Thomas More University

The Benedictine Sisters of Covington, Kentucky, founded Villa Madonna College in 1921 to train Catholic school teachers and to provide college education for young women. The college was chartered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1923. Villa Madonna graduated its first students in 1929 and became the official college of the Diocese of Covington that same year. Three religious orders operated Villa Madonna in its early years: the Sisters of Notre Dame, the Congregation of Divine Providence, and the local Benedictine Sisters. Through the 1930s and early 1940s, the college grew slowly. The school year 1942–1943 closed with commencement exercises on June 4 with ten graduates. The number of graduates of the college including the 1943 class was 152.

Although Villa Madonna was founded as an institution for women, men attended many of the same classes through the affiliated St. Thomas More College, a college-level program of Covington Latin School. In 1945, Villa Madonna was designated a co-educational college, and St. Thomas More College was abolished.[3] In that year the Diocese of Covington purchased the college. At the opening of classes in September 1945, Villa Madonna College enrolled 28 Sisters, 56 laywomen, and 28 men for a total of 112 students. As the college began to grow, facilities and classrooms were stretched to their limits. Several buildings owned by the Diocese of Covington were quickly secured for additional classrooms and offices. Over the next two decades, as enrollment and curriculum steadily grew, any available space was acquired and adapted for the college's use. Eventually, all available space was exhausted, and it was clear that a more spacious campus was needed.

Campus buildings of Villa Madonna College include St. Joseph's Hall, St. Thomas More Hall,[1] Cabrini Hall,[1] St. Pius Hall, Talbott Hall, Cafeteria Annex, Columbus Hall (library), St. Jude Hall, Aquinas Hall,[1] Bernard Hall,[1] and St. Luke Hall (art department).[4]

In 1964, the school's chancellor, Bishop Richard Henry Ackerman, announced a building program. A growing co-educational institution, an expanding campus and the opportunity to serve a wider area made the move the natural choice. In 1968, the college was moved from downtown Covington to what is now Crestview Hills. In this same year, Ackerman announced that Villa Madonna College would be renamed "Thomas More College". The same year another Thomas More College opened – a woman's college of Jesuit Fordham University in New York which later merged with Fordham College as a co-educational college and dropped the Thomas More name.[5] Although the college was opened in January 1968, dedication ceremonies were held on September 28 with President Lyndon B. Johnson in attendance. The college serves 2,200 full- and part-time students. Although primarily from Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, students from roughly 20 states and several countries attend Thomas More.

Kentucky's Council on Postsecondary Education formally granted Thomas More university status in July 2018. On October 1, 2018, Thomas More College was officially renamed to Thomas More University and assumed university status, with full implementation of the name change taking place during the 2018–19 academic year.[6] Thomas More also began transitioning to a new organizational structure of three colleges and one institute:[7]

• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Business
• College of Education and Health Sciences
• Institute for Ethical Leadership and Interdisciplinary Studies

The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).[12]

The university is a member of Greater Cincinnati Consortium of Colleges and Universities, an organization including all of the accredited colleges and universities in the area. This consortium relationship gives students access to course offerings of the other institutions through a cross-registration arrangement as well as access to library resources of the other schools in the consortium.

• Alpha Delta Gamma, Rho chapter (est. 1965)[13]
• Theta Phi Alpha, Alpha Eta chapter (est. 1968)[13] - recruits in both the fall and spring semesters. The sisterhood has an intense focus on philanthropy and community service.

Administrative Building

Houses the majority of administrative offices (except for athletics, campus ministry, and institutional advancement), faculty offices, some classrooms, the cafeteria, and the computer center.

Science Building

Four-story building that holds offices and classrooms for the Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Psychology, and Education departments.

Connor Convocation Center[14]

The gym, training rooms, and athletics offices are housed in the Connor Convocation Center.

Saints Center

Formerly the Holbrook Student Center (then Student Center – due to the death of the benefactor and inability of the family to cover the expense of naming rights) contains the Interlude Cafe, Steigerwald Hall, campus bookstore, the Office of the President, and Institutional Advancement offices.

BB&T Field[15]

Marian Hall / Howard Hall[16]

Two connected residence halls that are co-ed.

Ackerman Hall[16]

Male-only residence hall

Murphy Hall[16]

Co-ed suite-style residence hall

BB&T Observatory[17]

Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel[18]

Biology Field Station[19]

• Institute for Academic Support
• Institute for Learning Differences
• Institute for Career Development and Graduate School Planning[20]

The Thomas More University Accelerated and Graduate Programs[21] is specifically designed for working adults. It offers an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree in Business Administration and Ethical Leadership Studies. Classes meet only once a week and utilize group-study project teams, which emphasize interaction and participation.

The Master of Arts in Teaching Program (MAT)[22] is run by the Education Department of Thomas More University. It is targeted for those who hold a baccalaureate degree and meet the requirements of the Kentucky Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB). The program has two tracks: one for those holding a Temporary Provisional Certificate and the other for those wanting to acquire their teacher certification.

The student government of Thomas More University serves as the official representative of the student body. It is governed by its constitution and consists of an executive board, delegates at-large, and associates. The president of the Student Government Association receives a full-voting membership on the Thomas More University Board of Trustees.

The Thomas More University sports teams are called the Saints. They compete in the NAIA Mid-South Conference, having moved from the NCAA Division III American Collegiate Athletic Association after the 2018–19 school year. The Saints had previously been NAIA members from 1947 to 1990.[23]

The following sports are offered:

• Paul G. Bens Jr., former Hollywood casting director/producer and author of the Black Quill Award-winning novel Kelland
• Darrell Brothers, art professor and listed artist
• Rick Hughes, NBA basketball player[25]
• David Justice, MLB player (attended, did not graduate)
• Roxanne Qualls, Cincinnati politician (attended Thomas More, but did not finish there)
• Daniel K. Richter, award-winning historian of early America and professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
• Larry Staverman, NBA basketball player and coach[26]
• Dan Tieman, NBA basketball player[27]

• Official website
• Official athletics website