Marian University restructures academic programs for improved efficiency, more collaborative teaching and learning

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The start of the 2016-17 academic year at Marian University includes a newly created College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).

The college was established by merging the university's School of Liberal Arts with the School of Mathematics and Sciences.

Dr. William (Bill) Mirola, who most recently served as Chair of the Department of History and Social Science, is dean of the new college, which is comprised of academic units including:

• Department of Biology (Kimberly Vogt, chair)
• Department of Chemistry & Physical Sciences (Carl Lecher, chair)
• Department of Communication (George LeMaster, chair)
• Department of English (James Norton, chair)
• Department of History & Social Sciences (Bessie Rigakos, chair)
• Department of Language & Cultures (Wendy Westphal, chair)
• Department of Mathematics (Monica Zore, chair)
• Department of Music (James Larner, chair)
• Department of Psychology (Laurel Camp, chair)
• Department of Theology & Philosophy (Andrew Hohman, chair)
• Department of Visual & Creative Art (Jamie Higgs, chair)

Mirola will also oversee ancillary CAS programs including the Marian University Theatre, the Global Studies and Peace & Justice Studies programs, and the Center for Organizational Ethics.

According to Dr. Thomas Enneking, executive vice president and provost at Marian University, the restructuring creates several benefits, including a stronger environment for academic excellence, a rigorous General Education Program, improved operational efficiency, greater cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a platform for future growth.

"The merger creates a structure where courses in the liberal arts and sciences can better form the core for our technical programs in mathematics, technology, and the sciences as well as our professional studies in nursing, business and education," Enneking said.  "All students will benefit from high-impact educational experiences that enable them to develop the professional skills prior to graduation that are necessary to compete in the employment market." 

Enneking added that the new college will better facilitate Marian University's focus on academic excellence and future enrollment growth.

"Now that the restructuring is complete, we can create the best alignment of our academic programs and faculty resources with our strategic enrollment goals," Enneking said. "It will also provide a structure to enable us to identify and assess the demand for new undergraduate and graduate degree programs that remain true to our Franciscan tradition of service to others while preparing students for careers in the high growth, high salary careers of the future."

The announcement comes on the heels of the restructuring of Marian University's School of Education, now known as the Educators College, an initiative that will focus on recruiting high performing and minority students who want to become elite teachers and administrators in K-12 schools.

For more information, visit www.marian.edu/academics.

About Marian University Indianapolis
Marian University (www.marian.edu), founded in Indianapolis in 1937, is the only Catholic liberal arts university in central Indiana. It serves a student body of nearly 3,000 through dedication to excellent teaching and learning in the Franciscan and liberal arts traditions. Marian University is one of Indiana's 31 independent colleges and one of 244 Catholic colleges and universities nationwide. Since 2001, Marian University has been led by President Daniel J. Elsener, whose vision and leadership are transforming the university. In 2013, Marian University opened the Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences, home to its College of Osteopathic Medicine. Marian University has amassed 33 national championships in cycling, captured the NAIA Football National Championship in 2012 and 2015, and won the NAIA Women's Basketball Championship in 2016.

Contact: Mark Apple | 317.955.6775 | [email protected]

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