View source for Georgian Court University

{{Short description|Catholic university in Lakewood Township, New Jersey, U.S.}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Georgian Court University
 | image                  = GeorgianCourtU_fullcrest.png
 | image_size             = 150
 | former_name            = Mount Saint Mary College (1908–1924)<br />Georgian Court College (1924–2004)
 | motto                  = Belong. Believe. Become.
 | established            = {{start date and age|1908}}
 | type                   = [[Private university]]
 | academic_affiliations  = {{ubl|[[National Sea Grant College Program|Sea-grant]]|[[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program|Space-grant]]|Conference for Mercy Higher Education|[[Middle States Commission on Higher Education|MSCHE]], [[Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities|ACCU]], [[National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities|NAICU]], [[Council of Independent Colleges|CIC]]}}
 | religious_affiliation  = [[Roman Catholic]] ([[Sisters of Mercy]])
 | endowment              = $60.9 million (2021)<ref>As of June 30, 2021. {{cite report |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_audit/2009420211 |title=GEORGIAN COURT UNIVERSITY Audit for Period Ending June 2021 |publisher=BDO |date=November 24, 2021 |access-date=November 24, 2021}}</ref>
 | president              = Eugene J. Cornacchia
 | undergrad              = 1,612
 | postgrad               = 594
 | city                   = [[Lakewood Township, New Jersey|Lakewood Township]]
 | state                  = New Jersey
 | country                = United States
 | coordinates            = {{Coord|40.098889|-74.228889|region:US_type:edu|display=inline,title}}
 | campus                 = Suburban
 | free_label             = 
 | free                   = 
 | athletics_affiliations = [[NCAA Division II]] – [[Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference|CACC]]
 | sports_nickname        = Lions
 | mascot                 = Roary the Lion
 | faculty                = 262<ref name=petersons>{{cite web|url=https://www.petersons.com/college-search/georgian-court-university-000_10000643.aspx|title=Georgian Court University|work=Petersons's|access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref>
 | colors                 = Blue and gold {{color box|blue}}{{color box|gold}}
 | website                = {{URL|https://georgian.edu/|georgian.edu}}
 | logo                   = Georgian court univ logo.png
 | logo_size              = 150
}}
{{Infobox NRHP
 | embed                          = 
 | name                           = Georgian Court
 | nrhp_type                      = nhld
 | nocat                          = yes
 | image                          = Georgian Court, Lakewood, NJ - Mansion, north view.jpg
 | caption                        = Mansion, in 2017
 | location                       = [[Lakewood Township, New Jersey|Lakewood]], New Jersey
 | locmapin                       = USA New Jersey Ocean County#New Jersey#USA
 | map_label                      = Georgian Court
 | label_position                 = bottom
 | area                           = {{convert|155.9|acre}}
 | built                          = {{Start date|1898}}
 | architect                      = [[Bruce Price]], et al.
 | architecture                   = [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] revival
 | added                          = December 20, 1978
 | designated_nrhp_type           = February 4, 1985<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web |url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1768&ResourceType=District |title=Georgian Court |date=2008-06-23 |work=National Historic Landmark summary listing |publisher=National Park Service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206113219/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1768&ResourceType=District |archive-date=2007-12-06 }}</ref>
 | refnum                         = 78001788<ref name="nris">{{NRISref |refnum=78001788|version=2013a|dateform=mdy}}</ref>
 | designated_other1_name         = New Jersey Register of Historic Places
 | designated_other1_abbr         = NJRHP
 | designated_other1_link         = New Jersey Register of Historic Places
 | designated_other1_date         = August 2, 1978
 | designated_other1_number       = 2306<ref name=NJRHP>{{cite web | title=New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Ocean County | url=http://www.nj.gov/dep/hpo/1identify/nrsr_lists/Ocean.pdf | publisher=[[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] – Historic Preservation Office | page=2 | date=February 12, 2018 }}</ref>
 | designated_other1_num_position = bottom
 | designated_other1_color        = #ffc94b
 }} 

'''Georgian Court University''' ('''GCU''' or '''Georgian Court''') is a [[Private university|private]] Catholic university in [[Lakewood Township, New Jersey]], United States. Founded in 1908 by the [[Sisters of Mercy]], the university has more than 1,600 undergraduates and nearly 600 graduate students.

The institution became a university in 2004 and began admitting male students in 1994 after more than 100 years as a [[US women's college|women's college]]. The university is open to students of all faiths, while emphasizing its mission of Mercy, which incorporates respect, justice, integrity, compassion, and service.

The Lakewood campus (main campus) was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1978<ref name="nrhpdoc">Added on December 20, 1978: {{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=78001788}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Georgian Court |publisher=[[National Park Service]]|access-date=April 30, 2018}} With {{NRHP url|id=78001788|photos=y|title=accompanying pictures}}</ref> and was designated a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1985.<ref>Designated on February 4, 1985.</ref>

==History==
=== Location ===
The main campus was built in 1899 on the former summer estate of the millionaire [[George Jay Gould]], son of the railroad tycoon [[Jay Gould]].<ref name="Rutgers">{{cite book|author1=Lucy D. Rosenfeld|author2=Marina Harrison|title=History Walks in New Jersey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=shDrSBZ5ZrsC&pg=PA119|year=2006|publisher=Rutgers Univ. Press|isbn=978-0-8135-3969-0|page=119|quote= A "casino" was added; it was both an [[amphitheater]] and guesthouse, with twenty extra bedrooms. [...] All of this was completed by 1899.}}</ref>
The Goulds named their home ''Georgian Court'', probably after George or the [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]]-revival architecture.<ref>{{cite book|author=Lorett Treese|title=Railroads of New Jersey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l8O3DAAAQBAJ&pg=PT161|date= 2006|publisher=Stackpole Books|isbn=978-0-8117-4356-3|page=161|quote =George Jay Gould, who named it Georgian Court, either after himself or the Georgian Revival style of his mansion[. / The sisters renamed the college] at the family's request. }}</ref>

The estate was designed by [[Bruce Price]], a New York architect, and was one of his most important residential works.  He also designed three of the campus's gardens: the Italian Gardens, the Sunken Garden, and the Formal Garden. [[Takeo Shiota]] designed the Japanese Garden.  In addition to the gardens, GCU has maintained much of the original architecture and the [[Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum]].   The estate was designated a National Historic Landmark for its architecture and its association with the Goulds.<ref>{{cite web|url={{NHLS url|78001788}}|title=NHL nomination for Georgian Court|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>

In March 2022, GCU announced that it had reached an agreement to sell 42 acres of mostly unused land at the edge of its campus and several administrative buildings along Lakewood Avenue to [[Beth Medrash Govoha]] for an undisclosed sum.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldman|first=Jeff|title=Largest yeshiva in U.S. to buy 42 acres from N.J. Catholic university for housing|url=https://www.nj.com/education/2022/03/largest-yeshiva-in-us-to-buy-42-acres-from-nj-catholic-university-for-housing.html|work=NJ.com|publisher=Advance Publications|date=March 23, 2022}}</ref> The proceeds of the sale will be used to construct a new center for nursing and health sciences, to reimagine its Casino building (currently used as a multi-purpose office and event space) as a modern student center, to update its Mansion building (currently used for receptions<ref>{{cite web|title=Undergraduate Catalog 2012-2013|url=https://georgian.edu/wp-content/uploads/gcu-ugrad-catalog-1213.pdf|publisher=Georgian Court University|access-date=March 23, 2022|page=8}}</ref>) to be used as an administration hub, and to modernize its student housing/dorm facilities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Land Announcement|url=https://georgian.edu/land-announcement/|publisher=Georgian Court University|access-date=March 23, 2022}}</ref>

=== School ===
The [[Sisters of Mercy]] founded '''Mount Saint Mary College''' as a liberal arts school for women in 1908, in [[North Plainfield, New Jersey]].  In 1924, the [[Religious sister|sisters]] purchased the Georgian Court estate and moved the college there, renaming it '''Georgian Court College'''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Axel-Lute|first=Paul|title=Lakewood-in-the-Pines: A History of Lakewood, New Jersey|year=1986|publisher=The author|location=South Orange, NJ|page=84}}</ref>

For more than a century, from 1908 to 2015, the institution was headed by Sisters of Mercy. The Sisters of Mercy organization continues to sponsor Georgian Court through the Conference for Mercy Higher Education.

The full transition to a coeducational institution, admitting both women and men into all academic programs, became complete at the outset of the Fall 2013 semester.

Georgian Court is the only Catholic college or university located in Central or South New Jersey. Most of its enrollment is drawn from these areas.

In 2004, university status was granted by the [[New Jersey Commission on Higher Education]]; the name was changed to Georgian Court University.

==Administration and faculty==
The first eight presidents (1908–2015) of the school were all [[Sisters of Mercy]]. The first male academic dean was appointed in 1967.<ref>{{cite web |title=Past Presidents |url=https://georgian.edu/past-presidents/ |website=Georgian Court Univ.|date=3 June 2023 }}</ref>

In 2015, Joseph R. Marbach became the first male and first permanent [[laity|lay]] president. On February 6, 2025, Eugene J. Cornacchia became the University's interim president following Dr. Marbach's retirement.

==Academics==
Georgian Court offers more than 35 undergraduate majors and 10 graduate majors through the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business and Digital Media, and the School of Education. In July 2021, the university formally created the Hackensack Meridian ''Health'' School of Nursing & Wellness at Georgian Court to house its undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. Georgian Court University is nondiscriminatory and welcomes people of all faiths.

Beyond classes offered on the main campus in Lakewood, Georgian Court programs are also offered at GCU at [[Lincroft, New Jersey]] (at [[Brookdale Community College]]'s Northern [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth]] Campus), online and at other locations.

===Rankings===
{{Infobox US university ranking
| USNWR_REG = 95
}}
In 2024, ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' ranked Georgian Court No.95 out of 171 Regional Universities North.<ref>{{cite web |title= Georgian Court University|url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/georgian-court-2608/|website=usnews.com |publisher=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |access-date=18 October 2024}}</ref>

===Undergraduate admissions===
In 2024, Georgian Court accepted 75.8% of undergraduate applicants, with those enrolled having an average 3.59 high school [[Academic grading in the United States#Grade conversion|GPA]]. The university does not require submission of standardized test scores, Georgian Court being a test optional school. Those enrolled that submitted test scores had an average 1150 [[SAT]] score (3% submitting scores).<ref>{{cite web |title=Georgian Court University Admission Requirements |url=https://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/new-jersey/georgian-court-university/admission/|website=collegesimply.com |publisher=CollegeSimply {{!}} U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics |access-date=5 November 2024}}</ref>

==Athletics==
The school colors are blue and gold, and the mascot is a lion. The Georgian Court University Lions have 14 sports teams that compete in the [[NCAA Division II]].

The university is a member of the [[Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference]] (CACC).

GCU features a 67,000-square-foot Wellness Center equipped for athletic training, physical education and sports competitions. In addition, a 1,200-seat arena, athletics fields which offer synthetic turf, a six-court outdoor tennis center, and an abundance of training space offer student-athletes modern facilities and on-campus resources for their sports and recreational activities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgian.edu/athletics-campus-recreation/ |title=Athletics/Campus Recreation &#124; Georgian Court University, New Jersey |work=Georgian.edu |access-date=2017-08-26}}</ref>

Women's sports include basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track & field, and volleyball. On August 3, 2022, GCU announced the addition of Acrobatics and Tumbling. The team began competition in 2024.

As of fall of 2013, Georgian Court added men's sports when it became fully coeducational, adding men's basketball, cross country, soccer, and track & field.<ref>{{cite web|author=By SETH BERKMANNOV. 28, 2013 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/29/sports/once-for-women-only-georgian-court-looks-to-mens-teams-to-raise-profile.html?hp |title=Once for Women Only, Georgian Court Looks to Men's Teams to Raise Profile |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2013-11-28 |access-date=2017-08-26}}</ref> Men's lacrosse was added in the spring of 2016. Baseball was added in the Spring of 2025.

One of the many historic aspects of the campus is that it houses the only "[[real tennis]]" court at an American school. It was built in the Casino building (which was a "[[Casino#Etymology|casino]]" in the 19th-century sense of the term: a place for social gatherings<ref name="Rutgers"/>).<ref name="nrhpdoc"/> Approximately forty-five real tennis courts are still in use in the world today.

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140">
File:Georgian Court, Lakewood, NJ - Sunken garden and marble stairway.jpg|Sunken Garden and marble stairway
Image:Georgian Court University - Japanese Garden.JPG|Japanese Garden
Image:Georgian Court University - Sculptural detail.JPG|Sculptural detail
File:Georgian Court, Lakewood, NJ - Casino, eastern entrance.jpg|The original Casino<ref name="Rutgers"/>
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of National Historic Landmarks in New Jersey]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Ocean County, New Jersey]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://gculions.com/ Athletics website]

{{Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference navbox}}
{{East Coast Conference navbox}}
{{Current women's universities and colleges in the United States}}
{{Colleges and universities in New Jersey}}
{{Conference for Mercy Higher Education}}
{{NRHP in Ocean County, New Jersey}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Georgian Court University| ]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1908]]
[[Category:Real tennis venues]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Former women's universities and colleges in the United States]]
[[Category:Catholic universities and colleges in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Sisters of Mercy colleges and universities]]
[[Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Lakewood Township, New Jersey]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Ocean County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:New Jersey Register of Historic Places]]
[[Category:1908 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Ocean County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Gilded Age mansions]]
[[Category:Georgian Revival architecture in New Jersey]]