Fordham has entered into a historic affiliation with Heythrop College, the Jesuit specialist Philosophy and Theology College of the University of London, creating a home in Kensington Square for Fordham’s programs, including its London Dramatic Academy, spring semester program in the College of Business Administration as well as two CBA summer programs.
“Our agreement with Heythrop College not only brings all of Fordham’s London programs under one roof, but will allow us to offer a richer undergraduate curriculum to our students,” said Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham.
“Equally important, the agreement gives Fordham a base from which to collaborate with other Jesuit institutions in the United States,” he continued. “Using Heythrop, we hope to work with more of our sister institutions to expand Jesuit higher education in London.”
Fordham University London Center will welcome students from all of the University’s schools, and will afford students access to offerings from other academic programs in the city. Fordham also hopes the Center will become the London location for all the member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.
The University will have year-round use of Heythrop’s William Kyle Center, which will be renovated to house Fordham’s London Dramatic Academy and all other programs. The Academy, which was founded more than 30 years ago, hosts 24 student actors from United States colleges and universities each semester.
“The agreement with Heythrop College benefits Fordham, of course, by allowing us to consolidate and expand our offerings in London,” said Stephen Freedman, Ph.D., Fordham’s senior vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer. “The agreement also builds on the strengths of both Jesuit institutions, one result of which we hope will be the establishment of several new academic programs.”
Fordham also will rent performance space in Faulkner Hall, as well as classrooms elsewhere on campus, if needed. Moreover, Fordham students will have access to Heythrop dormitories during the summer sessions.
A constituent college of the University of London, Heythrop was established in 1614 in Belgium by the Society of Jesus, and was relocated to England during the French Revolution. It moved to central London in 1970, when it joined the University of London.