S t r at e g i c P l a n 2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 5
t h e U n i v e r S i t y o f S c r a n t o n
Over the past several years, The University of Scranton has carefully examined issues that are affecting today’s colleges and universities. We’ve talked about who we are and what we want to be. We’ve used the Jesuit practice of discernment – choosing between the many good things we could do to determine which we should do – to identify strategic directions for our University.
This strategic plan for 2010-2015 presents goals that will help us reach our ambitious vision. The themes of this plan – Cura Personalis, Magis and Rei Solicitudo – present an integrated approach to strategic planning that will build collaboration across our campus.
St. Ignatius Loyola long ago challenged us to go and set the world on fire. We at The University of Scranton take this challenge seriously, and intend to provide a learning experience that ignites the minds and hearts of our students.
The UnIverSITy Of ScranTOn
Strategic Plan 2010 - 2015: Go and Set the World on Fire
IntroductIon
T he University of Scranton, as a Jesuit university, while always alert to the
signs of the times, ultimately turns to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola for direction and guidance with regard to
our mission and planning. The Spiritual Exercises has as its ultimate aim the greater glory of God and the well-being of
humankind – Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam inque hominum salutem. Those two intrinsically related ends animate all that we
do as a university. all of our efforts across the full range of our endeavors are meant to give glory to God and
promote the fullness of life of all members of our community and the wider world. This is especially true of our
academic orientation and the formation of our students.
The Spiritual Exercises promote in us a profound gratitude for God’s love revealed definitively in Jesus christ. Therefore,
in the course of our planning, we want to ask how we can best respond to that love. Our answer is shaped by a
commitment to treating others, especially our students, as God treats us. This is what we mean by Cura Personalis.
In understanding this theme of our strategic plan, the experience of Ignatius Loyola during his conversion is
paradigmatic. Ignatius understood God interacting with him as a unique individual with his own inspirations
and talents, anxieties and weaknesses. This style of interaction is our ideal as we interact with our students, with
one another, and with every member of the University community. Our commitment to Cura Personalis sets
us apart even among other Jesuit universities. at Scranton we choose Cura Personalis as one of the three core
commitments of our new strategic plan.
The second core commitment is also rooted in the dynamic of the Spiritual Exercises. as with Cura Personalis,
our commitment to the Magis grows out of our response to God’s love. The Magis refers to our restless desire for
excellence grounded in gratitude. as we know from the Spiritual Exercises, God loves us so well, and we want to do well
in response. Our commitment to excellence, especially in academics and student formation, is not an end in itself. as
in all that we do as a university, it aims at promoting the greater glory of God and the well-being of humankind.
Gratitude is also the basis for the third core commitment of our new plan: Rei Solicitudo, caring for the gifts we have
been given. This commitment to stewardship guides us with regard to all the resources at our disposal both capital and
especially human. We are fortunate to be the beneficiaries of generous women and men both internal and external to
the University. Looking forward, we want to use these resources to achieve our ultimate purpose as articulated in the
Ignatian exercises: the greater glory of God and the well-being of humankind.
A messAge from University president rev. scott r. pilArz, s.J. }
2 The UnIverSITy Of ScranTOn
MIssIon: the university of scranton is a catholic
and Jesuit university animated by the spiritual vision
and the tradition of excellence characteristic of the
society of Jesus and those who share its way of
proceeding. the university is a community dedicated
to the freedom of inquiry and personal develop-
ment fundamental to the growth in wisdom and
integrity of all who share its life.
V IsIon: to be and be recognized as the finest
master’s-level, Jesuit university in the nation, the
university of scranton will be boldly driven by a
shared commitment to excellence. We will provide
a superior, transformational learning experience,
preparing students who, in the words of Jesuit founder
st. Ignatius Loyola, will “set the world on fire.”
MIssIon & VIsIon
Strategic Plan 2010 - 2015: Go and Set the World on Fire 3
MoMentuM
The University of Scranton was
founded as Saint Thomas college by
Bishop William G. O’hara, the first
Bishop of Scranton, who had always
hoped to provide an opportunity for
higher education in the Lackawanna
valley. In august of 1888, with few
resources at hand, he blessed a single
block of granite as a cornerstone for
his new college.
The college was staffed by diocesan
priests and seminarians until 1896
and then, for one year, by the Xaverian
Brothers. from 1897 until 1942
the school, which was renamed
The University of Scranton in 1938,
was administered for the Diocese
by the christian Brothers. In the late
summer of 1942, 18 Jesuits, led by
rev. coleman nevils, S.J., arrived on
campus to administer the University.
The Jesuits restructured and
strengthened Scranton’s traditional
and pre-professional programs with
an emphasis on the liberal arts, which
are the foundation for every program
at a Jesuit university.
The University has flourished under
the Jesuits, growing from a primarily
commuter school with fewer than
1,000 students to a broadly regional,
comprehensive university with a total
enrollment of more than 5,800
students in 86 undergraduate and
graduate programs. Today, Scranton
stands among the top tier of
universities recognized nationally,
with rankings in a multitude of
venues, including U.S. News & World
Report, Princeton review, Barron’s
Best Buys and the carnegie classifica-
tion for civic engagement.
BuILdIng on our foundatIon
} not long after saint thomas college was founded in 1888, classes began in the “old Main” building on Wyoming avenue.
4 The UnIverSITy Of ScranTOn
In the summer of 1942, 18 Jesuits, led by rev. coleman nevils, s.J., the newly appointed president, arrived on campus to administer the university.
commencement 2010 marked the largest graduating classes in scranton’s history, with nearly 1,620 bachelor’s and master’s degrees conferred.
“this new building is designed to encourage students and faculty from different existing departments to interact with each other in research, teaching and social settings. these interactions serve as the basis of effective intellectual collisions - interactions that lead to a deeper understanding of the diversity of thoughts and ideas from faculty and students across campus.”
– george gomez, Ph.d., associate Professor, Biology
during the unified science center’s construction, steel workers placed a purple beam with the inscription “ad Majorem dei gloriam.“ the Latin motto means “for the greater glory of god.”
Strategic Plan 2010 - 2015: Go and Set the World on Fire 5
rendering of the unified science center scheduled for completion in the fall of 2011.
6 The UnIverSITy Of ScranTOn
MoMentuM
“ the International service Program engages students in living our Jesuit and christian mission. as we continue our efforts to enact faithfully the call to be men and women for and with others, we foster a growing relationship with our international community. It is this relationship that is defining to the mission-
based service that we offer as an enriching experience for our students.”
– Elise gower, International Service Programs Coordinator
“our campus has changed dramatically over the last few years, a sprint forward in what has been a long period of significant campus development. More subtle are the transitions in curriculum and faculty. In the last five years, thanks to growth, attrition and a window-plan to assist senior faculty into their retirement, the university of scranton has hired more than 100 new faculty.”
– dr. Harold Baillie, Ph.d., Provost & Vice President for academic affairs
since 2005, students in the Panuska college of Professional studies have completed more than 78,000 hours of service learning.
since 2005, three university of scranton faculty have been awarded fulbright scholarships to study in the nations of Mauritius, germany and Kazakhstan. during that period, the university has hosted three fulbright scholars, visiting us from cameroon, Mexico and Malaysia.
alumni reunion has drawn record-breaking numbers in the past two years, with 1,235 alumni and guests returning to campus for reunion 2010 and 1,321 for reunion 2009. In total, almost 6,600 alumni and guests have attended reunion in the past five years.
for five consecutive years, scranton has been recognized among the nation’s top producers of fulbright students, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. sixteen scranton students have received the highly-competitive fulbright fellowships in the past five years.
since 2005, the university has committed nearly $5 million each year to faculty development and scholarly support initiatives, providing more than $22 million in grants, release time for research, sabbatical support, teaching enhancement and travel.
since 2005, the university has invested nearly $200 million in campus improvements. Major projects completed or under way include the denaples center, condron Hall, dionne campus green, a new unified science center scheduled for completion in the fall of 2011, and a new apartment/fitness center complex, also scheduled for completion in fall 2011.
to date, the university has received more than $116 million in donations and pledges toward its $125 million Pride, Passion, Promise capital campaign.
since 2005, the university has received more than $20 million in generous gifts to provide scholarships for our students.
scranton faculty are actively engaged in research, scholarly writings and professional presentations. scholarly activity of faculty from 2005 - 2010 includes: • Articles Published: 668• Books Published: 94• Book Articles Published: 97
• Book Chapters Published: 134
• Book Reviews Published: 204
• Creative Activity: 117• Editorship: 56• Fellowships: 8• Grants: 142• Patents & Patent applications: 33
• Peer Reviews: 340• Scholarly Presentations: 1,435
• Proceedings: 57
since 2005, almost 500 students have taken part in the faculty/student research program. More than 800 students have completed an internship over the past five years.
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•scranton students take part in service trips across the globe, including El salvador.
S t r at e g i c P l a n 2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 5
t h e u n i v e r S i t y o f S c r a n t o n
cura PErsonaLIsMagIs
rEI soLIcItudo
8 The UnIverSITy Of ScranTOn
cura PerSonaliS }
cura PerSonaliS }
Strategic Plan 2010 - 2015: Go and Set the World on Fire 9
We will be distinctive in the formation of students in the Ignatian tradition,
emphasizing discernment, excellence and service. The individual attention
we provide to students and families will be reflective of a university
community that manifests respect and mutual support in keeping with
our catholic and Jesuit identity.
cura PErsonaLIs
cura Personalis
stratEgIEs
} We will offer a world-
affirming, transformational
education in the spirit
of St. Ignatius across the
breadth of our curriculum,
rooted in personal atten-
tion, developed within the
freshman seminar, and
growing through academi-
cally rigorous programs that
will include internships and
mentoring opportunities
born of collaboration
among academic advising,
career services and alumni.
• We will challenge, empower
and engage our students
through a community-wide
commitment to offer an
unparalleled learning and
living experience across all
years of study, preparing them
to be leaders for change. Of
necessity, this will demand
new and stronger collabora-
tions between academic and
student affairs.
• We will integrate interna-
tional study, service and
research opportunities for
students, faculty and staff.
We will increase the diversity
of our campus and expand
opportunities for multicul-
tural experiences for our
community.
10 The UnIverSITy Of ScranTOn
cura Personalis
stratEgIEs
Strategic Plan 2010 - 2015: Go and Set the World on Fire 11
• We will, as a faculty, staff
and administration, respect
and care for each other,
encouraging the individual
growth and development of
all members of the University
community. In so doing,
we will model our decision-
making on the method of
discernment set forth by
St. Ignatius.
• We will make support for
mission part of our hiring
practices at all levels and
will provide faculty and staff,
especially those who are new
to our community, with
opportunities to help them
understand and appreciate
the sacred and centuries-old
work of catholic and Jesuit
education.
12 The UnIverSITy Of ScranTOn
MagiS }
MagiS }
Strategic Plan 2010 - 2015: Go and Set the World on Fire 13
Grounded in gratitude, we will commit ourselves to excellence,
especially in academics and student formation, for the greater
glory of God and the well-being of humankind.
MagIs
Magis
14 The UnIverSITy Of ScranTOn
} We will embody an
interdisciplinary and
civically engaged philoso-
phy of teaching and
scholarship that inspires
students to apply their
knowledge to the joys and
hopes, the grief and
anguish of the people of
our time, especially of those
who are poor or afflicted.
• We will ensure the vitality of
academic programs at all
levels, adding new and
innovative undergraduate and
graduate options that are in
character with our mission
and responsive to the market.
This includes the integration
of technology and sustainabil-
ity into the curriculum.
• We will establish structured
approaches and programs,
beginning in the first year,
that will engage undergradu-
ate students across all majors
to provide a more rigorous
and enriched educational
experience. This includes
greater attention to support-
ing students as they pursue
prestigious fellowships and
scholarships, and seeking
opportunities for pre-profes-
sional internships.
• We will seek out and
promote opportunities for
our faculty and students
to engage in high-quality
research and scholarship
that promises the opportunity
to improve materially the
capabilities and reputation
of our institution and lead
to increased resources.
stratEgIEs
Strategic Plan 2010 - 2015: Go and Set the World on Fire 15
• We will expand the breadth
and depth of our reputation
and recruitment, ensuring
enrollment success and
sharpening our efforts to
share the Scranton story by
focusing more keenly on
admissions, marketing and
communications, athletics,
and parent and alumni
engagement.
• We will continuously
improve our University by
assessing, reflecting and
acting in ways that are
aligned with our mission
and goals so that we can
better demonstrate the value
of a Scranton education.
16 The UnIverSITy Of ScranTOn
rei Solicitudo }
rei Solicitudo }
Strategic Plan 2010 - 2015: Go and Set the World on Fire 17
We will refine financial planning and management practices,
cultivate the talents of our people, and invest in our campus
environment in order to sustain and enhance the University
we have inherited for future generations.
rEIsoLIcItudo
18 The UnIverSITy Of ScranTOn
rei solicitudo
stratEgIEs
} We will be sensitive to
the financial pressures
facing students and families
by moderating increases
in tuition and by providing
appropriate financial aid
and scholarships.
• We will achieve our strategic
aspirations and maintain
essential operations through
integrated financial planning,
efficient and sustainable use
of resources, and opportunis-
tic approaches to generating
new revenue that are consis-
tent with our mission.
• We will build a culture
of philanthropy and grant
writing that stirs the broader
campus community to
embrace efforts to secure gifts
and grants. We will successfully
conclude the Pride, Passion,
Promise campaign and
prepare for the next campaign,
in which support for
pedagogy, research and
endowed chairs is a priority.
We will express our deep
gratitude to our many
generous benefactors.
• We will plan for and invest
in technology and facilities,
embracing principles of
environmental sustainability,
that will enhance educational
excellence and serve the
evolving needs of our
students and community.
Strategic Plan 2010 - 2015: Go and Set the World on Fire 19
• We will strive to recruit,
retain, develop and reward
talented faculty and staff,
being recognized as an
employer of choice in our
region and beyond.
• We will invest resources
to promote the well-being
of our students, staff and
faculty, developing support
services and personal growth
opportunities that will help
them meet their individual
and collective needs, and
aid them in their service
of others.
adMInIstrators’ confErEncE 2010-2011
Mrs. Paula K. Barrett ’81Mr. William J. Brady ’83Mrs. ellen h. caseyMr. christopher M. condron ’70 - ChairMr. Thomas J. Davis ’69Lisa Denaples, D.M.D.Mrs. Donna M. Dohertyrev. James Duffy, S.J., M.D. ’88Ms. Mary Beth farrell ’79Mrs. Michele finn
Mr. Matthew Geiger ’81Marie a. George, Ph.D., G’78Mr. Michael P. Glinsky ’66rev. edward Glynn, S.J.rev. Otto hentz, S.J.Joseph J. Kadow, esq. ’78Mr. eugene J. Kane, Sr. ’54Mr. James J. Knipper ’81Mr. Lawrence Lynch ’81Mr. George v. Lynett, Jr.
rev. ryan Maher, S.J.Margaret Q. Mariotti, au.D.Mr. Dennis J. McGonigle ’82Mr. James f. Mullery, Jr. ’86Mr. francis J. Pearn ’83 – Vice ChairKaren L. Pennington, Ph.D. ’76rev. Scott r. Pilarz, S.J.rev. robert e. reiser, S.J.rev. Thomas roach, S.J.Kathleen c. Santora, esq. ’80
Joseph Sebastianelli, esq. ’68Ms. Teresa M. Schafer ’81Patrick W. Shea, esq. ’78Mr. Joseph L. Sorbera, Jr.Mr. Thomas J. Sullivan
Mr. John a. Walsh’66
trustEEs EMErItIarthur J. Kania, esq. ’53hon. Joseph M. McDade
Board of trustEEs 2010-2011
Chair: Mr. Jerome P. DeSanto ’75, G’78, Vice President for Planning & CIODr. harold W. Baillie, Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Gerald Biberman, Professor, Kania School of Management Dr. vincent carilli, Vice President, Student AffairsMs. Patricia a. Day, Vice President, Human Resources Mr. James Devers ’95, Assistant Vice President for Facilities Operations rev. Terrence Devino, S.J., Vice President, University Ministries Ms. robyn Dickinson, Associate Vice President, Planning & Information ManagementDr. Joseph Dreisbach, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Mr. robert B. farrell, esq., Executive Director of Community Relations, General CounselMs. Marise Garofalo ’83, Executive Director of Development Dr. Steven Jones, Associate Provost for Civic Engagement and Academic Mission Mr. Mark Murphy, Assistant Director Utilities & Plant; Staff SenateMr. Joseph Quinn ’11, Student Senate PresidentMr. edward J. Steinmetz ’81, Vice President for Finance/TreasurerDr. robert Waldeck, Professor, College of Arts & Sciences; Faculty Senate PresidentDr. William Wallick G’95, Associate Professor, Panuska College of Professional Studies Dr. W. Jeffrey Welsh, Dean, College of Graduate and Continuing Education Ms. Kathryn yerkes G’04, Director of Planning Mr. Gerald c. Zaboski ’87, G’95, Vice President, Alumni & Public Relations
unIVErsIty PLannIng coMMIttEE 2009-2010
rev. Scott r. Pilarz, S.J., President of the University Dr. harold W. Baillie, Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. vincent carilli, Vice President, Student AffairsMs. Patricia a. Day, Vice President, Human Resources Mr. Jerome P. DeSanto ’75, G’78, Vice President for Planning & CIO Mr. robert B. farrell, esq., General Counsel Dr. Patrick Leahy, Executive Vice President Mr. Thomas Mackinnon, Executive Assistant & Chief of Staff to the President rev. richard G. Malloy, S.J., Vice President, University Ministries Mr. edward J. Steinmetz ’81, Vice President for Finance/TreasurerMr. Gerald c. Zaboski ’87, G’95, Vice President, Alumni & Public Relations