Saint Mary's College of California

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Saint Mary’s Thought Leaders in 2024: Groundbreaking Research in the Lab and the Field, Politics Across the Country, and the Story of a Poem

Saint Mary\u27s College of California

Faculty Handbook 
Volume 2024 2024-2025 Article 2 
7-1-2024 
Disclaimer and Notice 
Saint Mary's College of California 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.stmarys-ca.edu/faculty-handbook 
 Part of the Higher Education Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Saint Mary's College of California (2024) "Disclaimer and Notice," Faculty Handbook: Vol. 2024, Article 2. 
Available at: https://digitalcommons.stmarys-ca.edu/faculty-handbook/vol2024/iss1/2 
This Notice is brought to you for free and open access by the SMC Handbooks at Saint Mary's Digital Commons. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Handbook by an authorized editor of Saint Mary's Digital Commons. For 
more information, please contact digitalcommons@stmarys-ca.edu. 
Disclaimer Regarding the Mention of Contingent Faculty in this Handbook  
 
The 2022-23 Collective Bargaining Agreement governs the employment 
conditions of the contingent faculty. No mention of contingent faculty in this 
document can be construed to hinder or conflict with the Collective 
Bargaining Agreement. 
 
	
	
Notice of Handbook Applicability 
 
The information given in this Faculty Handbook of Saint Mary’s College of California is accurate as 
of July 2024, with the exception noted in the contingent faculty disclaimer on the previous page.   
 
This is the Faculty Handbook referred to in the Faculty Letters of Appointment. To the extent that there 
is a conflict between the contents of the Faculty Handbook and those of any other faculty manuals or 
handbooks, this Faculty Handbook takes precedence. When a faculty member has been authorized to 
act in an administrative capacity (such as President, Provost, Vice Provost, Dean, Department 
Chair/Program Director), to the extent that the person’s job responsibilities are not pedagogical but 
administrative and supervisory, the relevant portions of the Staff Handbook apply and take precedence. 
 
In compliance with applicable law and its own policy, Saint Mary’s College of California is committed 
to recruiting and retaining a diverse student and employee population and does not discriminate in its 
admission of students, hiring of employees, or in the provision of its employment benefits to its 
employees and its educational programs, activities, benefits and services to its students, including but 
not limited to scholarship and loan programs, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, 
sex/gender, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, medical condition or physical or mental 
disability. 
 
Saint Mary’s College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© Copyright 2024, by Saint Mary’s College of California. No part of this publication may be 
reproduced without the written permission of Saint Mary’s College of California. 
 


Disclaimer and Notice

Academic Catalog 
Volume 2024 2024-2025 Article 2 
7-1-2024 
The College 
Saint Mary's College of California 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.stmarys-ca.edu/undergraduate-catalog 
Recommended Citation 
Saint Mary's College of California (2024) "The College," Academic Catalog: Vol. 2024, Article 2. 
Available at: https://digitalcommons.stmarys-ca.edu/undergraduate-catalog/vol2024/iss1/2 
This Section I is brought to you for free and open access by the College Archives at Saint Mary's Digital Commons. 
It has been accepted for inclusion in Academic Catalog by an authorized editor of Saint Mary's Digital Commons. 
For more information, please contact digitalcommons@stmarys-ca.edu. 
2024-2025 Academic CatalogSaint Mary’s College of California
The College
Overview
History
Chronological History
Statement of Mission
Faculty
Academic Organization
Accreditation
College Policies and Disclosure Summaries 
Saint Mary’s College of California
Saint Mary’s is a comprehensive liberal arts university offering undergraduate and graduate programs that integrate liberal and
professional education built upon a foundation of Catholic, Lasallian, and liberal arts traditions. A challenging curriculum, ex-
ceptional faculty, and a focus on student success prepare learners for rewarding careers, and full lives.
The core Lasallian principles of social justice, faith in the presence of God, respect for all persons, inclusive community, and
quality education are reflected in every aspect of campus life and learning. Rooted in the Christian Brothers’ commitment to
teaching and learning, Saint Mary’s student-centered education shapes individual lives that can transform society.
The Catholic tradition fosters a Christian understanding of the whole person and defends the goodness, dignity, and freedom of
each individual in a community that values diversity of perspective, background, and culture.
The liberal arts tradition at Saint Mary’s College seeks to educate and engage the intellect in an attempt to resolve the great
questions that arise from common human experience through a search that probes for fundamental principles and causes.
This approach develops the intellectual abilities of the whole person, preparing students for life beyond the knowledge and skills
needed for any particular profession. It develops critical thinking, an understanding of and respect for different ways of know-
ing, and a desire for lifelong learning.
The College provides a welcoming environment, knowing that the best academic achievement and social and personal develop-
ment are realized in an environment that is culturally, spiritually, and ethnically diverse, where every voice is heard and each
student has the opportunity to grow, succeed, and serve.
Saint Mary’s faculty are deeply committed to teaching and interacting with students, while also being accomplished scholars.
They are active members of a close community characterized by small classes, lively discussion, and deep relationships.
The campus, known for its great natural and architectural beauty in the Moraga Valley, is only 20 miles east of San Francisco.
Surrounded by hills and woods, the white buildings with red tile roofs are designed in Mission Renaissance style, with the
College Chapel as its architectural and spiritual heart.
History
Saint Mary’s College of California is one of the oldest colleges in the West. Founded in 1863 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese
as a college for men, the school was originally located in San Francisco, operating for several years under Archdiocesan
direction.
In 1868, the De La Salle Christian Brothers assumed direction of the school. Theirs is the world’s largest Roman Catholic order
dedicated to teaching, founded 320 years ago by St. John Baptist de La Salle, who devoted his life to the ministry of Christian
education, especially for the poor. Brother Justin McMahon, FSC, was the first Christian Brother president of Saint Mary’s, who
traveled to San Francisco accompanied by nine other Brothers. Under their leadership, the College’s student body quickly in-
creased from 50 to 200 students, with the first SMC bachelor’s degrees awarded in 1872.
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The Brothers added a commercial curriculum to the classical and scientific curricula when they arrived in 1868. The College was
incorporated by the state of California on May 20, 1872, and the following year the first master of arts degree was conferred.
Since that time the Brothers have directed the College and exercised an indispensable role in its administration, instruction, and
funding, working collaboratively with distinguished clerical and lay colleagues who fill many significant administrative and fac-
ulty appointments.
In 1889, the Saint Mary’s campus moved from San Francisco to Oakland to the corner of 30th and Broadway, occupying a facil-
ity affectionately known as the “Brickpile.” The College operated there until 1928, when it was moved to its current location in
Moraga. The original Moraga campus was much smaller than the current campus; 11 of the original buildings, constructed in
1928 and 1929, are still in use today. They include the Chapel, Dante Hall, and Galileo Hall.
In 1940, the Saint Mary’s hillside was graced with the addition of “La Cruz de la Victoria,” the Cross of Victory. The cross has be-
come a familiar landmark among Saint Mary’s students, alumni, professors, and staff. Hiking up to the cross is a popular
activity.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, the United States Navy began using the Saint Mary’s campus for pilot
training. The Navy’s presence on the campus led to significant changes, including moving the main entrance to the front of cam-
pus. This resulted in the clear view of the Chapel that greets visitors today. The Navy also built Assumption Hall (now a first-
year residence hall) and the world’s largest indoor pool, which no longer exists.
Saint Mary’s has evolved and changed over the years, with location, size, and demographics completely transformed. Life for
SMC’s first students in the 19th century was quite different from the student’s experience today. Tuition was $60 per academic
year for day students and $250 for boarding students. A student’s day was rigidly scheduled, awakened at 6 a.m. for a day filled
with an unvarying schedule of study, class, prayer, meals, and recreation, then lights out at 8:30 p.m.
Nevertheless, traces of the College’s past remain-like the ringing of the Chapel bells, the same bells that every Saint Mary’s stu-
dent has heard and remembers. And the College’s commitment to service, learning, and community remains very true to its ori-
gins. As the SMC community looks to the future of Saint Mary’s, we will continue to honor the common thread that connects
generations of Gaels.
Chronological History
1863  Saint Mary’s College on Mission Road in San Francisco dedicated on July 9 by Archbishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany.
1868  Arrival of the Christian Brothers, August 11, commercial curriculum established.
1872  Chartered by the state of California, May 20, Saint Mary’s conferred its first bachelor of arts and its first bachelor of
science.
1873  First master of arts degree conferred.
1889  Saint Mary’s College moved to 30th and Broadway in Oakland; the Brickpile dedicated on August 15.
1894  Fire severely damaged the Brickpile; the College returned to the San Francisco campus for a year during rebuilding.
1901  Civil and mechanical engineering curriculum established.
1905  Art curriculum established at Saint Mary’s College, the first Catholic college west of the Mississippi to offer a full art
curriculum.
1906  School of Commerce established.
1910  Pre-medical curriculum established.
1921  School of Engineering, and School of Foreign Trade established. 
1924  School of Education, and School of Law (evening) established.
1927  The College became the first Catholic men’s college to join the Northwestern Association of Schools and Colleges.
1928  Saint Mary’s College moved to the Moraga campus and was dedicated on September 3; School of Law remained in
Oakland, and closed in 1931.
1933  School of Economics and Business Administration established.
1935  School of Arts and Letters, and School of Science (engineering, pre-medical, pre-dental and science curricula com-
bined) established.
1941  World Classics Core Curriculum (now Collegiate Seminar) established.
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1942-
46
 After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Navy conducted preflight training at the College.
1946  School of Liberal Arts established.
1969  4-1-4 calendar established for undergraduate programs.
1970  Women are admitted to Saint Mary’s College.
1974  Graduate and extended education divisions established.
1981  Intercollegiate baccalaureate program in nursing with Samuel Merritt College established.
1985  School of Education established.
1987  125th anniversary of the College’s founding; its 60th year in Moraga.
1999  School of Education establishes College’s first doctoral program, EdD in Educational Leadership.
2004  Geissberger Observatory opens.
2007  Brousseau Hall christened, honoring Brother Alfred Brousseau.
2008  New home to the Kalmanovitz School of Education-Filippi Academic Hall-opens.
2012  Saint Mary’s College celebrates its sesquicentennial or 150th anniversary.
Statement of Mission
Saint Mary’s College in the 21st century celebrates the three traditions that have sustained it since its earliest years and seeks its
future in them: the classical tradition of liberal arts education, the intellectual and spiritual legacy of the Catholic Church, and
the vision of education enunciated by Saint John Baptist de La Salle and developed by the Brothers of the Christian Schools and
their colleagues in a tradition now more than 300 years old.
The Mission of Saint Mary’s College Is:
To probe deeply the mystery of existence by cultivating the ways of knowing and the arts of thinking.
Recognizing that the paths to knowledge are many, Saint Mary’s College offers a diverse curriculum, which includes the human-
ities, arts, sciences, social sciences, education, business administration, and nursing, serving traditional students and adult
learners in both undergraduate and graduate programs. As an institution where the liberal arts inform and enrich all areas of
learning, it places special importance on fostering the intellectual skills and habits of mind, which liberate persons to probe
deeply the mystery of existence and live authentically in response to the truths they discover. This liberation is achieved as fac-
ulty and students, led by wonder about the nature of reality, look twice, ask why, seek not merely facts but fundamental princi-
ples, strive for an integration of all knowledge, and express themselves precisely and eloquently.
To affirm and foster the Christian understanding of the human person, which animates the educational
mission of the Catholic Church.
Saint Mary’s College holds that the mystery that inspires wonder about the nature of existence is revealed in the person of Jesus
Christ, giving a transcendent meaning to creation and human existence. Nourished by its Christian faith, the College under-
stands the intellectual and spiritual journeys of the human person to be inextricably connected. It promotes the dialogue of faith
and reason; it builds community among its members through the celebration of the Church’s sacramental life; it defends the
goodness, dignity, and freedom of each person, and fosters sensitivity to social and ethical concerns. Recognizing that all those
who sincerely quest for truth contribute to and enhance its stature as a Catholic institution of higher learning, Saint Mary’s wel-
comes members from its own and other traditions, inviting them to collaborate in fulfilling the spiritual mission of the College.
To create a student-centered educational community whose members support one another with mutual
understanding and respect.
As a Lasallian college, Saint Mary’s holds that students are given to its care by God, and that teachers grow spiritually and per-
sonally when their work is motivated by faith and zeal. The College seeks students, faculty, administrators, and staff from differ-
ent social, economic, and cultural backgrounds who come together to grow in knowledge, wisdom, and love. A distinctive mark
of a Lasallian school is its awareness of the consequences of economic and social injustice, and its commitment to the poor. Its
members learn to live “their responsibility to share their goods and their service with those who are in need, a responsibility
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based on the union of all men and women in the world today and on a clear understanding of the meaning of Christianity.”
(From The Brothers of the Christian Schools in the World Today: A Declaration).
Faculty
The College is, in every sense, a community of scholars. Faculty members are teacher-scholars. They are selected for their dedi-
cation to and skill in teaching, and for their desire to share their passion for learning and discovery.
The small size of the College and the commitment of its faculty foster an extraordinarily close and informal relationship be-
tween faculty and students. Faculty members are available to students not only in the classroom but outside it as well, for aca-
demic advice, guidance, and mentoring. Faculty teach courses at all levels, from first-year through graduate, and faculty mem-
bers make themselves available to students at all levels. Our small class size and faculty advising system foster close and fre-
quent contact between professors and students.
The College values faculty scholarship because it enhances the intellectual vitality of the faculty and directly animates the entire
campus community. Scholarly research ensures that faculty members have a thorough and up-to-date knowledge of the subjects
they teach, as well as the appropriate pedagogy in those fields. As part of a community committed to shared inquiry and active
learning, faculty scholar-teachers provide models from which students can learn the value and techniques of inquiry, and from
which they can learn to value the life of the mind.
The College prides itself on a faculty of remarkable distinction and continually renewed commitment to scholarship and
teaching.
Academic Organization
Saint Mary’s College is organized into four schools that provide the programs of study for students at the undergraduate and
graduate levels.
The School of Liberal Arts offers the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 23 major fields and the Bachelor of Arts in the Integral
Program; Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Exercise Science; Master of Arts in Kinesiology; Master of Arts in Communication;
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Master of Fine Arts in Dance; and a BA degree completion in the Performing Arts.
The School of Science offers the degree of Bachelor of Science in 10 major fields and the Bachelor of Arts in seven major fields;
and the degree of Professional Science Masters in Biotechnology. There is a dual degree program in engineering, which requires
three years at Saint Mary’s and two years at an engineering school.
The School of Economics and Business Administration offers the degree of Bachelor of Science in eight major fields, as well as
the Bachelor of Arts in four major fields. It offers the degree of Master of Business Administration, Executive MBA, Professional
MBA, Online MBA; and the degree of Master of Science in Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance and MS in Management and
Technology, and an Executive Doctorate in Business Administration.
The Kalmanovitz School of Education offers undergraduate courses in teacher education and leadership, and a BA completion
program. There are seventeen programs in the School of Education including preliminary teaching credentials, pupil
personnel services credentials, an administrative services credentials, and a bilingual authorization certificate in Spanish. The
School of Education also offers licensure programs in marriage and family counseling and clinical counseling, as well as
master’s degrees. An Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership is also
offered.
Accreditation
The administration of Saint Mary’s College is vested in the Board of Trustees and the President of the College, and is empow-
ered by the charter of 1872 granted by the state of California to confer upon students who satisfactorily complete the prescribed
courses of studies in the College, such academic and/or professional degrees and/or literary honors as are usually conferred by
universities and/or colleges in the United States.
Saint Mary’s College is nationally recognized as a standard four-year college and is accredited by the Western Association of
Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission, 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501,
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(510) 748-9001. The credential programs and licensure in the School of Education are also accredited by the California
Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. The business and accounting programs
are accredited in the School of Economics and Business Administration by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of
Business (AACSB). The Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art, housing the Hearst Art Gallery, is the only art museum in Contra
Costa County accredited by the American Association of Museums.
 
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In Their Own Words: Andrew Aroutynov \u2724 on Being a \u27Data Science Pioneer\u27 and Doing Classwork with a Fortune 500 Company

SMC\u27s Barbara McGraw Speaks at Public Briefing on the Federal Role in Enforcing Religious Freedoms in Prison

SMC’s Lino Rivera to Perform in 2023–2024 Blue Ridge Concert Series

Daniel Lurie surges in new polls in San Francisco mayor\u27s race. Analysis from SMC political scientist Corey Cook

Fourth-Grade Students’ Perspective Taking During California Social Studies

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Disclaimer and Notice

The College

Volume 123, Number 1 - Thursday, October 31st 2024

Photo Gallery: Saint Mary\u27s Honors Emeriti Faculty for Distinguished Service

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