St. Louis University

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

Saint Louis University (SLU) is a private Jesuit research university in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1818 by Louis William Valentine DuBourg. It is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River and the second-oldest Jesuit university in the United States. The university also operates the Saint Louis University Madrid Campus, the first freestanding American university campus in Europe, officially recognized by Spain’s higher education authority.SLU originated as the Saint Louis Academy in 1818 and became Saint Louis College in 1820.In 1944, SLU became the first Catholic university in the U.S. to integrate African American students. In 1967, it transitioned to lay leadership, giving laypeople control over its Board of Trustees. In 2016, SLU publicly acknowledged its historical ties to slavery and the labor of enslaved individuals in building the university. Descendants now advocate for a permanent memorial on campus to honor their ancestors' contributions.