Feature Stories

Heat Wave: Campus Fun Facts

Many buildings on campus have features to optimize cooling while saving energy costs, reflecting SCU's focus on sustainability.

Record heat levels bring to mind SCU's numerous tactics to cool buildings in an energy-efficient manner.

Changing the Narrative

In her valedictory address, Erika Francks ’17 encouraged fellow graduates to put value over success in their future endeavors.

The Message We Need

In 1982, Jesuit Fr. Ignacio Ellacuría challenged universities to be vehicles for transformative change in a powerful commencement address.

Unpopular prophetic graduation message: Universities must be vehicles for transformative change

Score One for the Troll Patrol

The Supreme Court decides a patent case influenced by SCU Law professors Colleen Chien and Brian Love.

Uniformed Service

Director and Professor of Military Science Major Jason Noble reminds us why those in uniform serve and how we can commemorate them.

Celebrating An Age-old Tradition

Sikh Student Association at Santa Clara University hosts a meal

The communal "langar" meal honors the Sikh tradition and Jesuit ideal of social justice

Can Technology Help Rescue Democracy?

A series of articles in The Atlantic, spurred by two SCU educators, looks at technology's impact on democracy.

Unbelievable Opportunities

Santa Clara University School of Engineering's new leader talks about the future of STEM in an interdisciplinary global world.

Loss into Gain

Four ways you can win when you lose

Student athlete Jenna Roering shares how she turned a loss in to a win.

Ethically Speaking

Ethics. We all hear about it, but do we really understand what it means to the world around us?

What are the implications to the decisions we make and why does ethics even matter? We sit down with Kirk O. Hanson, executive director of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, to get the answers.

Sustainable Styling

Old-school Necessity Becomes New-school Trend

Senior Jo Gopinath shares her path to designing "eco fashion"

Tiny House Takeaways

Seven lessons I learned from building a tiny house

Senior civil engineering major Anna Harris talks lessons learned from the rEvolve House build

Troll Patrol

How Two SCU Law Professors are Shaping an Issue Before the Supreme Court

Two SCU Law professors helped shape an influential patent-law case before the Supreme Court.

Engineering Expectations

Set high expectations for women engineers, and they’ll meet them

Engineering student Shiyin Lim says women should be held to the same high standards as men

Q&A on Recent RSO Decision

Answers to questions regarding a student petition to establish a Registered Student Organization

The University shared answers to common questions about a recent decision

In Terms of Refugees, History Should Repeat Itself

Student Edward Obasi says the U.S. should allow entrance to more Syrian Refugees

First year student Edward Obasi Lewis gives his take on the world immigration crisis.

An Uncloudy Future

2017 State of the University address by SCU President Michael Engh, S.J., identifies points of hope and optimism in tumultuous times.

President Michael Engh, S.J., outlined points of optimism and hope for the University in his 2017 State of the University address.

Be an Active Bystander

Three big tips you can use to actively intervene and stop sexual assault before it happens

Students from the Violence Prevention Program give guidance on how to help prevent sexual assault before it happens

Sobrato Campus for Discovery and Innovation

The University’s largest-ever gift, $100 million from John A. and Susan Sobrato, will fund a 300,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility for transformational STEM education.

The patriarch and matriarch of one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent families in real-estate development and philanthropy have made a gift of $100 million to Santa Clara University for a 300,000 square-foot "campus within a campus" for STEM.

Is There a Common Good in Our Common Home?

Ignatian Center's INTEGRAL podcast explores challenging issues and questions facing society

A new podcast from the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education initiates conversations around pressing questions of justice facing our world

Impromptu Solidarity

The 2010 economics alumna spent a powerful month helping Syrian refugees

2010 economics alumna Colleen Sinsky spent a powerful month helping refugees from Syria, and plans to keep using her SCU-honed social conscience and creative writing skills for the cause of social justice

University Art Exhibit Honors Mexico's Missing 43

Silhouettes honor violence victims, remind campus they were "students like you"

The San Jose Mercury News wrote a feature story about the art exhibit launched Jan. 2, 2016, at SCU, to commemorate 43 Mexican college students feared dead since Sept. 2014.

A Look Back, A Look Ahead

Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship invited leaders in social entrepreneurship and impact investing to share their thoughts about the current state of the sector and trends they see for 2017 and beyond.

Jesuit University Presidents Express Support for Undocumented Students

Nov. 30 letter urges solidarity, mercy for the marginalized among us.

SCU President Michael Engh, S.J., joined over two dozen Jesuit university presidents in a letter urging protection for undocumented students

A New Understanding on Campus Sexual Assault

Santa Clara University hosts symposium on the difficult topic of campus sexual assault.

An all-day symposium at SCU focused on the problem of sexual assault on college campuses, and new agreements to prevent and address them.

Passion or a Paycheck? Get Both

4 ways to follow your dreams without sacrificing the bottom line.

Dean Ku gives concrete tips on how to follow your dreams without sacrificing the bottom line.

Theology in Dialogue with a Beautiful and Broken World

A chat with Kevin O'Brien, S.J., new dean of the Jesuit School of Theology

Jesuit School of Theology Dean Kevin O'Brien, S.J., enjoys helping students talk across differences.

Bar None

Santa Clara University School of Law's newest class of first-year students is a diverse, driven bunch

Aug. 22 was the first day of classes for the 246 full-time and 26 part-time new students at Santa Clara Law.

Hitting the Ground Strolling

A Q&A with Dorian Llywelyn, S.J., the new executive director of SCU's Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education

Ignatian Center Executive Director Dorian Llywelyn, S.J., wants to know who's not at the table, and invite them in.

The Wheels on the House Go Round and Round

rEvolve House construction accelerates as the summer comes to a close

Santa Clara University's team of students continue constructing the rEvolve House ahead of the SMUD Tiny House Competition in October.

Faithful Feminist

As she ends a 40-year teaching career, pioneering feminist theologian and biblical scholar Sr. Sandra Schneiders has donated her professional papers to Santa Clara University.

An exhibit at SCU honors the impact of the influential scholar of Christian spirituality; women religious; hermeneutics and the gospel of St. John.

Can You Hack it?

BroncoHack competitors must combine business, technology and social justice.

For 24 hours from April 16 to 17, students from all over the Bay Area will "code it out" in a hackathon that requires both tech and business savvy, and a social-justice solution.

Theology Through a Living Lens

Hispanic Institute starts with the lived experiences of immigrant Latino Catholics

Eighty pastoral leaders learn theology incarnated into a distinctly Hispanic Catholic culture.

Making "Year of Mercy" = Year of Impact for the Poor

SCU's John Kohler is helping the Vatican explore "impact investing."

The Vatican is exploring how the Catholic Church can harness investment practices focused on social good, not just profits.

Boba, Yoga, and Pie

How 33 students turned $30 into $1,135 for charity

A professor's challenge to create a startup with $5 turned into $1,135 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Hiking 2,665 Miles for a Cause

Senior Sarah Marble will hike the Pacific Crest Trail after graduation to raise money for wounded veterans

Senior Sarah Marble will hike the Pacific Crest Trail spanning 2,665 miles to raise money for wounded veterans

Top Choice

How Santa Clara University goes to great lengths to evaluate—and win over—star applicants.

A recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education spotlighted Santa Clara University's unique process for evaluating and accepting our elite Johnson Scholars.

Taking the Lead

A Q&A with Dr. Sabrina Zirkel, the new dean of the School of Education and Counseling Psychology

Dean Sabrina Zirkel says a combination of curiosity and constant reflection makes an educator more successful.

Trump and Clinton: Santa Clara University Looks Ahead

Now that the 2016 presidential election is virtually certain to be between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, we asked professors and others at Santa Clara University what they will be watching for in the next six months leading up the November election, and why.

The Good Fight

Homelessness is not a crime, argues 2016 Alexander Law Prize winner

2016 Alexander Law Prize winner Maria Foscarinis is battling those who seek to make homelessness a crime.

Bad Boys? SCU Law Class Tackles California's Bail System

Students in Prof. David Ball's Criminal Law and Policy class are exploring whether California's bail system is stacked against poor defendants.

Brandi Chastain '91 Making Headlines

Santa Clara University graduate Brandi Chastain ‘91 in the running for U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame

Santa Clara University graduate Brandi Chastain ‘91 in the running for U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame

Now We Know: No Blue, No Green

One of the nation’s leading experts on the ocean, Sylvia Earle, shared reasons that protecting ocean life is vital to protecting terrestrial life.

Increasing our LEAD

Eighty-two percent of Santa Clara University's first-generation college students graduate in four years, compared with a national average of only 10 percent graduating in six years.

A program that serves Santa Clara University's first-generation college students has helped keep the graduation rate at an impressive 82 percent in four years, compared with 10 percent in six years nationwide.

Hacking for Humanity

Santa Clara University hosts its third annual hackathon

Santa Clara University hosts its third annual hackathon Hack for Humanity

Sharing the Goal of Diverse Faculty

Nearly a dozen Jesuit universities are trying a new way to bring underrepresented faculty to campuses.

A unique partnership among Jesuit universities to attract and nurture post-doctoral students aims to increase the diversity of faculty at the institutions.

Santa Clara Scores with a Super Celebration

Thousands of fans came to Santa Clara University Saturday for the Super Community Celebration, a daylong festival developed in collaboration with the city of Santa Clara.

Thousands of fans came to Santa Clara University Saturday for the Super Community Celebration, a daylong festival developed in collaboration with the city of Santa Clara.

Meningitis Vaccination Information for SCU Campus

Cowell Health Center website has the latest on Round 2 of the vaccine, and more.

The three students with confirmed meningococcal infection have now been released from the hospital in good condition. For the latest information including when and where to get the necessary second dose of the vaccine provided to nearly 5,000 students, please visit the Cowell Health Center website.

Seven Lessons from Sports Legends

Antics, sportsmanship, the dreaded wink—and the makings of Super Bowl and World Cup greatness.

Lessons abound at a pre-Super Bowl lunchtime event Jan. 26 with sports legends George Seifert, Ronnie Lott, Brandi Chastain and more.

Water as a Human Right

Santa Clara Law's International Human Rights Clinic says clean, accessible and affordable water is a human right for Americans and the world.

The national crisis over Flint, Michigan’s lead-contaminated water shines a spotlight on a growing problem, one which Santa Clara University’s International Human Rights Clinic has been actively fighting for the past year.

Getting Closer to Justice

At his President's Speaker Series talk, human-rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson shared a message that justice is possible.

Human-rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson returned to Santa Clara University’s campus Jan. 14 to bring the message that justice in the age of Black Lives Matter is attainable – but not without some uncomfortable work on the part of all who seek it.

El Nino Through the Eyes of an Expert

Santa Clara University civil engineering professor Edwin Maurer discusses the near-record weather system of 2015-2016

For Northern California, a record-breaking El Nino weather system could be a blessing for drought relief, but brings with it the risk of flooding. Prof. Ed Maurer answers five questions.

99 Years of Bronco Sports

De Saisset's new exhibit On Top of the Game explores the SCU sports from 1851 to 1950.

The fascinating history of SCU Athletics from 1851 to 1950 is featured in the de Saisset's exhibit On Top of the Game, on display periodically through June 12, 2016.