Barat College - History

History

Barat College began as an academy for young women in Chicago in 1858 and moved to its Lake Forest location in 1904. In 1918, the state of Illinois chartered Barat as a four-year college, and in 1982, Barat became a coeducational institution. To qualify for federal financial programs, governance of the college passed from the Society of the Sacred Heart to an independent Board of Trustees in 1969. In February 2001, because of fiscal concerns, Barat College was purchased by DePaul University, becoming one of DePaul's seven colleges. The college was then renamed Barat College of DePaul University.

In February 2004, the DePaul University Trustee Board voted to discontinue operating Barat College despite a 14-11 vote by the DePaul Faculty Council to continue the alliance. DePaul then began to accept proposals for the future of the college, culminating in the proposal for a relationship with the American College of Education. Through its wholly owned Illinois subsidiary, they acquired a substantial portion of the educational business of Barat College, including the library materials, regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association and permits and other authorizations from governmental authorities, education agencies, or other third parties.

In 2006, the campus was sold to Barat Woods LLC, for development as condominium residences. The courtyard and part of the Old Main Building were to be preserved. However, the 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) Thabor Wing, which was added to the building in 1924 and contains the Italianate style Sacred Heart Chapel, was to be demolished. The price on the property was twenty million dollars and whether that price was met or not is unknown.

Barat College housed the academic records of Duchesne College in Omaha, Nebraska. These records along with the academic records were transferred to the Society of the Sacred Heart. Individuals who attended Duchesne College (another Sacred Heart School) can ask for their transcripts through the Society of the Sacred Heart Archives, US Province in St. Louis Missouri. The Barat Education Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) corporation, continues and advances the Barat legacy. Its website provides information of interest to Barat College alumni and friends of the foundation. A brief history of the college from 1904 to 2004 is included in the issue of Barat Magazine.

Barat College, in its heyday, employed almost 200 individuals. Barat was well known for a long period of time for its Theatre Arts and School of Dance. Ballet was a major for several years. Barat's focused changed as times changed and over 28 degrees were offered to accommodate the needs of adults in higher education. At that time, Barat became primarily a commuter college where 70% of students commuted to Barat on a daily basis back in the early 1990s. Barat College had dorms for students over the age of 24 and boasted an observatory where students could use a telescope for astronomical projects. This observatory has the bragging rights of being one of the few in a Chicago area college.

Barat College's faculty were absorbed mostly by DePaul University and many of them still teach there today. The Society of the Sacred Heart sisters who still lived on campus were displaced to communities across the country. Barat's Cemetery behind the dorms is still present at the back of the property with all of the graves remaining untouched and preserved.

In March 2008, the Barat campus was one of several locations used for filming of a horror movie entitled The Unborn.

A book is being written about the college.

The Barat College campus has been donated by an anonymous donor to Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, with the land transfer taking place on December 12, 2012.