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ST LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY

CANTON, NY · EIN 150532239 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B42 · Education · Very Large (>$50M) · stlawu.edu
revenue
$210.6M
expenses
$223.5M
net assets
$536.9M
employees
2,124
volunteers
28
program ratio
86%
mission · from form 990

THE MISSION OF ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY IS TO PROVIDE AN INSPIRING AND DEMANDING UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION IN LIBERAL ARTS TO STUDENTS SELECTED FOR THEIR SERIOUSNESS OF PURPOSE AND INTELLECTUAL PROMISE.

profile · synthesized from sources

St. Lawrence University is a private liberal arts college in Canton, NY, offering an undergraduate education grounded in the liberal arts. The university emphasizes environmental sustainability across campus operations and academics, integrating it into the curriculum through initiatives like the Center for the Environment. It serves students through experiential learning programs, research, and community engagement focused on environmental stewardship and climate neutrality.

named programs · 10 · from sources

What they call their work

Adirondack Semester
Immersive academic program where students live off-grid in a remote yurt village and use the outdoors as a classroom to deepen their relationship with nature.
Center for the Environment
Integrates environmental research, teaching, and experiential learning across disciplines, with initiatives spanning the 1,000-acre campus and a living/learning compound in Nairobi, Kenya.
Conservation Biology
Program training students to protect biodiversity by studying climate change impacts and developing ecological solutions.
Environmental Science
Science-focused program that uses data-driven techniques to address environmental and public health challenges, integrating biology, chemistry, and geology.
Environmental Studies
One of the oldest and largest environmental studies programs at liberal arts colleges, combining interdisciplinary coursework with stewardship and advocacy.
Green Bikes
Carbon-neutral bike rental program promoting sustainable transportation on campus and in the local community.
Living Lab
110-acre on-campus site used for hands-on learning, including sustainable agriculture, beekeeping, wetland observation, and sheep herding, powered by solar energy.
Nature Up North
Community-based program fostering bioregional literacy and environmental connection in the North Country, promoting conservation of local wild places.
Outdoor Leadership
Minor program offering immersive outdoor experiences and professional development to foster lifelong appreciation for the natural world.
Permaculture Garden
On-campus garden promoting sustainable food production and education in permaculture practices for students and the wider community.
activities · 15 groups

What they do

  • Higher Education Career Placement 4 activities
    • Experiential learning and real-world engagement
      Supports real-world learning experiences for 99% of students, including faculty-mentored research, alumni-connected internships, service work, and off-campus study; 93% of recent graduates completed an experiential work or learning experience.
    • Graduate school enrollment among alumni
      42% of alumni enroll in graduate degree programs within five years of graduation, with 21% earning an advanced degree in that timeframe.
    • Internship participation
      73% of students complete an internship during their time at the university, with 71% of recent graduates having completed one.
    • Post-graduation outcomes
      94% of recent graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within 7–9 months of graduation, with 96% of science-related majors continuing in employment or education within one year.
  • Higher Education Degree Programs 2 activities
    • Accelerated dual degree programs
      Offers accelerated dual degree programs in fields such as data science, sustainability, and business through university partnerships, including a pathway for students with an Outdoor Leadership minor to gain guaranteed admission to Prescott College's Master’s in Outdoor Leadership program.
    • Undergraduate liberal arts education
      Provides undergraduate education in the liberal arts for students selected based on intellectual promise and seriousness of purpose, offering 47 majors, 41 minors, and 14 pre-professional programs across more than 100 areas of study.
  • College Access and Success Support 2 activities
    • Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)
      Operates the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) to support academically and economically disadvantaged students in accessing and succeeding in college.
    • Mentoring for first-generation college students
      Provides mentoring support for first-generation college students through faculty and staff mentors to promote academic success and retention.
  • Student Housing and Residential Services 1 activity
    • Alumni guest accommodations
      Operates the Brush Alumni House, a four-suite guest accommodation for alumni, parents, and friends visiting campus.
  • Student-Led Community Service Programs 1 activity
    • Community service and volunteer engagement
      Facilitates community service participation for 82% of students through coordinated weekly service projects via Volunteer Services and offers over 20 courses annually with a community-based learning component.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Cultural programming and art collection
      Hosts public cultural programming and maintains a permanent art collection of over 7,000 items for educational and community engagement purposes.
  • Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
    • Explore Lab Makerspace operations
      Operates the Explore Lab Makerspace to foster student experimentation and problem-solving through hands-on learning, supported by flexible funding for infrastructure, equipment, materials, student employment, and ongoing operations.
  • Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
    • Intercultural engagement and inclusion programming
      Hosts, coordinates, and facilitates programming opportunities each semester to advance intercultural engagement, inclusion, and belonging on campus.
  • Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
    • Merit-based scholarship awards
      Awards scholarships totaling $80,000 to $140,000 over four years to high-achieving high school students from the North Country and Canada.
  • Study Abroad and Global Immersion Programs 1 activity
    • Off-campus study programs
      Offers more than 30 off-campus study programs across over 20 countries, with more than half of students participating at least once during enrollment.
  • Wildlife Monitoring and Field Research 1 activity
    • Student-faculty research on environmental science
      Conducts student-faculty research on campus tree population growth with emphasis on planting native North Country tree species.
  • Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
    • Student-run music venue
      Operates the Java Barn, one of the only student-run college music venues in the United States, providing performance opportunities and hands-on management experience.
  • Student and Camp Transportation Services 1 activity
    • Transportation services for students
      Charters buses for current students to and from multiple Northeast destinations during academic breaks and provides transportation assistance to and from airports, bus stations, and train depots during the academic year.
  • Youth Soccer Development Programs 1 activity
    • Youth sports development camps
      Operates summer sports camps through the Athletics department to support youth athletic development.
  • Uncategorized 5 activities
    • Environmental studies and sustainability programs
      Operates one of the oldest environmental studies programs in the United States and integrates climate advocacy and problem-solving education across the curriculum, supported by sustainable campus operations such as low-mow zones, geothermal heating, and stormwater management systems.
    • First-Year Program living-learning experience
      Operates the First-Year Program, one of the oldest living-learning programs in the United States, launched in 1987 to support student integration and academic engagement.
    • Greenhouse construction and sustainability practicum
      Students constructed an energy-efficient greenhouse in the North Country as part of a Senior Year Experience, laying 1,000 bricks and installing interior beds, metal frames, boardwalks, and preparing walls for windows and doors over successive semesters.
    • Regional economic impact
      Generated $300.6 million in economic impact on the North Country region in 2019 through institutional operations, student services, research, and construction.
    • Sustainable campus infrastructure
      Opened Johnson Hall of Science in 2007, the first LEED gold-certified building in New York State, and maintains energy-efficient infrastructure including geothermal heating, electric vehicle fleets, and trayless dining to reduce waste by 23 tons of food and 100,000 gallons of water annually.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$210.60M
Contributions & grants$27.91M13%
Program service revenue$165.18M78%
Investment income$16.81M8%
Other revenue$698K
expenses
Total expenses$223.49M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$70.02M
Grants paid out$84.49M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$700.33M
Cash$391K
Investments$451.16M
Liabilities$163.43M
Net assets$536.90M
Liquid reserves24.3 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -0.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 13
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
KATHRYN MORRIS PRESIDENT 40 $584K
FLORENCE HINES VP, ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT, DEAN OF ADM & FIN AID 40 $351K
KARL SPIECKER VP, FOR FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION 40 $342K
BRENT BREKKE MENS HEAD COACH ICE HOCKEY 40 $341K
ROBERT WELLS WOMENS HEAD COACH ICE HOCKEY 40 $321K
PAUL REDFERN VP, UNIV COMMUNICATIONS & INST STRATEGIES 40 $292K
JOHN CHRISTOPHER GENERAL COUNSEL 40 $285K
KIMBERLY HISSONG VP, UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT 40 $264K
ALISON DEL ROSSI VP, DEAN ACADEMIC AFFAIRS 40 $262K
VALERIE LEHR PROFESSOR GENDER STUDIES 40 $217K
KARL SCHONEBERG PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT 40 $215K
CASSANDRA PETERSON INTERIM EXEC DIR MAJ/PLAN GIFT 40 $179K
ROBERT HANCE ASSOCIATE VP & CHIEF FACILITIES OFFICER 40 $174K
board members · 12
  • ANDRE COUTURE — TRUSTEE
  • ANDREW CHAN — TRUSTEE
  • CAROLYN DAVIDOW PUTNEY — TRUSTEE
  • CHRISTINA ROBICHAUD — TRUSTEE
  • DANIEL BRINDISI — TRUSTEE
  • DERRICK PITTS — TRUSTEE
  • DONNA WINSTON — TRUSTEE
  • EDWARD KELLER — TRUSTEE
  • EMMA CA PHILLIPS — TRUSTEE
  • HEATHER MCCAULEY — TRUSTEE
  • JAY IRELAND — TRUSTEE
  • JENNIFER CURLEY REICHERT — BOARD CHAIR
relationships · 20

Who they work with

  • Adirondack Trailways Partner — Provides bus service to and from Canton, with a stop near campus for student travel.
  • Arbor Foundation Government — Recognized St. Lawrence University as a Tree Campus for its commitment to maintaining and growing green spaces.
  • EcoLeague Network — St. Lawrence is a member of the EcoLeague Exchange, a consortium of six colleges committed to ecologically focused education and sustainable living.
  • HULA Partner — Hosts St. Lawrence University students for SLU Connect networking events in Burlington, Vermont.
  • League of American Bicyclists Government — Recognized St. Lawrence University as a “Bicycle Friendly University.”
  • Nature Up North Partner — Community-based organization based at St. Lawrence University that fosters appreciation for the North Country environment.
  • Nature Up North Partner — Hosts the community-based organization Nature Up North on campus to promote outdoor experiential learning and environmental stewardship.
  • Nearby Colleges Partner — Collaborates with area colleges within 10 miles to connect students and host joint programs
  • New York State Education Department Partner — Partnership to operate the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)
  • No. 1 Alumni Network Network — Alumni network that supports students and recent graduates in securing internships and jobs.
  • North Country Public Radio Partner — St. Lawrence University is the license holder for North Country Public Radio, supporting public radio broadcasting in the region.
  • Prescott College Partner — Partnership establishes guaranteed admission for St. Lawrence graduates into Prescott College’s Master’s in Outdoor Leadership program.
  • REV Campus Challenge Partner — St. Lawrence University is a member of this New York State initiative advancing clean energy on campus and in the community.
  • Second Nature Network — St. Lawrence University is a signatory to Second Nature’s carbon commitment, working toward climate neutrality.
  • St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Partner — Collaborates with the University to provide visitors with access to regional lodging and dining options through shared listings of local businesses.
  • St. Lawrence University Living Lab Partner — Site for hands-on coursework and greenhouse construction, used by Environmental Studies practicum and other courses.
  • The Arbor Foundation Partner — Recognized St. Lawrence University as a Tree Campus for its commitment to maintaining and growing green spaces.
  • The Princeton Review Government — Recognized St. Lawrence University as #1 Best Private School Alumni Network and Top 20 Best School for Making an Impact in 2025.
  • The Princeton Review Network — Recognized by The Princeton Review as the #1 Best Private School Alumni Network in 2025.
  • Universalist Church Government — Founded as a Universalist seminary; historically affiliated with the Universalist Church.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Based Reciprocal Learning
    methodology: community-based_learning
    By integrating civic engagement with academic instruction and critical reflection in partnership with communities, both students and community members benefit, because reciprocal relationships ground learning in real social contexts and promote mutual growth.
  • Early and Continuous Career Integration
    methodology: early_career_integration
    By providing sustained career support from the start of enrollment through alumni networks and faculty collaboration, students achieve stronger post-graduation outcomes, because early engagement builds identity, direction, and professional fluency over time.
  • Experiential Learning with Academic Integration
    methodology: experiential_learning
    By combining classroom theory with hands-on practice—such as internships, construction projects, and community-driven fieldwork—students achieve deeper learning and career readiness, because applied experience reinforces academic concepts and builds professional confidence.
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Innovation
    methodology: interdisciplinary-collaboration
    By encouraging students to pursue multiple fields of study and collaborate across disciplines, the university fosters intellectual risk-taking and innovative solutions to real-world problems, because diverse perspectives enhance creativity and problem-solving capacity.
  • Liberal Arts as Integrated Problem-Solving
    methodology: liberal_arts_integration
    By embedding interdisciplinary problem-solving across all academic disciplines through a liberal arts framework, students develop adaptive expertise to address complex real-world challenges, because integrative thinking is strengthened when knowledge domains are connected.