Columba founded the monastery in 563 AD. The Congregation of Christian Brothers was itself founded in 1802 by Edmund Ignatius Rice in Waterford, Ireland. Previous to opening in New York, the brothers taught at Saint Mary's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They had been brought in from Bonaventure College in Saint John's, Newfoundland. They operated the Halifax institution until 1940 when they were given a tearful sendoff after a run-in with the new archbishop, John T McNally. In fall 1941, Iona College began its academic year with 121 freshmen and sophomores, but America's entry into World War II caused Iona's small enrollment to decline by the year's end. Only three members of the entering class went on to receive BA degrees in August 1944. Despite this, the life of the College survived. When World War II concluded, returning veterans, helped by the GI Bill and attracted by Iona's practical majors, soon stretched the College to capacity. In 1948, 71 men graduated; by 1950, the number was up to 300. In June 1966, Iona College issued diplomas to its first graduate students – which included two clergymen who earned their master's in pastoral counseling. By 1968, the College conferred its first MBA degrees. In 1969, Iona College, which was traditionally male, welcomed its first freshmen class that included women, officially making the College fully co-educational. Approximately 200 women, one-quarter of the freshmen class, registered that semester. Prior to this point, female students had been part of campus in graduate programs, summer classes and cross-registration agreements with neighboring traditionally female institutions. In 1989, Elizabeth Seton College of Yonkers, New York, a two-year junior college, merged with Iona College, becoming the Elizabeth Seton School of associate degree Studies within the College. The program existed until 1995, when Iona College reevaluated and reaffirmed its mission to be a four-year institution, and the Seton School of associate degree Studies was closed. In 2011, Iona College stated that it had reported inflated figures from 2002–2011 about "acceptance rates, SAT scores, graduation rates, and alumni who give annually" in a bid to influence college rankings. Afterward, an internal audit office was established to ensure data integrity. On September 19, 2015, the College celebrated its 75th anniversary. Starting in spring 2015, Iona College embarked on a year's worth of celebration in honor of the anniversary. The observance of this occasion extended into spring 2016, in commemoration of the College's first year, 1940-1941.