Mark Murray introduced today’s speaker, Sister Peg – President of Siena Height University, who began her presentation by saying how humbled she was by his introduction of her and the fact that was speaking before a group that does so much in this community.

Sister Peg has headed SHU for ten and a half years. Here is a list of things she shared with us:

  • Changing their enterprise system.

  • Enrollment is very strong. 2,600 total students of which 1,060 are traditional undergraduate. When Sister Peg arrived 10 and a half years ago enrollment was 640.

  • Graduate programs are growing as well as the number of their off-campus sites and on-line classes.

  • This is the 8th consecutive year SHU has been named a “Military-friendly” institution.

  • Also recognized as a “College of Distinction” as well as a “Catholic College of Distinction”.

  • Their on-line programs are rated second nationally among all other institutions their size and 5th in the nation among all private colleges and universities.

  • SHU launched a new degree completion center at Kalamazoo Community College.

  • SHU has a new dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

  • Matt Kohn is now the new permanent football head coach.

  • Former head coach Jim Lyle remains at SHU and is recruiting marching band members.

  • SHU has an engineering program in conjunction with North Dakota.

  • SHU created the first Engendered Studies Institute as well as a Social Justice group.

  • An SHU English professor wrote a new book titled “Children of the New World” – a national bestseller.

  • SHU will be building a new 300-seat Teaching Theater – a $11.3 million project along with the conversion of their current theater into a music hall with an addition for their marching band.

  • The Academy was turned over to SHU by the Dominicans and will be renovated in 3 phases (by floor). Each of the 3 floors will cost $1.6 million to renovate and will allow the university additional academic teaching space.

  • A new women’s softball field is also in the plans.

  • A Heritage Program was started at SHU to train lay staff about the rich heritage and history that the Dominican Order has always valued.

  • SHU received a $300,000 federal grant to educate people about “Violence Against Women”.