Looking to the Future with Villanova's Strategic Plan

Veritas, Unitas and
Caritas and an
Interdisciplinary
Approach
The Augustinian principles of veritas,
unitas and caritas—truth,
unity and love—will continue to serve
as the intellectual and spiritual guideposts
of the University’s academic
program and are central to this new
Strategic Plan.
Building on its reputation for an
interdisciplinary approach, Villanova
plans to incorporate shared, integrated
educational priorities across
colleges, programs, departments and
disciplines.
The Plan includes implementing a
shared undergraduate core curriculum
to enhance Villanova’s already
strong moral and ethical learning
foundation—featuring courses specified
by each college to continue to
ensure student competencies in quantitative
and scientific literacy, effective
communication and writing skills.
Interdisciplinary initiatives include
the College of Engineering’s partnering
with the Villanova School of Business
to create a distinctive Engineering
Entrepreneurship program
focused around a new Engineering
Entrepreneurship minor. Also planned
is a new business minor/certificate
program, open to all University students,
consisting of an integrated
introduction to business concepts
and practices.
In keeping with “caritas” and concern
for the common good, Villanova
has submitted a formal Climate
Action Plan as part of its commitment
to the American College & University
Presidents’ Climate Commitment.
The plan involves actions from
the entire campus community—including
academic components across
all disciplines—in an effort to achieve
carbon neutrality. In addition, it is
planned that the College of Engineering
will partner with faculty in the
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
and the Office of Mission and Ministry
to develop a new Ethics across the
Curriculum program.
Catholic tradition, educate the whole
person through value-driven learning and
a commitment to service.
One of Villanova’s strongest attributes
is its reputation for providing unsurpassed
levels of personal attention to its students.
Faculty will remain committed to outstanding
teaching and increasingly important
research as Villanova enhances
its stature as a premier national university
and a preeminent Catholic university
that prepares its graduates for today’s
global environment.
Academic excellence
Villanova’s greatest priority is academic
excellence. The University’s goal is to
develop leaders who, instilled with a
strong foundation of ethics and Augustinian
thought, make a positive impact
on society.
One quality that makes Villanova
stand out is the wealth of opportunities for
undergraduates to engage in high-level
research with professors. The University is
recognized nationally for its commitment
to undergraduate teaching, and undergraduate
students have accompanied professors
on research trips all over the world.
Much of this research is funded through
grants from prestigious organizations—
such as the National Science Foundation—which
recognize the achievements
of Villanova faculty members and the
potential of their research.
For example, as a junior, Alexandra
Bausch ’09 A&S accompanied Villanova
chemistry professor Amanda Grannas,
Ph.D., on a trip to Alaska for research on
organic pollutants in the Arctic. Bausch
was awarded a 2008 Barry M. Goldwater
Scholarship for Excellence in the sciences
and a 2009 Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Grant. Another undergraduate,
Christopher Meehan ’09 A&S, ’09 G.S.,
co-discovered a new species of spider
while on a research trip with Villanova
professor Robert Curry, Ph.D.
Likewise, in the College of Engineering’s
Laboratory for Advanced Thermal
and Fluid Systems, students of all levels—
undergraduates through Ph.D. candidates—are
involved in research that
attracts national attention and support.
Villanova will strengthen its undergraduate
programs with a new Liberal Arts
and Sciences core curriculum and curricu-
lar innovations in all the colleges, building
on distinctive programs and centers of
excellence throughout the colleges.
The plan includes advancing faculty
research and curricular innovation that
promotes active student learning, the integration
of theory and practice, global and
multicultural perspectives and the development
of creative problem-solving and
leadership skills.
The University will also continue to
pursue excellence in graduate and professional
education and in faculty scholarship,
investing in programs that have a
positive impact on society in addition to
enhancing Villanova’s national reputation.
For example, Villanova recently
became one of only two universities in the
nation to offer a Master of Science degree
in sustainable engineering.
Attracting top students
Building on its already outstanding academic
reputation requires offering students
a diverse intellectual climate. Achieving
this means enrolling an ever-increasing
number of high-achieving students. The
Strategic Plan has outlined a strategy to
increase enrollment of this type of student
by personalizing recruitment efforts,
improving financial aid and placing an
increased focus on diversity.
Villanova starts at a position of
strength, because the academic quality
and diversity of matriculated Villanova
students has steadily increased. Efforts to
increase both geographic and multicultural
diversity are also producing
impressive results.
For the Class of 2013—which entered
the University in fall 2009—the average
high school G.P.A. is 3.82 and average
SAT score just shy of 1300. Students come
from 43 states, along with 50 international
students who hail from 35 countries.
Incoming classes continue to grow
more multiculturally diverse. More than
30,000 prospective students and parents
tour Villanova’s campus each year. “The
number of top-quality applicants continues
to grow, and they are increasingly
diverse in terms of geography and multicultural
background and represent a broad
range of socioeconomic experiences,”
notes Stephen Merritt, Villanova’s dean of
Enrollment Management.
4 Villanova Magazine