Bethlehem University

Bethlehem University had its beginnings in 1972 when the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Pio Laghi, formed a committee of heads of schools in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to study the possibility of establishing an institution of higher learning which would offer a broad education in arts and sciences. Subsequently, on October1, 1973, Bethlehem University was founded with the administrative cooperation of the De La Salle Brothers (FSC). The University opened in buildings on Freres Street with 17, 000 square meters of surrounding property leased from the De La Salle Brothers. For more than a century the Brothers have conducted schools in this area and in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. In the United States, the Brothers administer seven colleges and universities that have extensive undergraduate and graduate programs. Beginning with 112 students during its first year, enrollment of the University increased steadily reaching 1,000 in the Fall of 1981 and 1,500 by 1987. The entire University was first housed in a 1893 school building on the site belonging to the Brothers. Facilities were later added to meet the needs of the growing student body. During the late 1970s a Science Building and a Library were added.