the search for a president lourdes university ... - Lourdes College

THE SEARCH FOR A PRESIDENTLOURDES UNIVERSITYSYLVANIA, OHIOAbout LourdesThe ProgramsFaculty & StaffStudentsAgenda for PresidentProcess of CandidacySponsored by the Sisters of St. Francisof Sylvania, OhioLourdes University I 1

The Board of Trustees and the Presidential Search Committee invitenominations for and expressions of interest in the position of theninth president of Lourdes University. This is an exciting opportunity tolead an institution on a remarkable trajectory. Lourdes University’s statureis at its highest level ever in its history. Celebrating robust enrollmentnumbers, strong resource stewardship, a progressive approach to curriculardevelopment, a landmark transition from a commuter to a residentialcampus, the successful launch of an intercollegiate athletics program, andgreat stability in its senior leadership team, Lourdes’ next president willbenefit from tangible institutional momentum.THE UNIVERSITY’S MISSION STATEMENTLourdes University, rooted in Catholic and Franciscan traditions, providesa values-centered education that enriches lives and advances academicexcellence through the integration of the liberal arts and professionalstudies.In support of this mission, Lourdes University:• Nurtures a diverse community that supports students in fulfillingtheir potential;• Commits to the engagement of faith and reason, inspired by itsCatholic and Franciscan intellectual traditions;• Provides a holistic, student-centered education, rooted in the liberalarts, that prepares individuals for meaningful careers and lifelonglearning; and• Fosters personal integrity, ethical understanding, social responsibility,care for all of creation, and a commitment to community service.By all accounts, Lourdes is a community of teachers, scholars and learnerswho “live the mission.”about lourdes universityLocationThe University is located in Sylvania, Ohio, a charming small city witha population of around 20,000 in the northwestern part of the state.Designated a “Tree City U.S.A.” town, Sylvania is noted for its gorgeousgreen spaces and active community. Lourdes is viewed as a collaborativeneighbor and partner in the region. Near the well-traveled I-75 corridor,Lourdes’ home is ideally situated just minutes from Toledo and withinan easy driving distance of Ann Arbor, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, andColumbus. Students, faculty and staff enjoy the charm and safety of asmall college town along with the benefits of the cultural and recreationalofferings of nearby Toledo.Lourdes University I 2

HistorySponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio (Sistersof St. Francis), Lourdes acknowledges, preserves and honors itsreligious heritage. Lourdes has always been a place of welcomeand opportunity and has evolved in remarkable ways in itsbrief history. Originally established to educate Sisters of theFranciscan community, the institution traces its roots backto 1943 when it was founded as an extension campus of theCollege of St. Theresa (located in Winona, Minnesota). LourdesJunior College was established in 1958. It began to admit laywomen in 1969 and lay men in 1975, who were primarily adultlearners with families and full-time careers. The institution wasindependently incorporated as Lourdes College in 1973, withstrong evening enrollments catering to non-traditional students.Over the last decade, Lourdes has opened its doors to the moretraditionally-aged college student, creating on-campus housingand a dining hall as well as co-curricular programming tosupport the evolving living and learning community. Reflectiveof its growth in enrollment and the breadth and diversity of itsacademic offerings, including graduate programs, the institutiontransitioned to its current name of Lourdes University inAugust 2011. Lourdes’ spirit of innovation endures and is a keyattraction for the presidential leadership opportunity.The CampusNestled in lovely Sylvania, Ohio, Lourdes’ campus of strikingbeauty lays claim to 113 peaceful wooded acres and wellmaintainedgrounds. The University’s buildings are in theCalifornia mission-style architecture, reflecting the institution’srich history and heritage. The muted, soft shades of brownand terra cotta complement the natural beauty of the area.Great care has been taken to ensure that new construction andrenovation is consistent with the existing look and feel of thecampus.Lourdes University I 3

Exciting campus construction includes a recently completed38,000-square foot, $9 million academic and office structure.This space is home to seven technology-enabled classrooms, arecording studio, faculty and student support services’ offices, astudent center, and student activity space. A new 9,500-squarefoot, $4 million dining hall offers seating for 175, “grab &go” station, lounge, and an outdoor patio. Plans are underwayfor an $11 million recreational complex with groundbreakingslated for as early as 2013. Renovation to recently purchasedapartment units is ongoing in an effort to meet rising demandfor on-campus housing.Four learning centers were recently dedicated on campusincluding the Flasck Nursing Center, Appold Planetarium,Koester Greenhouse, and the Center for Professional Studies.Mother Adelaide, a beloved figure in Lourdes’ early history, iscredited with sharing with the institution a remarkable array ofmosaics, tapestries, prints and sculptures. These stunning piecesof art, including authentic enameled terra cotta works by Lucadella Robbia, grace several of Lourdes’ interiors. Lourdes’ airyand bright library with a hand-stenciled vaulted ceiling andthe breathtaking chapel with richly stained glass windows areamong the buildings to house these works. Mother Adelaidewished for those utilizing the buildings to be surrounded by artand to have their spirits lifted through its presence. This themeis carried throughout campus. Beautifully crafted religiouslythemed murals and mosaics of significant size adorn theexteriors of many of Lourdes’ major buildings.The University is part of the Sylvania Franciscan Village, sharingspace and a common sense of purpose with the home to theSisters of St. Francis as well as Sylvania Franciscan Health.The proximity of the Sisters’ residence and the health center tocampus makes for exciting synergies and opportunities forintergenerational experiences.For more information on Lourdes and its surrounding region,please visit these Web sites:Lourdes University: www.lourdes.eduCity of Sylvania: www.cityofsylvania.comCity of Toledo: www.toledo.comThird-Party Accolades- The Princeton Review has named Lourdes Universitya “Best College in the Midwestern Region” for nineconsecutive years.- The Chronicle of Higher Education has once againnamed Lourdes a “Best Place to Work For®.” (2009, 2012)- GI Jobs Magazine has named Lourdes a “MilitaryFriendly School” for four consecutive years.Lourdes University I 4

The ProgramsFrom its beginnings to its current-day identity as a complexuniversity that includes the liberal arts, professional and preprofessionalprograms, adult higher education and graduatedegrees, Lourdes has long sought to provide liberal arts studentswith a practical understanding of life and vocation, just as it hasinstilled in students pursuing professional degrees the ethicalapproach and service orientation needed to pursue learningbeyond the scope of their fields. Lourdes seeks to developgraduates who are thoughtful, critical and imaginative problemsolvers as well as life-long learners.The modern Lourdes consists of five academic units. The Collegeof Arts & Sciences, College of Business & Leadership, Collegeof Education & Human Services, College of Nursing, and theGraduate School offer 30 bachelor and master degree programs.Degrees offeredUndergraduateAssociate in Arts (AA)Bachelor of Arts (BA)Bachelor of Science (BS)Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)GraduateMA in Liberal StudiesMA in TheologyMBAMEdMOLMSNRN to MSNAn outwardly focused institution looking to capitalize onits enviable centralized location, Lourdes has developedcollaborative partnerships with area institutions. Includedamong them are The University of Findlay, Tiffin University,the University of Detroit Mercy, The University of Toledo andOwens Community College. The partnerships allow studentsto transfer easily previous course credit into a Lourdes fouryearacademic program or to grant Lourdes’ own graduates theopportunity to extend their education in a variety of graduateschool programs. Articulation agreements are also in placewith several other community colleges in northwest Ohio andsoutheast Michigan.Lourdes educates its students through small classes, innovativepedagogy and demanding coursework. Its unique trajectoryis indicative of an institution that is nimble and responsiveto evolving enrollment trends as well as regional needs, yetsteadfast in its commitment to offering a fine education in avalues-centered environment. The University operates on asemester schedule, with a newly-instituted J session enablingstudents to focus intensely on a concentrated, three-credit-hourcourse in early January.Lourdes’ curriculum reflects the University’s Franciscan valuesand related service orientation through coursework in fieldssuch as nursing, education, social work, criminal justice, andhealth care administration. Service learning opportunities arewoven throughout every major, as are internship opportunitiesat service-oriented organizations. Indeed, service learning hasbeen part of Lourdes’ academic programs since the late nineties.An Office of Service Learning exists to foster the developmentof new projects and to continue alliances with communityinstitutions. The number of courses offering a service learningcomponent continues to increase each year, and these coursesSince 2003, Lourdes has added three undergraduate andfive graduate programs---including the only nurse anesthesiaprogram in northwest Ohio.encompass a variety of academic disciplines, includingsociology, biology, nursing, business, and theological studies.Lourdes is a member of Ohio Campus Compact, an alliancewhich supports student and institutional involvement in serviceand civic engagement.Lourdes University I 5

poster sessions and presentations. A highlight of the springsemester, the Symposium is a valuable capstone experiencefor many.The University’s close proximity to downtown Toledo ensuresthat classroom learning is complemented by real worldexperience. ProMedica, Owens Corning, Mercy HealthPartners, the City of Toledo, First Solar, Dana Corporation,Merrill Lynch, Northwestern Mutual, and the United Wayare just a few of the many companies and organizations thatroutinely hire Lourdes students for internships or full-timeemployment post graduation. A career services office worksindividually with students to identify possible placements.Seeking to imbue its students with an interest in the widerworld, the University offers a global approach to education aswell as a variety of study abroad opportunities. An increasingnumber of students are participating in internationalexperiences of some kind. Partner organizations, The AmericanInstitute for Foreign Study and the University Studies AbroadConsortium, offer Lourdes students year-long, semester-longand summer study options. The recent establishment of TheIreland Program marks a milestone for Lourdes. For the firsttime in the institution’s history, study abroad programs are nowbeing created on campus to enhance undergraduate academicprograms through immersion experiences.A recently instituted First-Year Experience has won praisefrom students, faculty and staff alike. It was designed toequip traditionally-aged students with the skills and resourcesnecessary to succeed in the college environment. A commonsummer reading experience is the program’s lead-off exercise.The subsequent semester-long program enables students toconnect with the institution, improve academic performanceand increase satisfaction with the Lourdes community.Lourdes’ annual Research Symposium highlights the importanceof student research activities. Graduate and undergraduatestudents share their work with the academic community viaThe University is accredited by the Higher LearningCommission of the North Central Association of Colleges andSchools, the International Assembly for Collegiate BusinessEducation (IACBE), the Ohio Board of Regents, the OhioDepartment of Education, the Commission on CollegiateNursing Education, the Council on Social Work Education,the Ohio Board of Nursing, and the Teacher EducationAccreditation Council (TEAC). Lourdes received significantaccolades in its most recent reaccreditation process, and itsefforts were touted at the regional and national levels. It is slatedto begin its next self-study in 2016.An Engaged Faculty and StaffLourdes students are taught and mentored by 78 talented fulltimefaculty members. Fifty-four percent of faculty are female,and 46 percent are male. The diverse faculty members hailfrom 30 states and nine countries. A host of talented part-timefaculty, many of whom are practitioners in their fields, adds arich diversity of perspectives and experiences to the classroom.Since 2003, the number of full- and half-time faculty has beenincreased by 43 percent. In that same period, faculty withterminal degrees have increased 57 percent, and individual anddepartmental scholarship has risen.Lourdes faculty members are active in scholarship and researchactivity as well as in the supervision of student research. At thesame time, a sustained primary commitment to personalizedteaching and learning permeates campus culture. The typicalteaching load for those engaged with undergraduates is a 4:4.For those working with graduate students, the load is a 3:3.Lourdes University I 6

Lourdes’ student to-faculty ratio is 15:1. The institution prides itself onoffering no classes larger than 40 students. Lively and frequent interactionbetween students and faculty is a hallmark of the Lourdes experience.One hundred twenty-seven full-time and 26 permanent part-time staffmembers make up the University’s dedicated workforce. Staff members areperceived as full partners in the academic enterprise at Lourdes and embracetheir roles as co-educators. Thoughtful orientations for new employees andmentoring relationships help foster a collegial working environment. Anumber of Lourdes’ own graduates have returned to their alma mater to buildtheir careers, and that sense of institutional history is deeply valued.Thirteen Sisters of St. Francis are actively engaged as faculty or members ofthe administration. Their presence and contributions are cherished by theLourdes community.The Student BodyMore than 2,600 students are enrolled at Lourdes, including 2,200undergraduate and 300 graduate students as well as over 100 post-secondary/high school scholars. Approximately 64 percent students are enrolled fulltime,and 36 percent are enrolled part-time. Roughly 50 percent of Lourdesstudents fall in the traditional 18-22 age range, and 50 percent of students arecategorized as non-traditionally aged.Lourdes enrolls around 90 percent of its students from Ohio. Sixteen otherstates, Puerto Rico and five countries are also represented. Michigan, Indianaand Pennsylvania are the most common feeder states outside of Ohio.Seventy-five percent of students are female, and 25 percent are male.With roughly half of its students traditionally-aged college learnersand the other half adult learners, Lourdes enjoys a rich and distinctiveintergenerational classroom environment. Ecumenical in spirit and welcomingof all, Lourdes also benefits from a religiously diverse student body. Thirtysevenpercent of the students self-identify as Catholic. Students who arePresbyterian, Methodist, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim, among other faiths, arealso represented and warmly received. Further, 21 percent of Lourdes’ studentpopulation is composed of underrepresented populations, bringing additionaldiversity of experiences to the campus community. Nationally recognized forits commitment to educating the nation’s servicemen and women, Lourdeshas experienced a 190 percent increase in military and veteran students since2009. First-generation college students have been welcomed and supportedfor decades on the campus, with approximately 52 percent of current studentspossessing that distinction. Lourdes has been, and will continue to be, aUniversity of opportunity for many.Lourdes benefits from robust enrollments, and interest in its varied programsremains consistently high in the marketplace. Lourdes boasts an impressiveLourdes University I 7

Hoosier Athletic Conference. Despite their relative youth, themen’s basketball and volleyball teams advanced to the nationaltournaments in their respective sports. Club and intramuralprograms are also offered at Lourdes. The University’s mascot is“Gubi,” the gray wolf, a reflection of the reverence St. Francis ofAssisi had for all of God’s creatures, and fitting homage to thepoignant story of redemption featuring St. Francis and the wolfof Gubbio.50 percent conversion rate of inquiring students to applicantsas well as a 53 percent yield rate on offers of admission. Lourdesis an ACT-optional institution. In 2012, the average GPA forenrolling high school students was 3.08.A wide variety of 30 other extra- and co-curricular activitiesrelated to the arts, faith, environmental sustainability, andglobal awareness supports the University’s efforts for holisticeducation. Several professional and honors organizations aswell as service opportunities are highlights of this dimension.A vibrant campus ministry supports many faith- and serviceorientedactivities.Now embarking on its third year as a residential campus,271 students live in University housing. Residential lifeaccommodated 90 students in its first year and 170 in its secondyear. The institution is currently renovating additional apartmentspace to allow for another increase in housing utilization.Affordable and nearby off-campus housing is also available.Known for its personalized attention to students and thestrength of its academic programs, student satisfaction isstrong. Recent National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)results indicate high levels of contentment with the full Lourdeseducational experience, with nearly 100 percent of studentsindicating a desire to re-enroll at the University if offered thechance to “do it all over again.” Students report that their timeat Lourdes fosters significant development in their criticalthinking and writing skills as well as their use of technology.Students also indicate that they feel well supported and engaged.Student-Centered ProgrammingIn its evolution from a commuter-focused institution to oneencompassing a growing residential population, Lourdes hasundergone dramatic changes in its student life area in the lastfew years. On-campus housing is entering its third year ofexistence and is in high demand.Lourdes also recently committed to offering intercollegiatesports to its students. Eight National Association ofIntercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) sports (baseball, men’s andwomen’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, softball, and men’sand women’s volleyball) are available through the WolverineAll students, whether traditional or non-traditional, residentialor commuter, full-time or part-time, are at the heart of theUniversity’s commitment to excellence in teaching and benefitfrom the community’s sense of shared purpose and positivity.FinancesLourdes has changed its enrollment picture dramatically since2003, doubling its enrollment from 1,300 to over 2,600.As a consequence, its operating budget has tripled in size toits current $30 million mark. In the interim, Lourdes hasbenefitted from steady resource management which has resultedin eight consecutive years of surplus budgets. The University’sendowment is currently valued at approximately $7 million.The institution is managing around $18 million in debt resultingfrom two key renovation and construction projects. Lourdesrecently received a Federal energy grant of nearly a million dollarsin support of its heightened sustainability efforts and relatedconstruction of a central air conditioning plant.Lourdes University I 8

The University is 80 percent tuition-driven, with summer camps andconferences and the recent addition of auxiliary enterprises, such as residencelife and dining, serving to augment the revenue stream. Lourdes provides oneof the lowest private university tuition rates in the state and is comparable inprice to Ohio’s four-year public universities. The direct cost for a full-timeundergraduate student attending the University in 2012-13 is approximately$24,950. This includes tuition ($16,950), room ($4,400) and board ($3,600).About 96 percent of Lourdes University’s students receive financial assistancethrough scholarships, awards, loans, or employment. Lourdes’ current tuitiondiscount rate is 13 percent.The University is in the quiet phase of its $10 million University Campaign.To date, commitments of $6.5 million have been secured in support ofendowment growth, a new recreational facility, a new dining hall (completed),and curricular enhancements. The campaign is slated for conclusion in2014. Full trustee support is expected, and 100 percent of faculty and staffhave already contributed. The University Campaign follows on the heels ofLourdes’ first-ever significant campaign, “A Community Moving Forward,”for which $4.5 million was raised against a goal of $3 million.In the last three years, Lourdes has been awarded 54 grants totaling $9.8million. The annual fund consistently garners $500,000 each year. There is100 percent participation by faculty and staff in the annual fund. Alumnigiving stands at eight percent.PlanningSince 2008, Lourdes’ seven-year strategic plan has provided inspirationaldirection. The plan outlines the institution’s full transition to universitystatus with a focus on strengthening four key areas – academics, student lifeprogramming, enrollment reach, and student diversity. With the plan now inyear four, many of the academic programs and initiatives faculty and staff havechampioned have been successfully introduced into the curriculum. Lourdes’next president will encounter a campus poised for a new plan and excitingnext steps—an uncommonly opportune time for leadership.Board of TrusteesA thoughtful and dedicated Board of Trustees provides the University withvaluable leadership. It is composed of 29 active members with areas ofexpertise in business, education, law, medicine, and religion, among otherfields. Three of the 29 trustees are alumni, three are Sisters of St. Francis, 19are male, and 10 are female. In them the new president will find membershighly engaged in the life of the University and excited for the freshperspective that always accompanies a leadership transition.Lourdes University I 9

AlumniNearly 85 percent of Lourdes’ graduates remain in northwestOhio, resulting in strong networks for current students andrecent graduates and a shared regional bond. Lourdes’ 6,000alumni are formally represented by the Lourdes UniversityAlumni Association. The active Alumni Association Boardtotals 15 graduates representing each of the University’sschools, and is the governing body of the Association.THE AGENDA FOR A NEW PRESIDENTThe Lourdes University community is eager to supportnew leadership and to embrace important change whilethe University’s distinctive mission and established strengthsare sustained. The next president will be expected to lead thediscernment and articulation of goals that are both inspiringand achievable while building the spirit and will needed toachieve them. To do so with fluency and credibility, severalagenda items will be important for the next generation ofleadership. They include:Reinforcing the University’s Sense of Community – Thecaring and considerate manner with which members of theUniversity family interact with one another will be nurturedby the new president’s intuitive capacity to engage the campusin an authentic fashion. The ability to ask thoughtful andstrategic questions, listen carefully, shape civil discourse, lead thecampus through points of conflict, and foster collegiality are ofparamount importance. Modeling and encouraging transparentdecision-making will also promote trust and nourish the spirit ofmutual respect that is fundamental to the University’s identity.Sustaining the University’s Trajectory – The University’smost recent decade has been marked by dramatic enrollmentincreases, significant development in the breadth and depth ofcurricular offerings, the establishment of broader co-curricularcomponents as well as a residential life dimension, the hiring ofoutstanding faculty, and the substantial growth of the physicalplant. Lourdes’ next president will be charged with keeping thismomentum strong while ensuring that the resources---humanand financial---as well as the infrastructure required to deliveran experience of excellence are in place. There is particularlykeen interest in augmenting the uniquely devoted yet thinlystretchedranks of full-time faculty. The next president mustcarefully guide the overall pace of change and set clear prioritiesfor resource investment.Maintaining Financial Equilibrium – The presidentmust be a strong financial manager, knowledgeable aboutacademic business models, innovative with regard to forgingnew revenue streams and capable of adjusting the businessLourdes University I 10

university to her/his work. In addition, the search committeeexpects to attract candidates who model leadership reflectiveof Catholic and Franciscan values and who are ecumenical inperspective. While the search committee is eager to considermany possible pathways to the Lourdes presidency, the strengthof preparation as reflected in strong academic credentials will bepreferred. The successful Lourdes candidate will be:• A person of proven leadership who demonstratesknowledge of and respect for the value of Catholic highereducation;• A person of financial acumen who will lead the Universityin matching aspirations with finite resources and thinkinnovatively about growth opportunities;• An eager fundraiser, experienced in building a positiveculture of philanthropy;• A team builder who will optimize the effectiveness of anestablished senior leadership team;• A strategic thinker who values and will maximize Lourdes’existing culture of planning;• An expert on higher education, knowledgeable about keyissues affecting private universities nationally, includingenrollment management, environmental sustainability,technology, and administrative and academic best practices;• A leader with an understanding of and respect for Lourdes’commitment to shared governance;• A person of intercultural competence and global perspectivewho is committed to diversity in its many forms andcomfortable celebrating and promoting it in ways consistentwith Lourdes’ legacy; and• A visible leader interacting with various constituenciesby actively engaging multiple perspectives on campus,enthusiastically participating in the Sylvania and Toledocommunities, and favorably influencing the regional andnational reputation of the University.THE PROCESS OF CANDIDACYThe Lourdes University Presidential Search Committee willbegin to evaluate the applicant pool in October. Althoughapplications will be accepted until the time that a newpresident is selected, candidates should submit materials byNovember 15, 2012 to ensure fullest consideration. The newpresident is expected to begin work in summer 2013.Ms. Julie E. Tea of AGB Search is assisting with this search.Nominators and prospective candidates may contact her atjet@agbsearch.com and (804) 550-2110.Applications should include a letter of candidacy that respondsto the agenda for leadership and the desired attributes for a newpresident, a complete résumé or vita, and the names and contactinformation (phone and email) of five professional references,none of whom will be contacted without the formal permissionof the candidate. All application materials will be consideredin full confidence and should be submitted electronically toLourdesPresident@agbsearch.com.Lourdes University I 12