Pultz echoed those sentiments. “Being founded by the diocese and being a school that has had such a close connection to the education of our Catholic students in San Diego, we wanted to look at how we could better support these students,” Pultz said. “The college admissions process can be a very complicated one. Students are faced with many choices and different opportunities. We wanted to make a very clear statement that USD can be a great option for students in our local parishes and local diocese.” The Torero Promise not only provides a clear path to admission to USD for students, but it also adds to the university’s other work with the diocese. “There are more than six collaborative initiatives between the School of Leadership and Education Sciences and the diocese,” says SOLES Dean Nicholas Ladany. “One example is our Academy of Catholic Teaching, which aims to provide Catholic schools with highly qualified teachers.” Pultz points out that the ultimate goal is to really work together toward a common purpose. “We’re trying to forge closer relationships by matching up the needs of the schools with the expertise and opportunities of the university.” In the end, it’s all interconnected. “The Torero Promise helps us fulfill the role we have as an anchor institution,” Pultz says. “It supports our Catholic identity, and we know that these students bring so much to the university in terms of their commitment to service, their strong academic abilities, and their desire to make a difference and become Changemakers. For all of these reasons, we’re really excited about the students who will benefit, and believe that we’ll see more students stay here in San Diego and choose to enroll at USD.” Go to sandiego.edu/promise.
ZACHARY BARRON
idea created by Stephen Pultz, assistant vice president for enrollment. The program will give students attending one of five Catholic high schools within the Diocese of San Diego, which include the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, St. Augustine, Mater Dei, Cathedral Catholic and Vincent Memorial, a “clear and direct pathway” to continue their Catholic education at USD. “It’s really a guaranteed admissions program,” explained Pultz. “It’s an opportunity for high school students — who, at the end of their junior year, have at least a 3.7 weighted gradepoint average and have taken a solid comprehensive college prep program and challenged themselves appropriately — to be guaranteed admission to USD by filling out an application during their senior year.” The Torero Promise is effective for incoming Fall 2017 USD students, but the most noticeable measurement will be among current high schoolers. On Feb. 14, USD hosted an event celebrating the Torero Promise and other initiatives that form the latest aspects of the university’s collaboration with the diocese. President Harris, Bishop Robert McElroy, and USD’s Dean of the School of Leadership and Educational Sciences Dr. Nicholas Ladany spoke about the initiatives. In his remarks, Bishop McElroy praised the ongoing relationship between the diocese and the university. “For all that this Torero Promise symbolizes of the linkage — the bond of love and affection, of faith and fidelity — between this university and the Diocese of San Diego, I thank you,” he said. “And I thank you for adding this powerful voice in answer to the question of national debate, ‘What makes a Catholic university?’ When I look at all that has been accomplished and undertaken by the university, I say this does.”
[President for a Day] OLIVIA GONZALEZ ‘17 switched places with USD President James Harris on May 9. “It’s been a whirlwind,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve gotten a taste of the many different things Dr. Harris does.” Among the highlights of her day were touring City Hall and meeting San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer (pictured), and talking with a cross-section of the community at a Fireside Chat on campus. For Harris, the day started early. He joined the track team’s 6:00 a.m. workout, spent time with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and attended Honors Program student presentations. His favorite part of the day was “watching Olivia shine in her role as president. She was just glowing from the experience. People who met Olivia came away knowing that if she’s an example of a USD student, then we’re in a very good position.” Find our more at sandiego.edu/2017PresDay. SUM M ER 2 0 1 7
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