Notre Dame de Namur University

The historic Spanish Colonial Revival -style Taube Center. Notre Dame de Namur University was founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur as the Academy of Notre Dame in 1851 on 10 acres [ 2 ] in San Jose, California . The school was chartered in 1868 as the College of Notre Dame, the first college in the state of California authorized to grant the baccalaureate degree to women. [ 3 ] In 1922, the Sisters purchased Ralston Hall , the country estate of William Chapman Ralston , founder of the Bank of California . The college opened its doors in Belmont in 1923. In 1953 the College of Notre Dame became a four-year college with 23 Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur [ 4 ] involved in the school. The college introduced evening classes in 1955, and in 1965, started the teaching credential programs. Originally a women's institution, College of Notre Dame became coeducational in 1969; [ 4 ] three men graduated as part of the class of 1970. The college expanded its offerings to include master's degrees in 1972 and added evening undergraduate programs in 1987. In 2001, the college established a structure dividing the university into schools and changed its name to Notre Dame de Namur University. In 2009, the university began offering partnerships with local community colleges to provide greater access to higher education, and that same year it became a Hispanic-Serving Institution, meaning at least 25% of its undergraduate population is Hispanic, that same year. The online degree program was established in 2012, and in 2013, the university introduced one of the first PhD programs in art therapy in the nation. The university established a new campus in Tracy, California in 2015, offering evening undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business administration. [ 5 ] Launched in 2013, Notre Dame de Namur University was one of the first universities in the United States to offer a Ph.D. in Art Therapy . The Art Therapy Ph.D.

is also the first doctoral program offered at the university. Ralston Hall , built in 1864, was the country estate of William Ralston , founder of the Bank of California . In 2016 the faculty, both full-time and adjunct, unionized with SEIU 1021. This was a historic move since tenure-line professors at Catholic universities have had trouble unionizing since the Yeshiva ruling (1980). [ 6 ] [ 7 ] In December 2017, BINA48 (a Hanson Robotics robot) successfully participated as a guest student in a full semester college course on philosophy and love created and taught by Professor William J. Barry at Notre Dame de Namur University. The robot used an algorithm framework called TQ Theory created by Professor Barry to interact with rapport with students. [ 8 ] In March 2020, the university announced major changes as a result of on-going financial issues, declining enrollment, and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic . [ 9 ] The board of trustees made the decision to prioritize current students completing degrees by the end of the 2020–21 academic year while assisting other students in transfer options due to uncertainty of operations beyond the spring 2021 semester. As part of the plan, Notre Dame suspended new student admissions for summer and fall 2020 sessions. [ 9 ] This resulted in mass layoffs and the closure of some of their most successful departments including all their undergraduate programs. The university also disbanded the athletics department at the conclusion of the 2019–20 academic year. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] In 2021, the university began to transition to only operate as a graduate school . [ 11 ] It also established an agreement with Stanford University allowing that university to purchase the Notre Dame de Namur University campus. [ 12 ] In 2022, Notre Dame de Namur University became the first West Coast university to provide temporary housing for Afghan refugees.

[ 13 ] In 2022, the university's accreditor , the WASC Senior College and University Commission , formally warned the university that it was not in compliance with the commission's accreditation standards. The warning status was removed in 2024 following a special visit but a "notice of concern" was issued due to the university's ongoing financial challenges. [ 14 ] Stanford backed out of purchasing the campus in 2025. [ 15 ]

Notre Dame de Namur University is located in Belmont, California on the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula and near the Pacific Ocean . The campus is approximately equidistant between the two largest cities in Northern California, being less than 30 miles from downtown San Francisco and downtown San Jose . [ 16 ] Academic buildings Cuvilly Hall, named for Sr. Julie Billiart's birthplace, is one of the main instructional buildings and houses the School of Business and Management. St. Mary's Hall is the largest instructional building and includes classrooms; science labs; two computer labs; public safety; and the financial aid, registrar , and business offices. Gavin Hall is the smallest of the three main instructional buildings and houses the Art Therapy program. [ 17 ] The theater of Notre Dame de Namur University is located below the main campus on Ralston Avenue.