Sister Peg Albert - President of Siena Heights University
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:
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Changing their enterprise system.
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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.
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Graduate programs are growing as well as the number of their off-campus sites and on-line classes.
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This is the 8th consecutive year SHU has been named a “Military-friendly” institution.
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Also recognized as a “College of Distinction” as well as a “Catholic College of Distinction”.
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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.
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SHU launched a new degree completion center at Kalamazoo Community College.
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SHU has a new dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.
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Matt Kohn is now the new permanent football head coach.
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Former head coach Jim Lyle remains at SHU and is recruiting marching band members.
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SHU has an engineering program in conjunction with North Dakota.
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SHU created the first Engendered Studies Institute as well as a Social Justice group.
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An SHU English professor wrote a new book titled “Children of the New World” – a national bestseller.
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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.
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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.
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A new women’s softball field is also in the plans.
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A Heritage Program was started at SHU to train lay staff about the rich heritage and history that the Dominican Order has always valued.
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SHU received a $300,000 federal grant to educate people about “Violence Against Women”.