St.

Gregory’s University
Shawnee, Oklahoma
www.stgregorys.edu

Overview
Benedictine monks reached central Oklahoma
in 1875 and immediately laid the framework
for a Catholic college. By the early 20th cen-
tury, the college was moved to Shawnee and
became known as the Catholic University of
Oklahoma, then St. Gregory’s College. The
designation as a university came in 1997 to
acknowledge the institution’s modest growth
and graduate programs.
The university is the only Catholic col-
lege or university in Oklahoma, a “Bible Belt”
state, that has a Catholic population of about
four and one-half percent of its 3.7 million
quick facts
residents. It also is the oldest higher educa-
tion institution in Oklahoma. Founded: 1875
Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., the Type of institution: Small liberal arts college
chancellor and former president of St. Greg- Setting: Suburban
Undergraduate enrollment: 642 (2008–09
ory’s, told the National Catholic Register that
academic year)
the university is a “missionary institution…
Total undergraduate cost: $21,798 (tuition,
located on a frontier of the Church where
room and board for 2009–10)
Catholics are a minority and often-persecut- Undergraduate majors: Five (and numerous
ed population.” But the university doesn’t shy concentrations)
away from a strong Catholic identity and is
a prominent institution in the local commu- Five Key Points
nity.
St. Gregory’s has grown along with the 1. Catholic environment reflecting
Benedictine abbey influence.
city of Shawnee, which has a population to-
day of 29,000 and is located 30 minutes east 2. Has programs for student evangeliza-
of Oklahoma City. The university has an tion and interaction with monks.
undergraduate enrollment of 740 students, a 3. Offers flexible course programs.
majority of them at the 75-acre Shawnee cam- 4. Appeals to non-traditional students
pus surrounded by the 640-acre St. Gregory’s through the College for Working Adults.
Abbey. There is also a College for Working 5. A regional college that recruits primar-
Adults at Shawnee and at a center in Tulsa ily from Oklahoma and nearby states.
about 100 miles away.

The Newman Guide 195

St. Gregory’s University
From the
Financial Aid Office
“St. Gregory’s University is committed
to helping students achieve their educa-
tional and life goals. That commitment
extends to making our one-of-a-kind ex-
perience accessible and affordable. Smart-
sized classes and a one-to-one learning
environment create a high quality aca-
demic experience. Our intellectual tradi-
tion comes alive each day in the student-
focused curriculum.
“SGU provides a high quality education
at one of the lowest tuition rates for a
Catholic institution in America. Our fees
and living costs are well below the na-
tional average and are supplemented by
a robust portfolio of grants and scholar-
ships. Hospitality and generosity are two
of the Benedictine values in evidence at
SGU. In fact, more than 90 percent of our
students received financial aid in the last
academic year.
“SGU’s financial aid professionals are
available to answer any questions and
show you how to make SGU’s quality
educational experience affordable. Call 1-
888-STGREGS or e-mail finaid@stgrego-
rys.edu for more information.”
The university emphasizes its dedication
to the Catholic, Benedictine tradition; its flex-
ibility in academic programs; and its focus on
a sense of community. The latter is reflected
in what St. Gregory’s calls “A Community
for Life,” an appreciation for the sacredness
of life and the importance of human relation-
ships.
Students can major in several broad
fields in humanities, theology, business, so-
cial science, natural science and health and
196
sports science. There also is a teacher educa-
tion program. A unique aspect of the curricu-
lum is a Design-A-Degree option, by which
undergraduates can focus their studies on a
particular concentration. In effect, this allows
for nearly 50 concentrations.
St. Gregory’s is committed to helping
non-traditional students gain associate de-
grees in a number of fields, including medi-
cal technician, liberal arts programs and sa-
cred music. The adult campus in Tulsa offers
primarily business degrees at the associate,
bachelor and master levels. There are 40 grad-
uate students at the university.
About 66 percent of the students are from
Oklahoma, but they also come from 14 other
states as well as 17 other countries.
One unique highlight on the university
campus is the 95-year-old Mabee-Gerrer Mu-
seum of Art, which was founded by a monk
of the Abbey who developed a small art col-
lection. The museum’s holdings include arti-
facts from ancient Egypt, Mesoamerica, Mes-
opotamia, Greece, Rome and China, as well
as religious art.
There are not many universities that can
beat the price of St. Gregory’s. Total tuition,
room and board in 2009-10 was $21,798. The
tuition rate has been well below the average
for private institutions in Oklahoma, where
higher education is offered at a relatively low
cost compared to other states.
Governance
The university is separately incorporated but
is a “corporate ministry” of St. Gregory’s Ab-
bey. The primarily lay board of 31 members
includes five Benedictines as well as Arch-
bishop Eusebius Beltran of the Archdiocese
of Oklahoma City.
St. Gregory’s third lay president, Dr. Dave
Wagie, took office in April 2007. Dr. Wagie has
had an impressive career. In addition to be-
ing an active Catholic, he was a career army
The Newman Guide

officer, retiring with the rank of brigadier
general. He was provost at the U.S. Air Force
Academy and has helped establish schools in
the United Arab Emirates. Dr. Wagie holds a
Ph.D. in aeronautical and astronautical engi-
neering from Purdue University.
Dr. Wagie succeeded Abbot Stasyszen,
who had been university president for seven
years and who promoted Ex corde Ecclesiae.
Today he is head of St. Gregory’s Abbey and
is chancellor of the university, focusing on the
relationship between the two institutions as
well as on the university’s Catholic identity.
Public Identity
St. Gregory’s strongly promotes its identity
as a Catholic and Benedictine university.
Certainly, the presence of the abbey as well
as the involvement of the Benedictine monks
has helped. Indeed,
the university is
viewed as the ab-
bey’s “primary of-
fering in service to
the Church and to
humanity,” accord-
ing to Abbot Stasys-
zen.
The university
motto is Fides Lu-
men Praebeat or
“May Faith Grant
Light.” The com-
munity frequently
refers to eight Benedictine traits: hospitality,
community, reverence, attentiveness, service,
balance, integrity and excellence. Balance is
regarded as especially important; firmness in
identity and purpose is encouraged without
falling into extremism.
There is an opening Mass at the begin-
ning of the academic year. One former student
told us, “A question arose whether non-Cath-
olic students must attend this Mass, and the
The Newman Guide
St. Gregory’s University
faculty insisted that the school must maintain
its Catholic identity regardless of the varying
faiths of the student body. They pointed out
that non-Catholic students were choosing to
attend a Catholic university.”
The university makes recruiting Catho-
lic students a priority. “Our goal is to increase
the number of Catholic students on our cam-
pus so that our Catholic culture can be in-
creasingly strengthened,” Abbott Stasyszen
told the National Catholic Register in 2008.
“One way that we are doing this in the com-
ing year is significantly increasing our schol-
arship program which offers support to stu-
dents simply for being Catholic.”
The monastery and the large Abbey
Church are visible signs of the university’s
identity. The church was completed in 1945
and features intricate stained-glass windows
that attracts tourists. Prayer services and
Masses are open to the public.
In May 2009, the
university announced
plans for a Rosary Gar-
den on the campus,
sponsored and land-
scaped by the student
Knights of Columbus
chapter. The garden
will feature 50 trees
on the perimeter, flag-
stone walkways and a
statue of Mary in the
center.
We have found
no evidence that inap-
propriate speakers or questionable extracur-
ricular activities have taken place on campus.
The 2009 commencement speaker was Dr.
Michael Galligan-Stierle, vice president of the
Association of Catholic Colleges and Univer-
sities. Other recent speakers have included
Linda Schaefer, a former CNN editor who
documented the work of Mother Teresa; a lo-
cal writer; and a local judge.
197
St. Gregory’s University

Academics All students also take six to eight cred-

The Common Core is 56 credits earned
through courses required of all students. It in-
cludes “Tradition and Conversation,” a four-
semester sequence of seminars based upon the
heritage of Western civilization. Four courses
are required under the heading of “Faith and
Reason,” encompassing introductions to the-
ology, philosophy, scripture and ethics. Other
traditional subjects in the liberal arts, such as
mathematics, history, fine arts and writing,
are included in the Common Core.
its in professional development, focusing on
computers and orientation to the world of
employment. The university prides itself on
its commitment to technology, calling itself
“Wireless Laptop University” because of its
campus-wide wireless network.
The discipline with the largest enroll-
ment is business, followed by natural scienc-
es, education, social science, humanities and
arts. Nothing was uncovered by our research
that indicates problems with any of the dis-
ciplines.

Message from the President

Dear Parents and Prospective Students:

For more than 125 years, St. Gregory’s has been “Universally Engaged
and Uniquely Personal.” We are proud that our institution and heritage
reflect the traditional hallmarks of a prestigious Catholic education—aca-
demic excellence and a focus on developing the student as a whole person.

Our programs and campus environment help us to inculcate the Benedictine values of in-
tegrity, service, reverence, and community. We encourage the practice of listening and lifelong
learning.

Hospitality is an important component of our educational process and of daily living here at
the university. We want everyone—students, parents, faculty, staff, monks, alumni and the local
community—to be part of our wonderful St. Gregory’s family!

We help our students to succeed personally, professionally and spiritually. Our curriculum
prepares graduates for life—to be good citizens, parents, spouses, and professionals who serve
their parishes, communities and improve our society. We are excited about the education we offer
here, and we invite you to become a part of this learning community. Our talented and dedicated
monks, faculty and staff invite you to explore your future with St. Gregory’s.

Sincerely,

Dr. David Wagie

198 The Newman Guide

 St. Gregory’s University

Theology courses are reported to be or- in 50 parishes and serves 1,000 students each
thodox. A former student says that the faith- year. One faculty member told us, “The Buck-
fulness of the theology department exempli- ley Team is the main attraction and program
fies the Catholic identity of the university. at SGU.” Additional Catholic activity comes
One theology professor frequently recom- from a Knights of Columbus council.
mended in our interviews is Sister Marcianne Campus ministry is active. There is, for
Kappes, C.S.T. example, a special Lenten and Advent pro-
gram known as “Food for Thought.” This
program invites students, staff and faculty to
Spiritual Life enjoy a homemade bowl of soup while listen-
ing to meditations.
Campus spiritual life revolves around the
The campus ministry recently began
Abbey Church, where there are daily Masses.
four cycles of courses on Catholic teachings,
There also is Wednesday night Mass at St.
a catechetical pro-
Benedict’s Chapel in
gram that is com-
one of the three resi-
pletely separate from
dence facilities, Dup-
the theology or other
erou Hall. Eucharis-
academic units. This
tic Adoration is held
program focuses on
once a month. Con-
Church teachings
fessions are heard
and is open to anyone
weekly.
of any faith. The top-
In addition to the
ics for the courses in
Opening Mass of the
the rotation include
Holy Spirit, there are
the Sacraments, the
Praise and Worship
Eucharist, God, moral
services, Founder’s
theology and works
Day prayer services
of mercy.
and other special re-
There also are outreach activities includ-
ligious activities. During the times of these
ing participating in the annual March for Life
events, classes are canceled and all offices on
in Washington, D.C., each January, the Angel
campus are closed to allow students and fac-
Tree program that provides Christmas pres-
ulty to attend.
ents to children of incarcerated parents and
Interviewees repeatedly discussed with
spring break mission trips. A Career Voca-
us the importance of the Buckley Outreach
tions and Volunteer Fair provides an oppor-
Team, which consists of approximately 10 stu-
tunity for students to explore religious or-
dents who volunteer to organize and perform
ders, vocations and lay mission and volunteer
retreats for Catholic junior high and high
services.
school students in Oklahoma, Texas and Ar-
There is a student and monk community
kansas. Retreats are sponsored as far away as
dinner that gives students further interaction
North Little Rock, Arkansas, 300 miles from
with the monks and priests. Another related,
the university.
unique program is the Observation Program
Established in 1990 from a bequest by
for University Students (OPUS), where young
the parents of Academic Vice President Father
men of the campus are able to observe monks
Charles Buckley, O.S.B., the Buckley Team
in their daily lives. Although not many stu-
promotes evangelization in about 20 retreats

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St. Gregory’s University
dents avail themselves of the opportunity,
young men are able to live in the monastery
and experience monastic life firsthand for a
semester.
Student Activities
There are 25 campus student organizations.
These include four honor societies; one local
fraternity and one local sorority with ser-
vice components; the student newspaper, The
Chant; and such diverse groups as Students in
Free Enterprise, Hispanic Awareness Student
Association and Habitat for
Humanity. There also is a
Student Government As-
sociation, which in January
2009 passed a resolution
urging students to partici-
pate in pro-life activities.
There are no organiza-
tions that are at variance
with the Church. One uni-
versity official told us that
prohibiting them is a “quiet
way” of enforcing Catholic
teaching. Catholic-oriented
groups include the Daugh-
ters of the Americas, the
Knights of Columbus and
the Pro-Life Team, which
partners with the Shawnee
chapter of Project Gabriel
to help women with crisis
pregnancies.
The St. Gregory Cavaliers participate as
one of the 12 members of the Sooner Athletic
Conference under the auspices of the National
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. There
are four women’s and three men’s varsity
sports including baseball, softball and men’s
and women’s bastketball and soccer. The uni-
versity also has an intramural program.
200
Residential Life
All full-time students unless exempt by vir-
tue of age, marriage or being a local resident
are required to live in an on-campus residen-
tial facility. There are three residence halls,
one solely for women, one reserved for men
and one that has both men and women but in
separate sections.
A strict visitation schedule exists, and
there is no visitation by the opposite sex any-
time after midnight. The university is a “dry”
campus as well as drug-free one, and there
are few disciplinary problems regarding ei-
ther issue. One staff member
said, “The dry campus al-
lows students to enjoy their
college experience without
being surrounded by drunk-
enness.” Starting August 1,
2009, the campus was also
declared tobacco-free; to-
bacco use is prohibited any-
where on campus, inside or
outside the buildings, for
health reasons.
The campus is safe, and
crimes that do occur are
usually petty violations. We
could find no evidence of
violent crime over the last
several years. But Shawnee’s
crime rate is generally at or
above the U.S. average in
most categories. Overall, the
city’s crime index is about 25 percent above
the national figure.
The Community
Shawnee is a small city that is somewhat of
a suburb of Oklahoma City, about 35 miles
away. Oklahoma City has a population of
nearly 550,000 and has such major attractions
The Newman Guide

as the Oklahoma City Museum of Arts, a zoo,
a science center, a cowboy museum and vari-
ous minor league sports teams.
Will Rogers World Airport, a half-hour
from Shawnee, is the gateway for students
arriving at St. Gregory’s from some distance.
Interstate 40 is a major highway that many
others would use.
The Bottom Line
St. Gregory’s University is not well known
nationally. However, what we have seen im-
presses us. The university benefits from its
relationship with St. Gregory’s Abbey and its
commitment to the Benedictine tradition.
The Newman Guide
St. Gregory’s University
There are a number of attractions here,
including the Bendictine monks and the
university’s flexible curriculum that allows
students to effectively design their major and
degree. St. Gregory’s has a commendable fo-
cus on working and adult students, clearly an
important emphasis for the future. We also
are impressed by the Buckley Outreach Team
that evangelizes and supports young adults
in three states. For all these reasons and more,
students—especially those from the Great
Plains—will want to consider St. Gregory’s.
201
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