Webster University, Private university in Webster Groves, Missouri, United States.
Webster University is a private university in Webster Groves, Missouri, covering 47 acres (19 hectares) with degree programs in humanities, business, communications and fine arts. The buildings sit among mature trees and form a campus that includes residence halls, sports facilities and a theater.
The Sisters of Loretto established Loretto College in 1915 and renamed it after the surrounding area in 1924. The institution gained university status in 1983 when it expanded into graduate programs and off-campus degree offerings.
The music department welcomed Irene Thomas in 1945 as the first African American student, opening a path to diversity that now shapes the faculty and student body across all programs today.
The main campus in Webster Groves sits about 20 minutes west of downtown St. Louis and can be reached by car or public bus. Visitors may walk the grounds during daylight hours, with parking available in designated areas and individual buildings open during class hours.
The athletic teams are called the Gorloks, a fictional creature mixing duck, sea lion and cheetah that became the official mascot through a student vote in the early 1980s. The chess program ranks among the top college teams and competes alongside traditional sports in national competitions.
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