History
History of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (Formerly Our Lady of the Lake College)
A School of Nursing is Founded to Serve Louisiana
Established in 1923 by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady, the Our Lady of the Lake School of Nursing began in conjunction with the opening of Our Lady of the Lake Sanitarium in the Capitol Lake area of downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The school was an integral part of the new hospital’s program of service to the community.
Five students from the St. Francis Sanitarium in Monroe, Louisiana, formed the nucleus of the first class of nine students. The students lived, attended classes and cared for patients in the hospital that overlooked the Capitol Lake. Upon completion of three calendar years of education, the students were awarded a diploma in nursing.
The School Initiates Innovations in Healthcare Education
The curriculum was revised over the years to incorporate advances in medical science, nursing science, nursing practice, and nursing education. In 1960, in response to the changing health needs of the community and the prevailing nursing shortage, the School of Nursing was the first school in the South to revise its curriculum by shortening its program from three calendar years to 27 consecutive months. Recruitment to the diploma program was intensified, enrollment increased, and the school continued to grow and maintain its reputation for excellence.
The Modern College Begins to Take Shape
During the 1970s, major changes began to occur in the student population. Along with a decline in residential students, there was a gradual but persistent increase in the number of non-traditional students (23 years of age and older) seeking admission to the nursing program. By the close of the decade, the School of Nursing became a commuter school and no longer offered on-campus housing. This coincided with the relocation of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center to its present site on Essen Lane.
In response to trends in nursing education and licensure, the faculty began exploring options in the 1980s to position nursing education within the collegiate setting. In 1989, the process culminated with the decision of the Franciscan Sisters and the medical center administration to transition to a degree-granting institution of higher education. In May of that year, Our Lady of the Lake College of Nursing and Allied Health was registered with the state. Within the next few years. The college began offering Associate of Science degrees in Radiologic Technology and general studies, in addition to nursing. Regional accreditation of the University was initially received from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in June 1994. In July of 1995, the college was officially renamed Our Lady of the Lake College.
New Programs are Developed
Today the University offers 2 doctorate degree, 5 master's degrees, 9 bachelor's degrees and 2 associate degrees – in addition to certificate and training programs. Today, the University has approximately 1,200 students and a full-time faculty of 93.
In addition to an emphasis on academic excellence, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University has continued the commitment to service begun by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady. During the 2022-23 academic year, students served 25,136 hours in 16 parishes across the state of Louisiana. The University has been recognized as a Community Engagement Campus by the Carnegie Founars of the new millennium were a time of expansion for The University, and several new associate degree programs were added to the curriculum. In 1998, The University was approved as a Level II institution to offer baccalaureate degrees, and by the turn of the century had added seven bachelor’s programs. Additional programs were established during the summer of 2000 to offer dynamic training opportunities including practical nursing and phlebotomy as well as continuing education for healthcare professionals.
In response to the regional devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, The University ramped up outreach programs on three campuses in the New Orleans metropolitan area, ultimately graduating over 450 associate degree nurses who contributed significantly to a healthcare system in need. Another noteworthy point in The University’s history occurred in 2005, when SACS granted approval for master’s level programs in nurse anesthesia, nursing and physician assistant studies, making available for area professionals a new level of academic achievement.
In 2019, The University received a full ten-year re-accreditation from SACSCOC. This process was extremely valuable, leading to some reorganization of undergraduate programs and the development of a stronger core curriculum. The University has gone through a reorganization of its undergraduate and graduate academic programs resulting in three comprehensive academic schools: the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Health Professions and the School of Nursing.
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Today
The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady announced on October 4, 2016 that Our Lady of the Lake College is now Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. The announcement of the new name kicked off a transition that included re-branding, and the full implementation of the new name took up to a year to complete.
In addition to an emphasis on academic excellence, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University has continued the commitment to service begun by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady. During the 2022-2023 academic year, students served 25,136 hours in 16 parishes across the state of Louisiana. This type of service has led to the University being recognized as a Carnegie Community Engagement Campus by the Carnegie Foundation since 2010. This commitment to serve ensures graduates will possess a wide range of knowledge and skills which will allow them to continue to fulfill the University’s mission of service to God's people.