Siena Heights University

Siena Heights University (SHU) is a private Catholic university in Adrian, Michigan, United States. It was founded by the Adrian Dominican Sisters in 1919. The university will close at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year.

Siena Heights University

Seal of Siena Heights University
Former names	St. Joseph's College (1919–1939) Siena Heights College (1939–1998)
Motto	Competent, Purposeful, and Ethical
Type	Private university
Established	1919; 106 years ago (1919)
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic (Adrian Dominican Sisters)
Endowment	$8.1 million[1]
President	Douglas B. Palmer
Academic staff	80+ full-time
Administrative staff	70+ full-time
Undergraduates	Approx. 2,200 (About 1,000 on the Adrian Campus)
Postgraduates	Approx. 250
Location	Adrian , Michigan , United States
Campus	Rural
Colors	Blue & Yellow
Nickname	Saints
Sporting affiliations	NAIA – WHAC
Mascot	Halo the Husky Dog
Website	www.sienaheights.edu

History

The institution was founded for women in 1919 as St. Joseph's College by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. In 1939, it was renamed as Siena Heights College, after Saint Catherine of Siena.

In 1969, it became coeducational. In 1998, after expansion of graduate studies, it was renamed Siena Heights University. The sisters minister in 29 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and in seven countries outside the United States.^[2]

The college seal uses the Dominican Shield of the International Order of Preachers, consisting of four white and four black gyrons or triangles. These symbolize the unity of a body of people working together for the common good. The "cross fleury" (or cross with fleurs de lis at each end) superimposed on the gyrons, signifies victory, duty and self-sacrifice. The sable (or black of the shield) symbolizes wisdom, silence, fortitude and penance. The light color signifies peace, purity, charity and sincerity. The motto surrounding the shield, "Laudare, Benedicere, Praedicare," means "to praise God, to bless His people and to preach His gospel". The shield may also be surrounded by the six- or eight-pointed star that is the distinguishing symbol of St. Dominic.^[3]

Siena Heights remains affiliated with and sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.^[4]

Leaders of the university announced on June 30, 2025, that Siena Heights University will close at the end of the 2025-26 school year. In their announcement, they cited "the financial situation, operational challenges, and long-term sustainability" as the reasons for the planned closure despite having the largest incoming class in the university's history—445 students—in 2024.^[5][6]

Campuses

Siena Heights University campus

The main campus has 55 acres (22 ha) with 17 buildings in Adrian, Michigan. SHU is across town from Adrian College. The main campus has the distinction of being the first all wireless college or university in the state of Michigan. There are satellite campuses in Dearborn, Benton Harbor, Monroe, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Jackson, and online.^[4]

Academics

The university has more than 40 academic programs of study^[7] between the College of Arts and Sciences, the College for Professional Studies, and the Graduate College.^[8] Its most popular undergraduate majors, in terms of 2021 graduates, were:^[9]

• Business Administration & Management (95)
• Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (46)
• Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (38)
• Community Organization & Advocacy (36)
• Accounting (34)
• Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences (30)
• Radiologic Technology/Science – Radiographer (30)

Siena Heights also provides classes for high school students through dual enrollment. This gives juniors and seniors who meet certain criteria to get college credit and experience while still in high school, getting students a step closer to going to college and learning about college life and class work. The student-to-faculty ratio is 12:1.^[4]

Athletics

The Siena Heights athletic teams are called the Saints.^[10] The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) for most of its sports since the 1992–93 academic year; while its football team competes in the Mideast League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) since the 2012 fall season.^[11] Prior to the addition of women's lacrosse by the WHAC, the women's lacrosse team competed in the National Women's Lacrosse League (NWLL).

Siena Heights competes in more than 25 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, track & field, volleyball and wrestling; women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, flag football, lacrosse, soccer, stunt, softball, track & field, volleyball and wrestling; and co-ed sports include cheerleading, dance and eSports.^[4]

Notable alumni

• Tom Cochran, member of the Michigan House of Representatives (2013–2019)^[12]
• Darrell Issa, member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing a Southern California district
• Leslie Love, member of the Michigan House of Representatives (2014–2020)^[13]
• Miriam Michael Stimson, Dominican nun and chemist
• Paula Mary Turnbull, welding nun^[14]