Interactive Campus Tour
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Welcome to Silver Lake College
Our 36 acre campus is located in rural Manitowoc, Wisconsin; less than 5 miles from the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan. Founded in 1935 by the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, Silver Lake is a coeducational, liberal arts college with a dynamic learning community of about 1,000 students. Though Silver Lake is a Catholic college, we welcome members of all faiths and practices.
Silver Lake offers more than 25 undergraduate academic majors and four graduate-level programs; the most popular are business, education, special education, biology and psychology. Our highly skilled and caring faculty, along with small, focused classes, prepares students for successful and exciting careers.
History
The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, founded in 1869, immediately planned for the education of their young members for the teaching profession. In 1885 the State of Wisconsin granted the institution a charter as an academy and normal school. It achieved four-year college status in 1935 and conferred its first liberal arts degrees four years later. The college began admitting lay women on a regular basis in 1957 and became coeducational in 1969 to better meet the educational needs of the area. In 1972, the school incorporated separately from the religious community and changed its name from "Holy Family College" to "Silver Lake College of the Holy Family."
Life on Campus
With over 20 student clubs and organizations, there is something for everyone at Silver Lake College. Students can join academic-related clubs and honors societies depending on their majors and interests. We offer athletic options, including intercollegiate basketball and cross country for men and women as well as intramural sports including a Dance Team. A bi-annual trip to the Florida Keys is offered, which Biology students can take for college credit. Through Campus Ministry students are able to develop leadership skills and participate in community service by getting involved in various fundraisers, retreats, and volunteering. Concerts, art exhibits, movie nights, dances, games, and more are available regularly and open to all students.
The Chapel
The Chapel is dedicated to the Holy Family, and is open to everyone for private and personal prayer. Liturgies are celebrated daily. Fr. Jeremiah, our College Chaplain, is the presider. Each of the stained glass windows on the right side of the chapel is a tribute to the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, and to the college�s major fields of academic study, while the left-hand side portrays the four evangelists and the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. At the front of the Chapel there are two mosaic art pieces; on the left the Holy Family and on the right, St. Francis, the founder of the order to which the Sisters belong.
Generose Enrichment Center
The Generose Enrichment Center is named after the first President of Silver Lake College � Sr. Generose Cahill. Her portrait hangs in the entrance of the building, which was renovated in 2003. Previously St. Joseph�s Parish, the building now hosts college courses, concerts, art exhibits, campus and community events and a yearly Student Symposium, an event that showcases student work over the course of the year.
Cafeteria
The Cafeteria at Silver Lake College serves three hot meals Monday through Friday, and is open at all times to the student population. During meal times enjoy your favorite dish or some Starbucks coffee with your friends. There is a salad bar featuring fresh greens, vegetables, and various condiments open for lunch every Monday through Thursday. If you are hungry or thirsty between meals, feel free to stop by for hot chocolate, soda, juice, chips, or some fruit. No need to purchase a meal plan, the cafeteria runs on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Student Lounge & Quiet Study
Silver Lake College students enjoy two separate lounge areas, the official Student Lounge and the Quiet Study.
The Student Lounge, remodeled in 2005, features a 52 inch, widescreen television, pool table, darts, games, and a ping pong table all of which are free to students. The Laker Lunchbox, which is completely student operated, serves snacks and the vending machines are always available.
The Quiet Study, located just across the hall, is furnished with comfortable sofas, perfect for lounging while you study. Computers and a wireless Internet connection are available for those who need to access the Web or type a paper, and the student mailboxes are nearby should you need to drop someone a note.
Residence Life
The Silver Lake residence offers a unique alternative to dormitory life. Located 1.5 miles from the main campus, our apartment-style housing is furnished and allows students the experience of living independently within a secure community of their peers. Four students share an apartment suite, including a living-room, kitchen, dining toom and patio, while two bedrooms and bathrooms are shared in pairs.
Financial Aid
A college education is an important investment in your future, and Silver Lake College is dedicated to making your college education affordable. Each student receives the personal attention and input they need to make an informed decision on how to finance their education. Silver Lake College provides aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans and Federal Work Study opportunities. Scholarships are awarded for academic excellence, outstanding performance in an extracurricular activity, financial need and other criteria. Along the wall leading up to the Financial Aid Office there are plaques to denote each Endowment Scholarship donated annually to the college.
The Campus Store
The Silver Lake College Campus Store is your one stop shop for Silver Lake apparel and gifts. Students can purchase folders, pens, art supplies and various items that show �Laker Spirit�, all in one place. When you are ready to graduate, your regalia, announcements and memorabilia can also be ordered and picked up here. Although the Campus Store does not sell textbooks, many fiction and nonfiction books are available for sale, and the Campus Store staff is happy to answer your questions about the online bookstore. MBSDirect, an online service students can use to buy and sell course materials, provides used and new textbooks at competitive prices and allows students to track their orders.
Student Services
Student Services is home to some of the most often visited offices by our students. Within the Student Services office you can:
- Use the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator personality test to choose your perfect major
- Find out about parties, dances, concerts and other fun things to do on campus and in Manitowoc
- Join an athletic team or enjoy recreational sports
- Sign up to live in the Student Residence
- Find an enjoyable career, job, internship or work study position
Learning Resource Center
The Learning Resource Center helps students to develop their skills in communication, reading, preparing for exams, time management, studying, and vocabulary to help them succeed while attending courses at Silver Lake College. Students receive individual attention and tutoring, which allows them to adjust to their personal style of learning. Proofreading and other suggestions are available for research and term papers as well, all of which are free of charge to students.
Zigmunt Library
The Zigmunt Library has over 65,000 volumes for use in both research and entertainment, including books, periodicals, magazines, databases, references, music, software, novels, movies and more. With a computer lab and a music listening room, the library is the perfect place to complete your homework or just relax and enjoy some quiet time. The Rare Book Room, available for supervised use, is home to some volumes that are between 400 and 500 years old. However, if the library doesn�t have the specific volume you are looking for, our friendly staff is happy to order it through the InterLibrary Loan system, which allows students access to materials from across the nation.
Academic Departments
With over 25 major areas of study and five graduate-level programs, Silver Lake is sure to have something to meet your needs. Visit one of our academic departments online to find out more about the program of your choice: