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'''Ave Maria University''' is the first new [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] [[university]] founded in the [[United States]] in 50 years.<ref>There was at least one other Catholic ''college'' founded in the last 40 years, Cardinal Newman College in St. Louis. It closed in 1985.[http://closedcollege.bizland.com/missouri.htm]</ref> Ave Maria University is located northeast of Naples, Florida. In spring 2007 it graduated 74 students.

'''Ave Maria University''' is the first new [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] [[university]] founded in the [[United States]] in 50 years.<ref>There was at least one other Catholic ''college'' founded in the last 40 years, Cardinal Newman College in St. Louis. It closed in 1985.[http://closedcollege.bizland.com/missouri.htm]</ref> Ave Maria University is located northeast of Naples, Florida. In spring 2007 it graduated 74 students.  Enrollment doubled from an average of 150 students to per grade to 300 students in the incoming freshman class of 2008-2009, based on aggressive marketing and generous scholarships.<ref>[http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/may/08/ave-maria-sees-enrollment-jump/ Ave Maria sees enrollment jump]</ref>  The school has also introduced a club-level football program in addition to three varsity level sports each for men and [[Title IX|women]].  By 2012, its sports programs had grown to many men's and women's teams.

Enrollment doubled from an average of 150 students to per grade to 300 students in the incoming freshman class of 2008-2009, based on aggressive marketing and generous scholarships.<ref>[http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/may/08/ave-maria-sees-enrollment-jump/ Ave Maria sees enrollment jump]</ref>  The school has also introduced a club-level football program in addition to three varsity level sports each for men and [[Title IX|women]].

The ]]lamestream media]] have criticized the college, mostly because an entirely new [[conservative]] [[Catholic]] community is being developed around it. The [[ACLU]], for example, criticized the possibility that there may be restrictions on what is sold in the new community.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11499702/ MSNBC]</ref> In response the founder of the school, Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, denied that there would be restrictions on goods and [[cable]] shows available in the town.<ref>http://www.avemaria.com/news/default.asp?inc=NDN03032006</ref>

 

This project has generated controversy because an entirely new [[conservative]] [[Catholic]] community is being developed around the school. The [[ACLU]] has already criticized efforts to restrict what may be sold in this new town.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11499702/ MSNBC]</ref> In response the founder of the school, Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, denied that there would be restrictions on goods and [[cable]] shows available in the town.<ref>http://www.avemaria.com/news/default.asp?inc=NDN03032006</ref>

This university was founded by donations of at least $220 million from Mr. Monaghan's Ave Maria Foundation and 750 acres from Barron Collier Cos., a real estate and agricultural firm.<ref name="Foundation">[http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=18000022 Foundation]</ref>  A joint venture between Ave Maria Foundation and Barron Collier Cos. is developing 5,000 acres around the university for the public, with earnings from the Foundation's share of the development being allocated towards building an endowment for the university.<ref name="Foundation"/>

This university was founded by donations of at least $220 million from Mr. Monaghan's Ave Maria Foundation and 750 acres from Barron Collier Cos., a real estate and agricultural firm.<ref name="Foundation">[http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=18000022 Foundation]</ref>  A joint venture between Ave Maria Foundation and Barron Collier Cos. is developing 5,000 acres around the university for the public, with earnings from the Foundation's share of the development being allocated towards building an endowment for the university.<ref name="Foundation"/>