The final verdict: Loyola University
Katerina Kienle
Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: News
It's official.
After much debate, research and critical consideration, the issue that has taken the forefront on the Evergreen campus and beyond over the past few months has been put to rest. In a unanimous vote, the Executive Committee of Loyola's Board of Trustees recently confirmed the decision to change Loyola's designation from a "College" to a "University". As part of the most recent strategic plan to further Loyola's progress in the environment of higher education, on August 15, 2009 the school will henceforth be called "Loyola University Maryland".
"Loyola's progress has been dramatic over the last 40 years, and that has all been the result of very careful planning that brings the school to the next level," said Loyola President Fr. Brian Linnane, S.J. "We felt that the designation "College" didn't really communicate what this institution had become over the course of the past four decades and so we felt that this was now the time to make this change."
Though the decision for a name change may seem sudden and rash to some, the process has actually being ongoing for a while now.
The latest strategic plan in which the topic of a designation change first surfaced began a couple years ago, when Linnane and company found that Loyola was among the top Catholic comprehensive universities in the country, comprehensive meaning a well-rounded school generally with strengths in various areas like arts and sciences, core, and undergraduate and graduate programs. After assessing where Loyola stood, the next step was clear - to move towards being the premiere Catholic university in the nation. The plan for this goal underwent revision upon revision over the past year.
Then the basic question arose: why not change the school's designation?
The procedure and discussions then began. In addition to seeking feedback from various Loyola constituencies, the school utilized the higher education consulting firm, SimpsonScarborough, to conduct research regarding the possible change and how it would affect Loyola on both a positive and negative level.
After much debate, research and critical consideration, the issue that has taken the forefront on the Evergreen campus and beyond over the past few months has been put to rest. In a unanimous vote, the Executive Committee of Loyola's Board of Trustees recently confirmed the decision to change Loyola's designation from a "College" to a "University". As part of the most recent strategic plan to further Loyola's progress in the environment of higher education, on August 15, 2009 the school will henceforth be called "Loyola University Maryland".
"Loyola's progress has been dramatic over the last 40 years, and that has all been the result of very careful planning that brings the school to the next level," said Loyola President Fr. Brian Linnane, S.J. "We felt that the designation "College" didn't really communicate what this institution had become over the course of the past four decades and so we felt that this was now the time to make this change."
Though the decision for a name change may seem sudden and rash to some, the process has actually being ongoing for a while now.
The latest strategic plan in which the topic of a designation change first surfaced began a couple years ago, when Linnane and company found that Loyola was among the top Catholic comprehensive universities in the country, comprehensive meaning a well-rounded school generally with strengths in various areas like arts and sciences, core, and undergraduate and graduate programs. After assessing where Loyola stood, the next step was clear - to move towards being the premiere Catholic university in the nation. The plan for this goal underwent revision upon revision over the past year.
Then the basic question arose: why not change the school's designation?
The procedure and discussions then began. In addition to seeking feedback from various Loyola constituencies, the school utilized the higher education consulting firm, SimpsonScarborough, to conduct research regarding the possible change and how it would affect Loyola on both a positive and negative level.
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