Newman College (University of Melbourne)

Newman College is a Roman Catholic co-educational residential college affiliated with the University of Melbourne. During the university year it houses about 200 undergraduate students and about 90 postgraduate students and tutors. 

The college was named after Cardinal John Henry Newman, a former Anglican and major figure in the Oxford Movement who became a Roman Catholic in the 19th century.

 The college continues to commemorate the life of Newman through events such as the "Cardinal Newman Dinner" and the prominent positioning of his portrait in the dining hall.

 Although most strongly affiliated with the University of Melbourne, a small number of undergraduate students attend RMIT University, Monash University Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences located on Royal Parade or the Australian Catholic University.

The collegiate system was a response to the secular nature of the university, as each of the major Christian churches were given land to the north of the main campus to establish institutions in which to teach religion. The college motto is Luceat Lux Vestra, translating from Latin as "Let Your Light Shine".

At its opening the administration of the college was entrusted to the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) who continue its administration to the present day.

 As of 2015, the rector of the college is Father Bill Uren SJ, a former chaplain and Rector (1987–1990) of Newman. He replaced the Very Reverend Peter L'Estrange SJ, who held the position from 1991 before moving to

The college places a strong emphasis on participation in co-curricular activities, with music, sport and the dramatic arts playing a large role in life at Newman. The 2011 college production was A Chorus of Disapproval by Alan Ayckbourn.

 Inter-collegiate soirées are held many times throughout the year, showcasing the talents of the students, with the Very Reverend Peter L'Estrange SJ Prize awarded at the end of the year to the best performing artist in college.

 The Very Reverend Michael Scott SJ Prize is the annual art competition and the college is a strong participant in all inter-college sporting endeavours, especially in football, netball, softball and tennis.

Newman students also have a strong sporting culture, having won more than half of the intercollegiate football premierships ever played. In 2011 the college won the men's hockey, football and basketball inter-collegiate premierships.

Formal dinners are held at 6.30 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the academic year. Attendance is not mandatory, however all members of the college must wear an academic gown and international standard business attire

. There are ample occasions during the academic year with a black tie dress code, including the Students' Club, Valete and Commencement dinners. At formal dinners, traditional formalities are observed.

 Students enter the hall and stand in place prior to the arrival of the members of high table - the rector, members of the Senior Common Room and other invited guests - who process in, and after the bell has been sounded, grace is then said

. It is considered discourteous to leave the hall before the final grace. Formal dinner are followed by Students' Club meetings in the coffee lounge adjacent to the dining room.