It?s all the buzz at Loyola College in Maryland: Should the school become Loyola University?
But it wouldn?t be the first. Three others in the nation already bear that name.
RenamingLoyola College a “university” would better reflect the school?s offerings, including the graduate school, business school and proposed education school, say supporters of a proposal to change the name.
But students, especially upperclassmen, prefer the intimate connotation that “college” offers and worry any change will strip the 150-year-old Jesuit school of its unique status as the only Loyola College.
Confusion already exists for Loyola University Chicago and Loyola University New Orleans. A spokeswoman at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles thinks the school?s slightly different name sets it apart from the pack.
So far, Loyola College students seem to side with tradition.
“Some say the change will make my degree worth more, but I don?t think changing the name will make Loyola jump 20 places in any rankings,” said Dylan O?Shea, a senior political science major and student body president.
Many alumni also detest the proposed name change.
“The aura of Loyola College is fully built on a strong sense of close-knit community, and our status as a college is truly indicative of the culture,” said Suzanne Solferino, an alumna who works in human resources at a New York City bank.
“Although the college is expanding tremendously in many positive ways, being considered a college is one of the most special points about the school and one which I think is very close to the hearts of students, faculty, alumni and friends of the college.”
Loyola has hired a higher education marketing firm to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of a name change, but the Board of Trustees will ultimately decide, said Courtney Jolley, a spokeswoman.
Founded in 1852, Loyola now has 3,500 undergraduates and 3,000 graduate students.
Villa Julie College, meanwhile, has decided to change to a university and is testing seven new names with focus groups and surveys: Greenspring, Stevenson, Sagamore, Tufton, Billiart, Great Oaks and Rockland.
