Felician University

Felician University is a private Catholic university with two campuses in the U.S. state of New Jersey, one in Lodi and one in Rutherford. In 2016–17 enrollment was 1,996, with undergraduates comprising around 1,626 students; 21 percent were men and 79 percent were women.^[5]

Felician University
The Franciscan University of New Jersey

Iviswold Castle, located on the Rutherford campus
Former names	Immaculate Conception Normal School (1923–1942) Immaculate Conception Junior College (1942–1967) Felician College (1967–2015)[1]
Motto	In Veritate Felicitas
Motto in English	In Truth is Happiness
Type	Private university
Established	1942; 83 years ago (1942)
Religious affiliation	Catholic (Felician Sisters)
Academic affiliations	AFCU ACCU NAICU[2] CIC
Endowment	$4.8 million[3]
President	Mildred Mihlon (acting)
Undergraduates	1,775[4]
Postgraduates	334[4]
Location	Lodi and Rutherford, New Jersey , U.S.
Campus	27 acres (11 ha)
Nickname	Golden Falcons
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II – CACC
Website	felician.edu

History

The school was founded as the Immaculate Conception Normal School by the Felician Sisters in 1923. It has changed names several times in its history, most recently in 2015, to Felician University.

In June 2015, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) censured Felician College^[6] for terminating the services of several faculty members without adequate explanation, adequate notice, or an opportunity for review.^[7]

Campuses

Located 12 miles (19 km) from New York City, Felician University has two locations in Bergen County, New Jersey, in the towns of Lodi and Rutherford. These campuses are about 3 miles (4.8 km) apart, with regular shuttle service running between them throughout the day and evening. The Rutherford campus has a gymnasium and a late-night coffee shop and game room.^[8]

The Lodi campus library occupies an International Style building and houses print collections, sound recordings, and visual media in digital format. Three levels contain an information commons, reading room, book stacks, spaces for group as well as quiet study, and two computer laboratories. Its more than 115,000 books, 360 print periodicals, 20,000 online journals, 43,000 electronic books, and 80,000 microforms offer strong historical and current perspectives in support of the curriculum. The library also provides a broad selection of online resources, of which are accessible on the campus computer network, as well as off-campus with a college network ID and password. The Curriculum Materials Library and Technology Center, located in Sammartino Hall on the Rutherford campus, collects children's literature, textbooks, curriculum guides, periodicals, and other instructional materials suitable for use in the classroom.^[9] An active information literacy instruction program through library liaisons begins with the Freshman Year Experience program.

Accreditation

The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Specialized accreditation also exists for the nursing and teaching programs:

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education:
  • Nursing (CNURED) – nursing education programs at the baccalaureate degree levels 4/28/1998^{[clarification needed]}
  • Nursing (CNURED) – nursing education programs at the graduate degree levels 4/28/1998
• Teacher Education Accreditation Council, Accreditation Committee
  • Baccalaureate Teacher Education Accreditation Council (BTEAC) – baccalaureate programs 6/29/2007 – pre-accredited
  • Graduate Teacher Education Accreditation Council (GTEAC) – graduate programs 6/29/2007 – pre-accredited^[10]

Undergraduate admissions

In 2024, Felician University accepted 94% of undergraduate applicants and those enrolled had an average 3.05 high school GPA. The university does not require submission of standardized test scores, but they will be considered when submitted. Those enrolled who submitted test scores had an average 1020 SAT score (11% submitting scores).^[11]

Athletics

Golden Falcons varsity teams

Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Bowling		Y
Cheerleading		Y
Cross country	Y	Y
Golf	Y
Lacrosse	Y	Y
Soccer	Y	Y
Softball		Y
Swimming & diving		Y
Track and field (indoor)		Y
Track and field (outdoor)		Y
Volleyball		Y

Felician University teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division II. The Golden Falcons are a member of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf and soccer, and lacrosse. Women's sports include bowling, basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, volleyball, and track & field.

The women's cross country team earned the institution's first women's conference championship by winning the 2022 CACC title.

Notable alumni

• Jerry Vasto (born 1992), MLB pitcher for the Colorado Rockies^[12]