St. Kate's name change is official: St. Catherine University
After 104 years as the College of St. Catherine, the private St. Paul school is now officially known as St. Catherine University.
Colleen Hegranes, senior vice president at St. Kate's, hopes the name change attracts students who might have otherwise overlooked the school.
"Typically when people hear college they think just of the bachelor's degree or of an associate degree," Hegranes said. "It's a signal that there are many more opportunities here at the institution."
Hegranes said the name change could also benefit undergraduate students.
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"At the bachelor's level I don't think that whether we're university or college is important when they come here, but I think that on their resumes as they leave it's an important piece."
St. Catherine University's bachelor's programs are open only to women. With a student body of more than 5,000, it is the largest women's college in the country. The school's associate, masters and doctorate programs are open to male students.
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Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misspelled Colleen Hegranes' name and misstated her title. Also, the size of the school's student body was incorrect in earlier versions.
