Ave Maria University
Ave Maria University (AMU) is a private Catholic university in Southwest Florida, United States, founded in 2003. The university moved to its permanent campus, situated in the planned town of Ave Maria, 17 miles (27 km) east of Naples, Florida, in August 2007. Ave Maria University shares its history with the former Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Michigan, which was founded in 1998 and closed in 2007.
Tom Monaghan, Ave Maria's founder, made his fortune by starting Domino's Pizza in 1960. He was criticized in the press for proposing that contraceptives and pornography be banned from the university and the surrounding area. In 2007, Monaghan drew criticism from Catholics both inside and outside the university when he removed theologian Joseph Fessio as provost.
The current enrollment of Ave Maria University is 1,072 students, with 1,019 undergraduate students and 53 graduate students on its campus. The university has seen major growth in recent years and hopes to grow to an enrollment of 1,500 by the year 2020, though President Towey reportedly has guessed the 1,500 student enrollment target could come as early as 2017. The university had a satellite campus in Nicaragua called the Ave Maria University-Latin American Campus, but sold the campus to Keiser University in July 2013. Ave Maria ran the Nicaraguan campus for 13 years. Ave Maria University fields athletic teams known as the Gyrenes. It is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and competes within The Sun Conference.
Ave Maria University is a Catholic, liberal arts institution of higher learning devoted to Mary the Mother of God, inspired by St. John Paul II and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, and dedicated to the formation of joyful, intentional followers of Jesus Christ through Word and Sacrament, scholarship and service.
The Ave Maria University is a Private university located in Ave Maria.
The Ave Maria University was founded in 1998.
The current president of Ave Maria University is Tom Monaghan.
According to verified online sources, the Ave Maria University enrolls a total of 2162 students.
According to the main website, the Ave Maria University has a total student population of 1081 undergraduate students and 1081 graduate students.
