Summer 2012

Dear Friends of DeSales University,

DeSales University had another very successful year for 2011-2012. Attached you will find my 13th annual report and the administrators’ objectives for next year. At the very end of the report you will see this summary of our major accomplishments:

  • The university successfully completed six national searches for future leaders of key academic programs: Wayne Stuart, M.D., became director of the master of science in physician assistant studies; Mary Elizabeth Doyle-Tadduni, Ph.D., M.B.A., M.S.N., B.S.N., chair of the department of nursing and health; Dr. Kay Malek, faculty member to develop a proposal to initiate a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program at DeSales University; Ms. Patricia Riola, M.S.I.S., director of the master of science in information systems program; Dr. Gail Vogel, director of the master of education program; and Dr. Todd Bricker, present chair of the social sciences department, takes on the additional responsibility of director of the master of arts in criminal justice program.
  • Along with the efforts of the Salesian Center for Faith and Culture, the university supported the work of the Catholic community in the great struggle to maintain our first amendment rights in light of the recent ruling by the Department of Health and Human Services mandating the inclusion of “healthcare benefits” that are contrary to the faith tradition of the Roman Catholic Church.
  • Members of the staffs of both student affairs and academic affairs completed two years of preparation for the launch of the “DeSales Experience”, a four-year program of in-class and out-of-class activities that foster the integration of character formation, leadership development, and Salesian instruction to form the total person of virtue.
  • The university successfully launched the first doctoral program, the doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) in January.
  • We successfully reached a new high for the number of multicultural students represented in the freshman class (13.5%).
  • The office of international learning added five additional locations for students to spend a semester abroad by simply exchanging students without additional costs: the American College of Athens – Athens, Greece; the International University of Monaco – Monte Carlo, Monaco; the Catholic University of Murcia San Antonio – Murcia, Spain; Mary Immaculate College – Limerick, Ireland; the International University at Geneva – Geneva, Switzerland.
  • The university launched a newly redesigned website
  • The university completed a new athletic department master plan with appropriate recommendations for both athletic fields and athletic department spaces necessary for the continuing success of the sports teams and the recreational needs of the student body.
  • The university planning committee completed and the board of trustees approved the Campus Master Plan: 2012-2022, which contains the athletic master plan as one of its sub-sets.
  • The university opened a new location for our Lansdale Area campus and continued our MBA program while initiating our ACCESS program in this facility.
  • The university made significant progress on the construction of the Rev. Daniel G. Gambet, OSFS, Center for Business and Healthcare Education. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for Friday, April 5, 2013, at 12:00 noon.
  • The university began work on the Periodic Review Report for the Commission on Higher Education – Middle States Association re-accreditation review due in June of 2013.
  • The university completed the fourth year of the current capital campaign with a focus upon the Gambet Center for Business and Healthcare with the alumni and alumnae of the university. There will be one additional year for this phase of the campaign before shifting our efforts to the baseball and softball stadiums and the Salesian Center for Faith and Culture.
  • The university erected two bronze statues near the mall area of the campus. A statue of Saint Jane de Chantal is on the student life part of the campus, while a statue of Saint Francis de Sales is near Dooling Hall on the academic affairs section of the campus. They are facing each other “eye-ball to eye-ball” to symbolize the complementary character of these great components of a full university education and a full human life. They were blessed in the presence of the Oblate Convocation in June.

I hope that this list brings delight to your heart. We build upon the foundation of individuals like you. We are immensely grateful for your years of service and friendship. Please enjoy reading about our latest chapter.

May the Good Lord bless you!

(Rev.) Bernie O’Connor, OSFS

President