ALUMNINEWS
College in a weekend format for the past two decades. St. Bonaventure president, Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., said the grant will enable the schools to make progress in their analysis of the strategic alliance alternatives. “Through the generosity of the Oishei Foundation, we now have the resources necessary to hire a project coordinator with experience in this kind of a process. It will keep us on track and position us for the best possible outcomes.”
Hilbert College president, Dr. Cynthia Zane, said the hard work is before them. “We’ve spent the past few months sharing documentation and information with each other to determine whether there are any ‘deal breakers’ to prevent us from moving forward. With that behind us, working through the nitty-gritty of what a closer alliance might look like will require significant dedicated time, creativity, and persistence.” The boards of trustees for both
colleges held their regular December board meetings and both voted to continue with a second phase of feasibility study, while also creating opportunities for the boards to interact directly with each other. The schools’ ad hoc strategic alliance board committees and administrative teams will continue to investigate initiatives designed to improve student success and learning outcomes, realize synergies, address cost increases, and foster growth with the goal of presenting additional information to the Boards for consideration at their respective March 2014 meetings.
Behind the Feasibility Study Students Need and Deserve Expanded Opportunities. The reason for this feasibility study starts – and ends – with students, who deserve the very best higher education experience we can provide, and access to the great minds and energy in both institutions. Feasibility Study Will Examine Whether a Closer Alliance Will Benefit Both Institutions. At this point, St. Bonaventure and Hilbert College are exploring ways we might build on a 20-year successful partnership. We are looking at whether both schools will benefit from closer alliances and achieving greater synergies, and do so with open minds.
complementary culture. This relationship has blessed our students with extraordinary learning opportunities they never would have experienced otherwise. Some Things Need Changing, Some Don’t. As we move forward and consider options, we will keep in mind the importance of the college years for our students, and the need to preserve the heritage, culture, and closeknit Franciscan communities that make us unique.
Visit http://www.hilbert.edu/announcement to watch a video message from Presidents Carney and Zane
Higher Education Requires New Thinking, Approaches. Higher education has to do more to create synergies between institutions to drive program and curriculum innovation, attract top students and faculty, keep rising costs in check, and offer life-changing educational opportunities. A Proven Partnership That Works. The 20-year St. Bonaventure-Hilbert partnership has been a successful one, guided by our common Catholic and Franciscan heritage. We’ve expanded over the years to include sharing of facilities, curriculum development and a
HC Magazine | 2014
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