Magis: Always Seeking Excellence
A Transformational Experience
In 2012-13, over 264 University students took part in leadership programs sponsored by the University's Center for Student Engagement. These programs include the Scranton Emerging Leaders program, the Impact First-Year Leadership Retreat, the Transitional Summit, and a number of leadership-focused internships. Twenty University students attended national leadership or professional conferences, including the National Jesuit Leadership Conference (NJSLC). The University's own IGNITE Leadership Conference hosted over 200 students representing nine area colleges and universities. Fifty-eight students completed the Scranton Emerging Leaders (SEL) program in 2012-13.The University's commitment to student leadership development is seeing success; according to the 2012 College Student Survey of graduating seniors, a higher percent of Scranton students reported their leadership abilities as much stronger as compared with when they first entered college than students at comparison institutions.
During the 2012-13 year, the Jane Kopas' Women's Center developed and implemented over thirty programs, initiatives, and events. Many of these were in collaboration with other offices and departments from across the University, both academic and administrative. Participation in the Center's programming is increasing; for example, the number of student peer facilitators in the PACT (Promoting Awareness of the College Transition) program, which helps new students navigate the transition to college life, increased 33 percent from 2011, and the number of professional support persons increased by 44 percent.
The three hundred incoming freshman in the Panuska College of Professional Studies (PCPS) were the first to complete the College's new co-curricular TAPESTRY program. This four-year program engages students in academic and co-curricular activities, with a specific theme for each year. In exploring this year's theme of magis - the relentless pursuit of excellence - students engaged in service, learning, mentoring, and other activities.Inquiry, Engagement & Scholarship
Scholarship is an important part of the lifeblood of many universities; excellence in scholarship is a hallmark of the University of Scranton. Continuing a long tradition, the University boasts not just one, but five Fulbright scholarships recipients this year, along with one Goldwater Scholar, and one Truman Scholar. The University's graduate nursing program was awarded three federal grants totaling nearly $1 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Bureau of Health Professionals. The grants will help fund new, interdisciplinary educational experiences for students in effort to improve the quality of rural health care in our area, including exploring telehealth options, which allow rural patients to communicate with health care providers remotely.
This summer, the University was just one of twelve elite colleges awarded a competitive international grant through Taiwan's Ministry of Culture "Spotlight Taiwan Project." This project funds collaborative opportunities for 40 major institutions around the world to deepen Taiwan's interaction with the global community through culture. The University's $50,000 grant, which is renewable for up to four years, is intended to be used to facilitate understanding of Taiwanese culture and society through diverse programs offered at the University. The grant will be administered by Dr. Ann Pang-White, Ph.D., the director of the University's Asian Studies Program.
Also this summer, the University hosted the Summer Institute of the New American Colleges and Universities, a national consortium of selective, small to mid-size independent colleges and universities committed to the integration of liberal education, professional studies, and civic engagement. This Institute brought together faculty, administrators, presidents, and provosts from twenty-one institutions across the country, and provided a forum for Teagle Project discussions. The NAC&U received a Teagle grant to fund scholarship on the topic of Preparing 21st Century Students through New Visions for Faculty Evaluation, Campus Governance, and Curriculum.
Selected Strategic Indicators
- 90% of the undergraduate class of 2012 was either employed or pursuing additional education full-time.
- 192 University students studied abroad during the 2012-13 academic year, an increase of 48% from the prior year.
- 5 University students were awarded prestigious Fulbright Scholarships, one Goldwater and one Truman Scholar.
- One student earned a competitive NCAA postgraduate scholarship - one of just 57 students from across the country to do so.
- 18 new full-time faculty were hired in 2012-13.
- 147 students completed for-credit internships in 2012-13.
- 35 faculty submitted external grant proposals through the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs in 2012-13; 40% of these submissions were successful. An additional 15 external grant proposal were submitted by individuals other than faculty in the past year.
- A total of $847,202 external research dollars were awarded to faculty in 2012-13.
- 70 students and 28 faculty took part in the Faculty-Student Research Program (FSRP) in 2012-13.
Student Outcomes
- A total of 141 Scranton students participated in Living Learning Communities in 2012-13. At the end of the year, 83% of these students reported that out-of-classroom interactions with their Living Learning Community professor positively impacted their overall Living Learning Community Experience.
- 58 Scranton students completed the Scranton Emerging Leaders (SEL) program, offered through the University's Center for Student Engagement.
- Recent data from the College Student Survey (CSS), administered on a regular cycle to graduating seniors, higher percentages of Scranton students reported that they were very satisfied with courses in general education and in their major than students in two selected comparison groups.
- Also from the CSS, a significantly higher percentage of Scranton students indicated that they were very satisfied with the overall sense of community among students than those in either comparison group.
Rankings
- The University once again placed in the Top Ten Regional Universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report, and was once again named one of "America's Best Colleges" by Forbes Magazine, based on analysis by The Center for College Affordability and Productivity.
- The University of Scranton's online graduate education program ranked sixth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
- The University was rated as one of the nation's "Most Efficient Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report.
- The University was ranked 27 out of just 81 colleges in Pennsylvania recognized by AffordableCollegesOnline as providing the greatest lifetime return on investment.
