sports teams; "Midnight Breakfasts" every semester during exams week; and much more. It also has an art gallery on campus, the Lillian Immig Gallery, which features exhibits from a variety of professional artists.
At Emmanuel's helm is its president, Sister Janet Eisner [1]. Eisner has been president of the college since 1979, and during her tenure has accomplished many things -- not the least significant of which was spearheading the association between the Colleges of the Fenway.
After going coed, enrollment increased dramatically at the college. In the 1990s, Emmanuel's incoming freshman class typically comprised about 100 students. Upon going coed, the incoming freshman class comprised about 300 students -- 100 of whom were male. Emmanuel had not had such comparatively high enrollment numbers since the 1970s. To help accomodate them, it bought back one of its old dormitories, Julie Hall, which it had sold to Beth Israel Hospital during a time of financial crisis. Other recent improvements include the renovation of Marion Hall into a new Student Center.[1].
For more information, visit [1].
Related links:
Photo tour: [1]
Colleges of the Fenway: [1]
Emmanuel College Theater Guild: [1]