Verhaegen Hall serves as the new home to the Graduate School and Alumni Relations offices.

“It’s a great renovation for campus as a whole,” according to Ann Prizyzycki, a senior. “Formerly a run down building, now it’s much nicer looking.”

Prizyzycki, a work-study student in the Alumni Relations office, worked in the office her freshman and sophomore years when it was still located in Dubourg Hall.

“The office is wonderful, still connected to Dubourg, but we have more space now,” Prizyzycki said. “It’s a good step for Alumni Relations since it provides a home base for the events.”

According to Catherine M. Zimmer, office manager of Verhaegen Hall, the offices moved on July 12.

While Verhaegen does not house any classes, it is home to the Graduate School Admissions and the Alumni Relations offices, according to Zimmer.

Including the Center for Teaching Excellence, Verhaegen hosts a number of programs for both faculty and graduate students.

“Graduate students use Verhaegen mainly for writing papers, like their theses,” Zimmer said. “Basically, what student education does for undergraduate students is polish writing.”

“We really like it here,” Zimmer said.

Meg Connoly of Alumni Relations said Verhaegen is a nice space and roomier than Dubourg. Connoly uses the space to contact the 93,000 active alumni.

“We utilize the conference room for board meetings,” Connoly said.

“We work with student groups because reunion and homecoming are the same week,” Connoly said. “Homecoming should be fun for both students and alumni since it includes such events as a three-kilometer run and fireworks.”

University Archivist John Waide said the building opened in 1891 when it served as the philosophy school for the Jesuits.

Fr. Verhaegen, born in Belgium in 1800, was the first Jesuit president of the University from 1829-1836, according to Waide.

Waide described Verhaegen as “a pretty remarkable fellow” who got the University going and even tried to begin a medical department. Unfortunately, the medical department did not come onto campus until a few years after he left.

Fr. Verhaegen is buried in Florissant, as is Pierre DeSmet. DeSmet, martyred for his work converting Native Americans, was actually introduced to the indigenous people by Verhaegen, Waide said.

Archives of Fr. Verhaegen will be on display in the Pius Memorial Library this week through the middle of October. The display includes writings of Verhaegen, as well as pictures of the building.

Verhaegen Hall will be rededicated Friday, Sept. 29 in a ceremony which includes a blessing by University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J.