History

Martin Marty became bishop of Dakota Territory in the 1870s and recruited the Sisters of Mercy to start a girls’ school in Yankton. The first effort faltered, but, in 1887, Bishop Marty asked the Benedictine Sisters to resurrect the convent on the hill above the Missouri River. They soon began a nursing school and an academy for high school girls.

Mother Jerome Schmitt, a pioneer educator, and her fellow sisters started Mount Marty College in 1936, during the worst years of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Our mission has since evolved to fit the times, transitioning from a junior college for women into the coed university we are today. We awarded the first bachelor's of art and science degrees in 1951 and became coeducational in 1969. Then we awarded our first associate of arts degree programs in 1975. We subsequently started to award master's of science degrees in 1983, and master's of arts diplomas followed in 1999.

We have added numerous sports programs for men and women, as well as many other extra-curricular endeavors.

However, our mission and culture continue to focus on being an excellent community of learning: MMU is a pleasant and peaceful place to be, but we always aspire to help every student develop the discipline, skills and character to succeed in his or her chosen path of service to mankind.

Important Dates in MMU History

Change is a hallmark of every successful university. As you can see from our timeline below, our campus community has always embraced progress and improvement. We treasure and respect our heritage by constantly searching for new and better ways to serve.

1905	Sacred Heart School of Nursing founded at Sacred Heart Hospital
1922	Mount Marty Academy opened
1935	Cornerstone of Bede Hall laid
1936	Mount Marty Junior College began on July 3 with the teaching of physics
1950	Bishop Marty Chapel consecrated
1951	Mount Marty College became a four-year, baccalaureate degree granting institution
1955	Whitby Hall and Marian Auditorium opened
1961	MMC received North Central Association accreditation
1964	Sacred Heart School of Nursing closed; nursing students enrolled in MMC’s four-year Baccalaureate nursing program
1966	Corbey Hall opened
1966	Mount Marty High School moved to the new building (Avera Science and Nursing Complex)
1967	First meeting of the Board of Trustees for the newly incorporated MMC
1967	Roncalli Center completed and opened
1969	Mount Marty High School closed
1969	MMC became coeducational
1971	MMC became the first school in the nation to offer a baccalaureate degree in anesthesia
1972	Branch location opened at Harmony Hill Education Center, Watertown, S.D.
1981	New Sacred Heart Hospital completed
1983	Master's degree program in anesthesia started at Mount Marty
1988	New Laddie E. Cimpl Arena completed
1989	MMC began offering courses at the Yankton Federal Prison Camp at the site of the former Yankton College
1991	MMC enrollment exceeds 1,000 for the first time
1997	Master's Degree Pastoral Ministries added
2000	Charter Member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC)
2001	MMC became a wireless laptop campus
2003	Scholastica Learning Center/Cyber Cafe/Library opened on Yankton campus
2005	Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) added
2007	New Athletic Track - Joint venture with Yankton Public Schools
2007	New Baseball Stadium - Joint venture with Yankton Baseball Association
2008	New facility opened at Watertown location
2010	New Anesthesia Program/Sioux Falls location facilities opened
2010	New Soccer Fields - Joint venture with the National Field Archery Association/Foundation
2020	Mount Marty College becomes Mount Marty University