Founding Date

Nov 21st, 1987

The university was founded at the height of the Gold Rush in 1851 in the small agricultural town of Santa Clara. Less than a year after California was granted statehood, Santa Clara College, forerunner of Santa Clara University, was the first to open its doors to students and thus is considered the state’s oldest operating institution of higher education. A charter was eventually granted on April 28, 1855. Santa Clara bears the distinction of awarding California’s first bachelor's degree, bestowed upon Thomas I. Bergin in 1857, as well as its first graduate degree granted two years later. In 1912 Santa Clara College became the University of Santa Clara, with the addition of the School of Engineering and School of Law. Women were first admitted in 1961 to what had been an all-men's university. This step made Santa Clara University the first Catholic university in California to admit both men and women. In 1985, in part to avoid confusion with the University of Southern California (USC), the University of Santa Clara, as it had been known since 1912, changed its name to Santa Clara University. In the fall of 1986, Katie Kennedy, Elizabeth Kilcoyne, Heather Jaurgui, Margaret Dougherty, and Alexandra Garrett discussed bringing a new sorority to Santa Clara. They women later chose Delta Gamma for its high ideals, service, and friendship. The group petitioned the Fraternity for a charter, which was received by Delta Gamma on October 26, 1986. After approval from Dean Charles Erekson, Delta Gamma began colonization at SCU on April 6, 1987. By April 9, 1987, fifty young women accepted bids to pledge Delta Gamma, thus beginning the colony of Zeta Epsilon. On November 21, 1987, Zeta Epsilon chapter was installed and the Alpha pledge class was initiated. Initiation was held at the Santa Clara University Faculty Club, and a reception followed at the Santa Clara Marriott. Dr. Karla Mugler presented the Zeta Epsilon charter to Katie Kennedy, chapter president. In the fall of 1988, the House Corporation Board located a house for Zeta Epsilon, where the chapter stayed until fall 1991 when they moved to their current house at 930 Bellomy.