Salve Regina University pairs college education with Gilded Age glamor

Rachael Perrotta
·2 min read

Have you ever wanted to travel back in time and live like the former residents of the Newport mansions? Salve Regina University offers just that experience for its students.

Nestled atop the Cliff Walk and among the mansions, Salve Regina is Newport’s flagship university. Salve is a liberal arts, Catholic institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees to a total student population of around 3,000.

Although Salve has all of the qualities of a typical university – ranging from D-III athletics to 70 student organizations – it is unlike any other university in the country. Classes are held in buildings that used to be parts of various Newport mansions. For example, the university’s administration building is housed in the famous Ochre Court; academic halls such as Antone Academic Center and the Misto Gatehouse are renovated buildings formerly used as a carriage house and gardener’s cottage, respectively, of various Gilded Age estates.

McAuley Hall, located on the campus of Salve Regina University, houses classrooms, faculty offices and administrative space for the Office of Academic Affairs.
McAuley Hall, located on the campus of Salve Regina University, houses classrooms, faculty offices and administrative space for the Office of Academic Affairs.

Students also live in historic cottages and buildings formerly associated with the mansions. Makayla Vieira, a senior at Salve majoring in psychology and studio art, lived in Ochre Lodge as a junior, located across from the Breakers and Ochre Court. She said living and studying at Salve gave her a new perspective on Rhode Island and Newport.

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“As a Rhode Islander, I visited the Breakers many times but, as a Salve student, I began to appreciate the enchantment of its location,” Vieira said. “The environment makes you feel a part of its luxury even as an outsider looking in on my commute to classes.”

You don’t have to be a student to enjoy Salve’s beautiful landscapes, though. Walk along the Cliff Walk and get a front-row view of the school’s landmark buildings, as well as the mansions. Or, rent a scooter from Scooter World in downtown Newport and take a fun drive through the campus!

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This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Salve Regina University students take classes in Newport mansions