Marymount College Gets New Name

Marymount College announced on Friday that it has renamed itself 45 years after its founding on the Palos Verdes peninsula.

Now known as Marymount California University, or MCU for short, Marymount said it hopes the new name will represent its ongoing transition to a four year undergraduate college with the addition of graduate programs.

“The consideration of a name change came as a natural part of a college-
wide inquiry in 2012 that included reviews of academic programs, mission, governance and marketing,” Marymount President Michael Brophy said in a release.

According to the school, officials wanted to keep Marymount in the name while adding "California" in order to "embrace its multiple communities along the Pacific Rim." Changing its name to a university rather than college also signifies the school's increased program offerings, the university said.

When it was founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary in 1968, the college only offered two-year programs. 45 years later, Marymount now offers four-year programs and is in the process of adding graduate programs in 2013, the school said.

According to school officials, Marymount's enrollment has doubled over the past three years as the school has also embarked on a $15 million project to improve facilities and construct new buildings.