firstword
A message from the President
F
or more than 54 years, Holy Family University has served the Philadelphia region and beyond as an institution of higher learning. But the University also is a viable economic contributor and committed community partner. In the fiscal year ending in June 2008, Holy Family estimates that its economic impact on the region boosted the economy by $91.2 million based on conservative economic multipliers used by the Pennsylvania Independent College and University Resource Center. With a student population of 3,500 at academic sites in Northeast Philadelphia, Newtown, and Bensalem, and an annual operating budget of approximately $50 million, Holy Family supports area businesses through direct expenditures on goods and services, which exceeded $6 million in fiscal year 2008. In addition, through salaries paid to 307 full-time faculty and staff and 365 part-time faculty and staff, approximately $5.3 million dollars were collected and paid to federal, state, and local tax authorities, including Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties. Moreover, the $91.2 million also does not take into consideration the economic impact of Holy Family’s graduates. Many of the University’s 12,000 alumni remain in the area and contribute to the economic vitality of the region as workers, homeowners, and through community involvement. Over the last six years, the University also embarked on various capital projects exceeding $50 million. These monies all were spent with major contractors and subcontractors located within the Philadelphia region or Pennsylvania, thus providing jobs to union workers on these projects. Holy Family realizes that these difficult economic times are tough on college and university students and their families. Recessions do not affect all college students and their families equally—low- and middle-income families and students are hit harder. Consequently, Holy Family has increased its institutional and need-based student financial aid by $1 million over the prior year. This aid is from University funds and not federal, state, or local funding agencies. Although this places additional burdens on University resources, it reemphasizes Holy Family’s commitment to students and their families. Making the Case for Independent Higher Education, which was released by the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) in 2009, shows that private colleges and universities like Holy Family received only 15 percent of total Pennsylvania funds for financial aid, despite enrolling 41 percent of the state’s college and university students and conferring 49 percent of the state’s degrees to the 2008 graduating class. As you can see, the University’s impact on the regional economy is significant. It is for this reason that I ask you to encourage our lawmakers to support aid for independent colleges and universities like Holy Family. Sincerely,
Sister Franceca Onley, CSFN, PhD ’59
2
FALL 2009
University Magazine
Editor Jennifer Zamora Art Director Jay Soda Contributing Writers Carol Cool Paul Gornowski Naomi Hall Suzanne Libenson Robert Macartney Richard Rys Brett Tomlinson Kathy Warchol Marie Zecca Contributing Artist Daniel Adel Contributing Photographers Susan Beard Design Michael Branscom Naomi Hall Robert Macartney John McKeith Kathleen Migliarese Sabina Louise Pierce President S. Francesca Onley, CSFN, PhD ’59 Vice President for Institutional Advancement Margaret Kelly Director of Marketing and Communications Allen Arndt Holy Family University Magazine is published biannually by the Division of Institutional Advancement. Please address all correspondence to: Editor, Holy Family University Magazine Holy Family University 9801 Frankford Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19114 magazine@holyfamily.edu Changes of address should be sent at least 30 days prior to the publication of the issue for which it is to take effect. The opinions and views expressed in Holy Family University Magazine do not necessarily reflect the official policies of Holy Family University. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of published information. © 2009 Holy Family University
holyfamily.edu/ia/magazine