Reflections Magazine Issue #70 - Fall 2009 | Page 2

Column

from the president
Raising the Profile of
Siena Heights
First of all, I would like to wish you a happy 90th
anniversary! During the 2009-10 academic year
we are planning to celebrate this special occasion
on many different levels. I hope you are able to
join us in recognizing the history and tradition
of Siena Heights in this extraordinary time.
Can you keep a secret?
OK, it really isn’t much of a secret. It’s more like
a low-key plan at this point. Over the summer
our Board of Trustees approved moving forward
with a capital fundraising campaign that will
target a couple of specific facility needs for
the University.
One of these needs is a new outdoor athletic
field and track facility that is long overdue for
this campus. The other is a new “university center” concept that will serve as a student union
and more for our students. Both of these concepts rose to the top of the “need” list that was
developed over the past 2 ½ years or so as part
of a master planning process for the university.
You will be hearing much, much more about
this campaign in the coming months. But as
I tell our faculty, staff and students, I like to
operate in a spirit of transparency, and that
includes our alumni and friends as well.
That being said, let’s talk a little more about
the present. I recently celebrated my three-year
anniversary as President, and as I stare out my
office window, I reflect on my time here at
Siena Heights with pride.
I think I’ve been proactive in dealing with
some of the challenges the University has faced.
Despite tough economic times, we’ve managed
to upgrade our campus facilities, expand our
academic and athletic offerings and cement
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Reflections Fall ’09

our status as a community partner and leader.
To see a prime example of this progress, all
you have to do is look a little ways down Siena
Heights Drive to our Nursing Building.
Three years ago, a nursing program was nothing
more than an ambitious goal. Now, it is close
to reality. Last fall, our RN to BSN degree completion program began its first classes, and we
should hear very soon if our four-year program
has been accredited. In the meantime, SHU
nursing has received two separate federal grants.
Within the last six months we’ve had both of
Michigan’s U.S. senators (Carl Levin and
Debbie Stabenow) as well as our local U.S.
Representative Mark Schauer on our campus
to tour the nursing facility.
Through this and other initiatives, we are raising
the profile of Siena Heights, and that is a good
thing. Three words a college or university
president does not want to hear about his or
her institution is that we are a “best-kept secret.”
In this case, secrets are meant to be shared.
I can’t tell you the amount of positive feedback
I’ve received from the community about our
efforts as an overall institution. As we venture
into a new academic year – and our 90th anniversary year as well – my hopes for the future
couldn’t be higher. Siena Heights University is
poised for greatness—and that’s no secret! May
God continue to bless us in bountiful ways!
Peace,

Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD
President