Overview and Policies
Who Are We?
Mission
La Salle is a Lasallian Catholic university committed to the principle that all knowledge is practical and empowering, filled with the capacity to transform lives. Anchored in the living tradition of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and in association with a diverse and inclusive learning community, our mission is to educate the whole person by fostering a rigorous free search for truth. La Salle, in affirming the value of both liberal arts and professional studies, prepares students for the lifelong pursuit and exploration of wisdom, knowledge, and faith that lead to engaged and fulfilling lives marked by a commitment to the common good.
All knowledge is practical
We believe that all elements of a liberal arts education are practical and empowering, and that no knowledge is merely “theoretical.” Further, we assert that “knowledge” is not limited to acquired information or skills. Pleasure, struggle, the process of self-discovery, the making and nurturing of relationships, and the ability to form and ask enduring questions all result in knowledge with many, and meaningful, applications.
Core Values Statement
Teaching and Learning
Teaching and learning are at the heart of the Lasallian educational mission. At La Salle, we are all students and teachers. Those who accept the challenge of a Lasallian education seek not only to exercise the mind, but to inculcate a love of learning, creativity, a sense of self, and an ability to discern relationships and possibilities where none are obvious. Our love of teaching and learning is manifested in opportunities for students, faculty, administrators, and staff to become reflective, discerning persons. La Salle aspires to fully awaken and ripen our intellectual, spiritual, emotional, ethical, social, and physical capacities.
Spirit of Faith and Zeal
Central to the Lasallian educational and spiritual heritage is the spirit of faith and zeal, a gospel value that animates La Salle’s mission and sustains a community that embraces all its members. Students and educators of all backgrounds and traditions are invited to participate in this dynamic spirit by fostering mutual understanding and dialogue in all aspects of La Salle’s institutional life. Striving to live the spirit of faith and zeal joins the University to a long commitment of Lasallian education to provide young people and adults with the learning to identify and develop their particular gifts and strengths that will enable them to live well and do good in life.
Service Rooted in Solidarity and Justice
Service rooted in solidarity and justice invites La Salle to embrace new ways of practicing faith-justice in society. The Lasallian educational vision renews its call for us to stand with those impoverished and marginalized, to identify inequity and exclusion created by society, and actively respond not merely with charity, but with courage, creativity, and compassion. This pursuit embodies the Lasallian vision, dispatching its practitioners to go to the roots of poverty and injustice in order to find just solutions that improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities worldwide.
Association
Association makes explicit our distinctive Lasallian educational heritage to create an atmosphere of collegiality, mutual respect, and trust within a community of students and educators. This horizontal relationship in which the “schoolmaster” becomes an “older brother or older sister” to students emerges from Lasallian spirituality, connects us to the global Lasallian community, and continuously shapes La Salle’s character and mission. Historically one of the vows of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, living out association is fundamental to provide the hope that a quality education offers to all, especially those marginalized and disadvantaged.
Link to the Lasallian Heritage: https://www.lasalle.edu/mission-diversity-inclusion/lasallian-heritage/ and History of La Salle.
History of La Salle Link: https://www.lasalle.edu/mission-diversity-inclusion/la-salle-university-history/
The Campus
At La Salle University, learning occurs both in and out of the classroom. La Salle is located in Philadelphia—the sixth-most populous city in the United States, and home to neighborhoods rich with unique historical, educational, social, and cultural opportunities. Faculty complement their classes with city-based activities and the University enjoys fruitful partnerships with industry and a variety of organizations not only in the region but globally, offering students plenty of experiential learning opportunities.
On campus, La Salle is situated on 133 acres in Northwest Philadelphia, six miles from the cultural, historic, and social attractions of Center City, with convenient access to public transit. In 2016, La Salle opened Founders’ Hall—a cutting-edge facility that delivers an unparalleled learning environment for La Salle’s School of Business, replete with leading technologies and professional development services. That same year, the University unveiled Hansen Quad, a picturesque and reimagined green space at the heart of La Salle’s sprawling urban campus. In 2019, La Salle’s Connelly Library, debuted its new Learning Commons to offer space for multi-disciplinary collaboration and innovation between University students, faculty, and staff, and community neighbors.
- Main Campus is the heart of La Salle, where numerous buildings house administrative offices, academic class space, laboratories, and the School of Arts and Sciences. You can find Connelly Library and many of La Salle’s residence halls here, too.
- West Campus is home to the School of Business and the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, as well as the Office of University Advancement.
- South Campus is where you will find the Department of Communication, several residence halls, and Treetops Café.
Nationally Recognized
La Salle University provides a holistic, outcomes-based education, making it a true value and an investment in the future of its students. Graduates become top performers and top earners in their respective fields.
The University is ranked regularly for value, return on investment, and educational quality by national agencies, organizations, and media outlets. Here are a few:
U.S. News & World Report, 2026
La Salle University ranked in the top 60% of national universities and in the top 15 of all Pennsylvania schools included on the U.S. News & World Report national list.
Social mobility: La Salle was in the top 10 institutions of Pennsylvania schools in the national rankings and in the top 40% of institutions nationally.
Additional rankings:
Niche (2027): On Niche’s 2027 Best Colleges list, the University placed third in the state and at number 44 in the country, putting it in the top 30% of Catholic colleges nationally. Niche also placed La Salle in the top 33% of all colleges nationally, and the top 25% in the state.
Washington Monthly (2026): The publication named La Salle as the top Catholic college in the City of Philadelphia and was named second best in the state in the 2026 College Guide and Rankings from Washington Monthly. Among member institutions of The National Catholic College Admission Association that appear in the Washington Monthly guide, La Salle is ranked fifth in the Northeast and in the top 12% of Catholic schools nationally. Looking across all included institutions, La Salle comes in the top 25% of both national and Northeastern schools, and in the top 15% of Pennsylvania schools.
Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (2025): La Salle was named top five in Pennsylvania for 10-year post-graduate earning incomes among private non-profit institutions by the center. It was also within the top 10% nationally for 10-year post-graduate earning incomes among private non-profit institutions.
Read more about La Salle's rankings. (https://www.lasalle.edu/about/rankings-and-distinctions/)
Accreditations and Memberships – The Mark of Excellence
La Salle University was chartered in 1863 by the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is empowered by that authority to grant academic degrees.
La Salle is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801, president@msche.org. MSCHE is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidacy status) activities for institutions of higher education, including distance education and correspondence education programs offered at those institutions, throughout the United States. USDE recognizes accrediting agencies deemed authorities on the quality of higher education. Under the Higher Education Act’s (HEA’s) federal student aid programs, accrediting agencies recognized by the United States Department of Education must meet the Department’s regulatory criteria. MSCHE is a Title IV gatekeeper and is a link to federal programs, and institutions access Title IV through MSCHE accreditation.
La Salle is also accredited by:
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market St., 12th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126
717.787.5041
La Salle University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders has received approval from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Education (PDE) for Educational Specialist, School Speech and Language Pathologist (PK-12), and Instructional, Special Education - Speech and Language Impaired (PK-12). Either certificate is needed to work in the various school systems in Pennsylvania.
In addition to the University's institutional accreditations, select academic programs maintain accreditation, approval, or recognition from the following specialized and professional organizations.
The La Salle School of Business is internationally recognized for being accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)
777 South Harbor Island Blvd., Suite 750
Tampa, FL 33602-5730
813.769.6500
La Salle University’s Didactic Program in Nutrition and Coordinated Program in Dietetics are accredited by the:
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
312.899.0040, x5400
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market St., 12th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126
717.787.5041
La Salle's Biochemistry and Chemistry bachelor degree programs are approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS)
American Chemical Society
1155 16th Street, NW,
Washington, D.C. 20036
202.872.4589
The Psy.D. Program in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association.
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002-4242
800.374.2721
La Salle's Marriage and Family Therapy Master’s program is accredited by the:
Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
112 S. Alfred Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 838-9808
La Salle’s BSN, MSN, DNP and APRN post-master’s certificate programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
655 K Street, Suite 750
Washington, D.C. 20001
202.887.6791
The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at La Salle University is accredited by the:
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard, #310
Rockville, MD 20850
800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.
La Salle’s Professional Clinical Counseling Program is accredited by the:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
500 Montgomery Street, Suite 350
Alexandria, VA 22314
The Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia and the La Salle post-BSN to DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program are accredited by the:
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
222 S. Prospect Avenue
Park Ridge, Ill
60068-4001, 847-655-1160
The undergraduate and graduate programs in Public Health are accredited by the:
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
101 Wayne Ave., Suite 220
Silver Spring, MD 20910
La Salle University’s BSW and MSW programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA).
Council on Social Work Education, Board of Accreditation
333 John Carlyle Street, Suite 400
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.683.8080
The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at La Salle University is accredited by the:
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard, #310
Rockville, MD 20850
800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.
La Salle University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders has received approval from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Education (PDE) for Educational Specialist, School Speech and Language Pathologist (PK-12), and Instructional, Special Education - Speech and Language Impaired (PK-12). Either certificate is needed to work in the various school systems in Pennsylvania.
La Salle University’s Didactic Program in Nutrition and Coordinated Program in Dietetics are accredited by the:
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
312.899.0040, x5400
The Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia and the La Salle post-BSN to DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program are accredited by the:
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
222 S. Prospect Avenue
Park Ridge, Ill
60068-4001, 847-655-1160
The BSN, MSN, DNP, and APRN Post-master’s Certificate programs at La Salle University are accredited by the:
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
655 K Street NW, Suite 750
Washington DC 20001
202-887-6791
The undergraduate and graduate programs in Public Health are accredited by the:
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
101 Wayne Ave., Suite 220
Silver Spring, MD 20910
The Wound, Ostomy, Continence Certificate Program is accredited by the:
Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Society
1120 Route 73, Suite 200
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
888-224-WOCN
La Salle's Marriage and Family Therapy Master’s program is accredited by the:
Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
112 S. Alfred Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 838-9808
La Salle’s Psy.D. Program in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the:
American Psychological Association
750 First St. NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
(800) 374-2721
La Salle’s Professional Clinical Counseling Program is accredited by the:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
500 Montgomery Street, Suite 350
Alexandria, VA 22314
Member of: Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences, American Council on Education, Association of American Colleges and Universities, National Collegiate Honors Council, College Entrance Examination Board, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, Association of College Admissions Counselors, National Catholic Educational Association, College and University Council of Pennsylvania, Association of Liberal Arts Colleges of Pennsylvania for the Advancement of Teaching, Pennsylvania Catholic Education Association, American Library Association, Urban Studies Association, National Commission on Accrediting, American Catholic Historical Society, Educational Conference of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, National Association for Foreign Student Affairs, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Association of College and University Housing Officers, and National Association of College and University Business Officers.
Undergraduate Admission
The La Salle University Undergraduate Admission Office gives careful consideration to all applicants to the University. Each applicant is treated as an individual and is therefore reviewed holistically using academic, extracurricular and standardized testing measures (if applicable). A thorough review of the applicant writing sample and letters of recommendation are also considered.
Elements of a successful application
The heart of the review for admission is the demonstrated academic preparation for the applicant’s program of study. The courses taken and grades earned are most important. At a minimum, students are expected to follow a college preparatory curriculum. The opportunity to take honors, AP, IB, and other advanced classes does enhance our view of the depth of preparation. Students interested in Nursing and other STEM programs are expected to have a strong record in math and science courses.
The personal characteristics we learn about through essays, recommendations, and the activities profile help to shape our overall understanding of each candidate’s high school career and life experiences, and fit to La Salle.
Freshman Admission
Students can apply to La Salle any time after completing their junior year of high school as long as they fulfill the following admission requirements.
Freshman Admission Requirements High School Units:
A student’s final high school record should show successful completion of at least 16 units of high school work, including the following:
- English 4 units
- Mathematics 3 units that must include at least 2 years of algebra
- Foreign Language 2 units that must be of the same language
- History 1 unit
- Natural Science 2 units
Total 12 units
The Committee on Admission will review only completed applications with all supporting materials.
La Salle University Application Review
The following is required of all applicants to La Salle University applying:
- Common Application or La Salle University Application
- An official transcript showing three years of high school scholastic records
- Your TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores (for international students)
- An academic letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, parent, or school administrator
- Personal Statement/Essay
The required Common Application or La Salle Application Essay is not graded. This essay is generally used to inform the Admissions Committee about the applicant’s interests and/or background.
La Salle reviews completed applications on a rolling basis. However, if a completed application is submitted on or before La Salle’s non-binding, Early Explorer deadline (November 1), a decision is guaranteed by early December. Applications received after the Early Explorer deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
In exceptional cases, students may be admitted after completion of the junior year, but only on the recommendation of their high school counselor and with evidence of superior academic achievement. In addition, early high school graduates are also required to complete an interview with a La Salle University Admission Counselor before a final admission decision can be made. All students who are accepted must graduate from an accredited high school with creditable grades, attendance, and disciplinary records.
La Salle University reviews each application for admission individually; there is no single, inflexible set of standards—such as GPA, test score, or years of courses to determine admission eligibility. Instead, students will be asked to choose either the Traditional Application or Test-Flexible Application as the path that best reflects the students abilities, skills, life experiences, and potential for success at La Salle.
Policies, Rights, Responsibilities
Nondiscrimination Policy
La Salle University is a diverse community dedicated in the tradition of the Christian Brothers, and is concerned for both ultimate values and for the individual values of its faculty, employees, and students. Accordingly, in support of this values-driven mission, the University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment or any student or applicant for admission based upon race, color, religion, sex, age (40 years and older), disability, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual preference or orientation, marital, parental, family, and pregnancy status, gender identity, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any prohibited basis, unless there is a bona fide occupational qualification which justifies a differentiation. This commitment applies to all aspects of the employment relationship, including hiring, promotion, compensation, discipline, discharge, and any term or condition of employment and extends to participation in all educational programs and activities of La Salle University. Employment is based upon an applicant’s ability to meet the established requirements for employment. All employment and admissions decisions will be made in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local antidiscrimination laws.
In addition, La Salle University will make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities that are known to the University. The University will also make reasonable accommodations to the religious beliefs and practices of which it is aware. The University, however, need not make any accommodation that would cause it an undue hardship.
Further, La Salle University firmly believes in providing a learning environment that is free from all forms of harassment and will not tolerate any form of impermissible harassment. Such harassment disregards individual values and impedes the Lasallian mission of providing an educational community that fosters both intellectual and spiritual development. Included in this prohibition are sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, and sexual violence, racial harassment, national origin harassment, and harassment based upon ancestry, color, religion, age, disability, citizenship, marital status, gender identity, military or veteran status, sexual preference or orientation, genetic information, or any basis prohibited under applicable non-discrimination laws.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): Rights And Privacy Act Provisions
Each year, La Salle University informs students of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (http://www.lasalle.edu/registrar/ student-records-policies/) . This act was intended to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their educational records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate data.
To fulfill basic requirements for compliance with the act, each institution must inform each student of his or her right to prevent disclosure of personally identifiable information. Although La Salle does not publish a public directory, the Office of the Registrar, at its discretion, may disclose the following “directory information”: student name, address, dates of attendance, class, major field of study, degree(s) conferred (including dates), and e-mail address.
Under the provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of directory information. To prevent disclosure, written notification must be received by the Office of the Registrar by October 1 in the fall semester and February 15 in the spring semester. The University will honor the request to withhold the directory information listed above until such time as the student provides subsequent permission to release it. Consequently, decisions about withholding any information should be made very carefully as any future requests for such information from noninstitutional persons or organizations will be refused.
La Salle University assumes that failure to request the withholding of directory information indicates approval for disclosure.
Jeanne Clery Act and The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Act 73/College and University Security Information Act
To comply with the provisions of the Jeanne Clery Act and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Act 73, the College and University Security Information Act of 1988, La Salle University’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Crime Statistics Report) can be accessed on the Department of Public Safety website. The report includes crime statistics and disciplinary referrals for the most recent three years, the University’s policies and programs designed to aid in keeping the community safe, information on emergency preparedness, and information on fire safety in residence facilities. Print copies of the document may be requested from the Department of Public Safety via email (publicsafety@lasalle.edu).
Federal Consumer Information Regulations
To comply with Federal Consumer Information Regulations, La Salle University provides specific consumer information about the school to prospective and currently enrolled students and, in some cases, employees. Please visit the Student Consumer Information website for more information.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Enrollment at La Salle University reflects a student's voluntary commitment to becoming an active member of a learning community grounded in respect, integrity, and the values of the University's Lasallian Catholic mission.
As members of this community, students share responsibility for their academic success, personal development, and contributions to the well-being of others. By registering at La Salle, students acknowledge and agree to abide by University policies and standards that support a safe, inclusive, and educationally purposeful environment. The University reserves the authority to address conduct that is inconsistent with these expectations, including through disciplinary actions when necessary.
The Student Guide to Resources, Rights, and Responsibilities is available on the University's website and serves as a resource for understanding the rights, responsibilities, and expectations of all students. Link to the guide is here: https://www.lasalle.edu/student-guide/
Administration
Board of Trustees
The membership of the Board changes annually.
Pauline Scalvino, ‘87 Chair of the Board
AmyLynn V. Flood, CPA, ‘95 Vice Chair
Daniel J. Allen, Ph.D. President of La Salle University
Jeffrey R. Boyle, ‘88, CPA
Royal Cole, ‘83
Terrance Coyne, ‘04
Leslie Davila, ‘97
Jill Evanko,‘00
Brother Timothy Froehlich, F.S.C., M.A. ‘90
Brother Daniel A. Gardner, F.S.C., ’94, M.A. ‘96
Ann Marie Becker Gross, ‘82
Rick Kash
Al Miralles, ‘91
Emma Provost, ‘20
Brother Robert Schaefer, F.S.C., ‘89
Adam H. Schechter, ’86, HON’21
Tom Southard, J.D.
Mark Turner, ‘85
Officers of The Corporation
Robert Schieler, F.S.C., Vice President
Stephen Lightcap, Ed.D., Treasurer
Tom Southard, J.D., Secretary
President
Daniel J. Allen, Ph.D.
President’s Cabinet
Lisa Jarvinen, Ph.D., Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Kristin Heasley, PHR, SHRM-CP, CPSP, Senior Vice President of University Operations
Stephen Lightcap, Ed.D., Vice President of Finance & Administration
Alisa Macksey, M.A., Vice President of Campus Life
Gregory Nayor, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of University Strategy
Jarett Gerald, Vice President of Athletics & Recreation and Director of Athletics
Graham Smialowski, Vice President of University Advancement
University Offices and Services
View the complete listing of Departments/Offices online.
Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar for the next year is usually published in the preceding Fall semester. It is accompanied by a less-detailed schema for the next five years.