History of Villanova University in Timeline

Villanova University, established in 1842 by the Order of Saint Augustine, is a private Catholic research university located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Named after Saint Thomas of Villanova, it holds the distinction of being the oldest Catholic university in Pennsylvania and one of only two Augustinian institutions of higher education in the United States. The university's foundation and ongoing affiliation with the Augustinian order contribute significantly to its identity and mission.

1902: First Greek Organization

In 1902, the first Greek organization at Villanova was established as a social organization and circle of individuals interested in classical studies.

1906: First Legal Forward Pass

In 1906, the Villanova team is credited by some sources with completing the first legal forward pass in football history.

1916: The Villanovan Established

In 1916, The Villanovan was established as an officially recognized and accredited student newspaper at Villanova.

1918: Evening classes for nuns

In 1918, Villanova started offering evening classes to educate nuns so they could teach in parochial schools.

1922: Belle Air Yearbook Founded

In 1922, the Belle Air Yearbook was established as the official yearbook of Villanova University, produced by students.

1925: Founding of the Student Government Association (SGA)

In 1925, the Student Government Association (SGA) was founded at Villanova University, operating through the Executive Branch, the Senate, and the Judicial Council.

1938: First laywoman degree

In 1938, a laywoman received a degree from Villanova for the first time.

1946: NROTC Unit Inception

In the summer of 1946, the NROTC unit was established on campus, and later produced 25 Admirals and Generals in the United States Navy and Marine Corps.

1948: Villanova at the Summer Olympics

Since 1948, at least one Villanovan athlete has competed in every Summer Olympics. In total, they have won 13 medals (nine gold, four silver).

November 18, 1953: Villanova achieves university status

On November 18, 1953, Villanova achieved university status, a pivotal moment in its institutional development.

1953: Villanova Singers Founded

In 1953, Villanova's men's chorus, the Villanova Singers, was founded by Dean Harold Gill Reuschlein with the purpose of enriching the cultural life of the university.

1953: Nursing school opening

The nursing school opened in 1953, which marked the start of full-time attendance for women at Villanova.

1954: The Sister Bell is displayed at Gimbels

In 1954, the Sister Bell was displayed as part of an exhibit at Gimbels department store in Philadelphia, focusing on the growth and development of Villanova University.

1954: Building expansion

Starting in 1954, Villanova built or bought 10 new buildings including Bartley, Mendel, and Dougherty Halls on land adjacent to the campus.

1958: First female engineering student

In 1958, the College of Engineering admitted its first female student; however, other colleges only admitted women as commuters.

1960: Villanova Voices Founded

In 1960, the Villanova Voices women's chorus, originally called the Villanova Women's Glee Club, was founded by 20 women from the university's College of Nursing, shortly after Villanova became coeducational.

1962: Construction of St. Mary's Hall

In 1962, St. Mary's Hall was built, featuring long corridors, over a thousand rooms, a large deconsecrated chapel, and partial floors, contributing to campus legends.

1963: Building expansion

Ending in 1963, Villanova built or bought 10 new buildings including Bartley, Mendel, and Dougherty Halls on land adjacent to the campus.

1968: Villanova becomes fully coeducational

In 1968, Villanova University became fully coeducational, marking a significant change in the university's history.

1975: Eastern 8 Conference

In 1975, Villanova competed in the Eastern 8 Conference.

1976: Eastern 8 Conference

In 1976, Villanova competed in the Eastern 8 Conference.

1979: Eastern 8 Conference

In 1979, Villanova competed in the Eastern 8 Conference.

1985: Men's basketball team wins NCAA Division I tournament

In 1985, the Villanova men's basketball team, coached by Rollie Massimino, won the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Their victory against Georgetown is considered a major upset in college basketball history.

1988: Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Crown Award

In 1988, the Belle Air Yearbook won the prestigious Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Crown Award.

1989: Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Crown Award

In 1989, the Belle Air Yearbook won the prestigious Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Crown Award.

1991: WXVU Radio Station Program

Since 1991, WXVU, the FCC-licensed student-operated FM radio station, has offered a varied program of music, news, sports, public affairs, and specialty programming.

1995: Growth of Pastoral Musicians

By 1995, the Pastoral Musicians, the second-largest musical group at Villanova, grew to 30 musicians.

1995: VEMS hosted NCEMSF Conference

Villanova Emergency Medical Service (VEMS) hosted the second annual National Collegiate EMS Foundation (NCEMSF) Conference in 1995.

1999: VTV Started as Production Club

In 1999, VTV started as the Villanova TV Production Club, producing news, events, films, and other programming for the Villanova community.

2000: VEMS receives EMS website of the year

In 2000, Villanova Emergency Medical Service (VEMS) received the EMS website of the year award from the National Collegiate EMS Foundation (NCEMSF).

2001: VEMS named Campus Organization of the Year

Villanova Emergency Medical Service (VEMS) was named 2001 Campus Organization of the Year by the National Collegiate EMS Foundation (NCEMSF).

2004: VEMS receives EMS website of the year

In 2004, Villanova Emergency Medical Service (VEMS) received the EMS website of the year award from the National Collegiate EMS Foundation (NCEMSF).

2004: Habitat for Humanity Participation

In 2004, Villanova had more participants in the Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge than any other U.S. university.

2004: Commanders of US Naval Forces

In 2004, the commanders of both U.S. Naval Forces Atlantic (Admiral William J. Fallon) and U.S. Naval Forces Pacific (Admiral Walter F. Doran) were Villanova NROTC graduates.

2005: Collegiate Network Award for Layout and Design

In 2005, The Villanova Times, an independent bi-weekly student newspaper, won the Collegiate Network Award for Layout and Design.

2005: VEMS hosted NCEMSF Conference

Villanova Emergency Medical Service (VEMS) hosted the twelfth annual National Collegiate EMS Foundation (NCEMSF) Conference in Philadelphia in 2005.

February 13, 2006: Record attendance at basketball game

On February 13, 2006, the game between Villanova and the University of Connecticut set the record for the highest attendance at a college basketball game in Pennsylvania, with 20,859 attendees.

2006: VEMS receives EMS website of the year

In 2006, Villanova Emergency Medical Service (VEMS) received the EMS website of the year award from the National Collegiate EMS Foundation (NCEMSF).

March 2007: Fallon assigned as Commander, U.S. Central Command

In March 2007, Admiral William J. Fallon, a Villanova NROTC graduate, was assigned as Commander, U.S. Central Command.

2007: Collegiate Network Award for Layout and Design

In 2007, The Villanova Times, an independent bi-weekly student newspaper, won the Collegiate Network Award for Layout and Design.

2007: Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking

In 2007, Villanova was ranked No. 29 in the Financial Times' ranking of top executive MBA programs.

March 2008: Fallon's term as Commander, U.S. Central Command ends

In March 2008, Admiral William J. Fallon's term as Commander, U.S. Central Command ended. He was the first Navy officer to hold that position.

2008: Collegiate Network Award for Layout and Design

In 2008, The Villanova Times, an independent bi-weekly student newspaper, won the Collegiate Network Award for Layout and Design.

2009: Villanova wins CAA tournament

In 2009, Villanova won the CAA tournament as the fourth seed for its first title and made its first NCAA tournament appearance.

2009: Price of Life film received attention

In 2009, the student film "Price of Life" received critical attention; it was an interdisciplinary journal of graduate studies sponsored by the Graduate Division of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

2009: NCAA Cross Country Championships

In 2009, the women's team won the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

2010: NCAA Cross Country Championships

In 2010, the women's team won the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

2011: Sister Bell is moved off campus

In 2011, the Liberty Bell's "Sister Bell" was moved off campus.

2011: VEMS Skills Competition Result

In 2011, the Villanova Emergency Medical Service (VEMS) skills competition team placed second at the Annual Physio-Control BLS Skills Competition.

2011: Law School Ranking Drop

In 2011, the Villanova University School of Law experienced a drop in ranking after it was determined that admissions staff had inflated reported LSAT scores. The university quickly responded to the issue and resulted only in a censure of the school.

2014: NOVAdance Begins

In 2014, NOVAdance began as a year-long fundraising effort culminating in a 12-hour dance marathon each Spring, raising money in support of the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation.

September 2016: Carnegie Classification change

In September 2016, Villanova University's Carnegie Classification changed to classify it among "R2: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity".

2016: U.S. News & World Report Rankings

In 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked Villanova as second for "Best Value Schools" and fourth for "Best Undergraduate Teaching" in the Best Masters Universities-category, Northern Region, and ranked the engineering school No.11 among all national undergraduate engineering programs whose highest degree is a masters.

2016: Business School Ranking Controversy

In 2016, the Villanova School of Business was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. by Bloomberg Businessweek's rankings of undergraduate business schools, leading to controversy and ultimately the cessation of rankings after 2016.

2016: Wildcats win 2016 NCAA Championship

In 2016, the Villanova Wildcats won the NCAA Championship, defeating North Carolina 77–74. Kris Jenkins made a buzzer-beater three-pointer to win the game, the only one in NCAA Championship game history.

2017: Yearbook Award

In 2017, the Belle Air Yearbook won the Yearbook Award for their book.

2018: Villanova wins 2018 NCAA Championship

In 2018, Villanova won the NCAA Championship by defeating the Michigan Wolverines 79–62 in San Antonio. Donte Divincenzo scored 31 points, becoming the highest scoring bench-player in NCAA Championship history, and was awarded the Final Four MVP Award.

2019: U.S. News & World Report Law School Ranking

In 2019, Villanova University School of Law was ranked tied for 65th among all U.S. law schools by U.S. News & World Report.

2019: New Recruiting Partnerships

In 2019, Villanova announced new recruiting partnerships with The Posse Foundation, Philadelphia Futures, and the Guadalupe Center.

2019: National Yearbook Sample Award

In 2019, the Belle Air Yearbook won the National Yearbook Sample Award for their publication.

November 17, 2020: NCAA graduation report

On November 17, 2020, the NCAA released a graduation report indicating that Villanova has a graduation-success rate (GSR) of 97 percent. The report also highlighted that 12 of Villanova's athletic programs achieved a perfect 100 percent graduation success rate for the 2010-2013 cohort.

2022: Research and Development Spending

In 2022, Villanova spent $26 million on research and development, ranking it 264th in the nation according to the National Science Foundation.

June 23, 2023: Joint statement with Cabrini University

On June 23, 2023, Villanova and Cabrini University jointly announced that Cabrini would cease operations in 2024 and be incorporated into Villanova.

2023: Freshmen Applications for Fall 2023

For fall 2023, Villanova received 23,721 freshmen applications and admitted 4,870 (21%) for a class of 1700. The middle 50% GPA range was 4.20–4.58, and the middle 50% SAT scores were 1450–1520/1600, with an ACT range of 33–35/36.