PRESIDENT'SLETTER
“However beautiful the strategy, you should
occasionally look at
the
results.”
In the words of Winston Churchill, “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results”. This edition of the Hilbert Magazine examines results of two important “strategies” the campus community has implemented in the last four years. Dr. Ron Eskew, Hilbert’s Director of Institutional Research and Professor of Psychology, has authored an article entitled “Assessing the Blueprint”, the third in a series which have described the framework of initiatives for engaging students in a coherent pathway to academic success and personal development. The transformation of the curriculum, student support services, and the advising model has been challenging and required creative thinking and an intense focus on the part of faculty and staff. Dr. Eskew’s article affirms we are trending in the right direction. Retention and graduation rates have increased. Our scores on the NSSE and other assessment measures demonstrate improvement. How exciting to see our students thriving! A second article, Taking their Careers to a New Level, describes the journey of two students in Hilbert’s graduate programs initiated in fall 2011. It was a major risk for Hilbert to launch graduate programs at a time when the higher education environment is in such a state of flux. However, it is with a great sense of pride that we see the impact the program has had on the lives of the graduates and those they serve in the community. With respect to the conversation Hilbert is engaged in with St. Bonaventure University, the trustees have established a joint steering committee to examine a potential board governance model. The Academic Task Force co-chaired by Dr. Christopher Holoman and Dr. Michael Fischer, Provost of St. Bonaventure University, is in the final stage of preparing their report for the Boards and the Finance Task Force will likely share their results at the September Board meetings. We are grateful to the Oishei and Western New York Foundations for approving our funding requests to explore this potential strategic alliance. Obviously this undertaking is complicated, but we remain confident that bold change will be essential if we are to be well positioned for future sustainability. We always enjoy this time of year when we celebrate our 2014 Commencement and the completion of more than 280 Hilbert students with great joy. We are confident that these new alumni will make a difference wherever their journey takes them next. We also want to express our deep thanks to you, our Hilbert supporters, who through your generous donation of time and treasure make it possible for us to carry out our Catholic Franciscan mission. Best wishes for an enjoyable summer. Sincerely,
HILBERT COLLEGE MAGAZINE
A publication for alumni, family, and friends of Hilbert College
FOUNDED 1957 5200 South Park Avenue Hamburg, NY 14075 Phone: 716.649.7900 Fax: 716.558.6381 alumni@hilbert.edu
ON THE WEB: hilbert.edu/alumni/hilbertmagazine
Matt Heidt PUBLISHER/EDITOR Patrick Broadwater Dr. Joan Crouse Dr. Ron Eskew CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ian Gattie CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Gregg Fort VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Louis Noce DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Stephanie King ALUMNI RELATIONS & SPECIAL EVENTS Tori Felser ANNUAL & SPECIAL GIVING COORDINATOR Audry Weronski ADVANCEMENT SERVICES COORDINATOR
Cynthia A. Zane, Ed.D. President
2
spring
ON THE COVER
Dr. Joan Crouse, Professor of History, visiting Vietnam with veterans of the American war in Vietnam.