Thomas More College of Liberal Arts

Thomas More College of Liberal Arts

Seal of Thomas More College of Liberal Arts
Motto Caritas congaudet veritati
Motto in English
 "Charity rejoices in the truth"
Type Private
Established 1978
Affiliation Catholic
President William Fahey
Location Merrimack, New Hampshire, USA
Coordinates: 42°48′30″N 71°29′00″W / 42.80833°N 71.48333°W / 42.80833; -71.48333
Website thomasmorecollege.edu

The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts is located in Merrimack, New Hampshire, United States. The college emphasizes classical education in the Roman Catholic intellectual tradition and is named after Saint Thomas More. The school has approximately 100 students. It is endorsed by The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College.

History

Founding

Thomas More College was founded in 1978, with political science professor Peter Sampo as its first president. Sampo had been a co-founder and president of both Cardinal Newman College in St. Louis[1] and Magdalen College, also in New Hampshire.[2] The curriculum, designed by educators Donald and Louise Cowan, associated with the University of Dallas, centered on the direct reading of foundational works of Western culture.[3]

Since 2000

In 2009, the curriculum was revised under president William Fahey in an effort to improve its chronological approach to topics and strengthen the presentation of Catholic themes. Distinct majors in literature, political science, and philosophy were phased out in favor of a non-major liberal arts program.[4]

In 2011, the college announced its intention to move to a larger tract of land in Groton, Massachusetts, keeping the campus in Merrimack as a site for future graduate programs.[5][6] The relocation plan was abandoned in August 2015, after the college administration projected it would have required a ten-year fundraising campaign.[7] In late 2013, the college bought a 1908 mansion in Nashua originally built by shoe manufacturer Frank Anderson and once used as the home of Mount Saint Mary High School, in order to use the historic house as an educational site and eventually also a dormitory.[8][9]

Presidents

The campus in winter
  1. Peter V. Sampo, 1978-2006
  2. Jeffrey Nelson, 2006-2009
  3. William Fahey, 2009-current

Academics

The core curriculum at Thomas More College is similar to a Great Books program. Students read the great works of Western literature, philosophy, and political science in their entirety rather than as a collection of excerpts.[10] Students earn a B.A. degree in Liberal Arts without a major concentration. Part of the sophomore year is spent in Rome, Italy. For admissions to the college, Thomas More College accepts the Classic Learning Test (CLT) as alternatives to the SAT and ACT.

In 2010, the college started a program of teaching students practical skills in art and music, using the medieval guild system as a model.[11]

The college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.[12] In December 2009, NEASC placed the college on probation on the ground that it was not meeting NEASC's standards for financial resources. The period of probation ended in 2011.[13][14][6]

Other programs

The college has sponsored the Centre for Faith and Culture at Oxford, England, publisher of Second Spring, a journal on faith and culture, since 2007.

In April 2011, Thomas More College, together with Holy Spirit College in Atlanta, reached an agreement with the non-profit publisher Sophia Institute Press, which became the publishing division of the two colleges. The two colleges, in turn, appoint representatives to the board of directors of Sophia Institute.[15][16]

References

  1. ↑ Donald Berns (December 11, 1977). "College Enrollment Easily Fits Into Pizza Parlor". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  2. ↑ John Whitson (September 19, 2006). "Thomas More College head has big plans". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  3. ↑ "The Newman Guide to Catholic Colleges". Cardinal Newman Society.
  4. ↑ "Thomas More College's new president inspired by Pope Benedict". Catholic News Agency (ACI Prensa). March 31, 2010.
  5. ↑ Michael Brindley (March 9, 2011). "Merrimack's Thomas More College planning to relocate undergraduate program to Mass.". Nashua Telegraph.
  6. 1 2 Art Campbell (February 15, 2011). "More College, More or Less, for Groton". The Groton Line.
  7. ↑ Pierre Comtois (August 31, 2015). "Thomas More College will not relocate to Groton". The Lowell Sun. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  8. ↑ Kimberly Houghton (February 12, 2014). "Thomas More College buys Nashua property". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  9. ↑ Sheryl Rich-Kern (December 12, 2013). "Nashua's Historic Mansion Sold". New Hampshire Public Radio. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  10. ↑ Thomas More's curriculum page
  11. ↑ "Catholic college resurrects 'guilds' to teach craftsmanship, artistry and charity". EWTN News. July 27, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Thomas More College of Liberal Arts". New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
  13. ↑ "Public Statement on Thomas More College of Liberal Arts" (PDF). New England Association of Schools and Colleges. December 10, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2011.
  14. ↑ Michael Brindley (February 26, 2010). "Rivier gets top rating". Nashua Telegraph.
  15. ↑ "Sophia Institute Press names new President". Catholic News Agency. November 14, 2012.
  16. ↑ "After acquisition, Crisis Magazine re-launches website". Catholic News Agency. February 10, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
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