New Saint Rose president foresees rosy future

"It's come a long way in a short period of time," he told The Evangelist. "Seventy-five years is a relatively brief period of time."

The founders of the college identified the academic areas they wanted the school to concentrate on, he explained, and the school has stayed true to these original plans. "There has been a long-standing commitment to the liberal arts and to producing well-rounded citizens," Dr. Sullivan said.

Impressed

The new president is impressed with the education and teacher preparation programs at the College. "One-third of practicing teachers in the Capital District hold degrees from the College of Saint Rose," he said.

Other CSR programs that interest him are the growing business school, the pre-professional programs, and the music and art programs.

As the twenty-first century draws closer, Dr. Sullivan said the college is going to be uniquely poised to handle the challenges facing higher education. "The College of Saint Rose is the type of college that is going to be very important," he said.

Urban location

The school's position in an urban neighborhood, its diverse population of students, its rich history and the prominent place it holds in the community will help it to continue to attract students, Dr. Sullivan said.

Educators predict that by the year 2005, one-third of all college students will be racial minorities. During this time period, he noted, higher education will also see students coming to school with different levels of preparation as well as motivation. Since the College of Saint Rose is in an urban setting, it has already begun dealing with these issues and will be able to continue to attract students in the future.

"Saint Rose is poised in the right spot," he said. "It's a model for the urban liberal arts institution."

Meeting needs

The president said if the college can continue to balance the core curriculum with career programs, it will prosper. He would also like to see the school continue to meet the needs of the community.

"There are some great urban universities: DePaul in Chicago, John Carroll in Cleveland, Teacher's College at Columbia University," he said. "They've done a great job fashioning programs with community needs."

Besides meeting the needs of a more diverse population, he added, private colleges are facing other challenges as they move into the next century, including finances, integrating technology into the classroom, and changing the delivery of programs.

"The price of an independent higher education is rapidly reaching a level where many middle-class families have a difficult time affording it," he said.

Technology

Utilizing technology is an exciting challenge, according to the president. He said the challenge will be determining how to use technology in the classroom.

"None of us understand fully the impact of technology on education at all levels," said Dr. Sullivan. "It's an exciting challenge. We'll really test our mettle because we'll be integrating technology into the classroom while technology is changing at a great pace."

He said the goal of a liberal arts education is to develop life-long learners. The challenge, as society is changing, is to develop programs and delivery that meet the needs of students.

"Undergraduate education is just the start," he said. "Students today will be learning throughout their lives. Education is not a one-shot deal."

Catholic identity

The Catholic heritage of the college is also important as the school moves into the next century, according to Dr. Sullivan.

"We have an obligation to embrace civility," he said. "This is important to me. I truly think that as society gets fractionated with conflict, we need to reinforce this message as much as the clergy. This is part of our Catholic heritage and the essence of what we're about at the College of Saint Rose.

"There is a lot of discussion throughout society about Catholic identity," he said. "We'll continue to uphold the values of the institution, which are Catholic."

The college provides support for its students, helps students to be sensitive to the needs of the disenfranchised, and encourages them to be involved in the community, all examples of the Catholicity of the institution, he said.

"We will continue to encourage the members of our community to seek the truth," he said. "Catholic identity is not a question of symbols, but of enduring values. I am intent on ensuring enduring values live on."

Partnership

One way that will happen is through service the college will continue to do in the community, he said. In 1993, for example, the college promised scholarships to graduates of the Regional School at St. Casimir in Albany who completed their high school education and met the admission requirements of Saint Rose. The program between the college and elementary school grew into a partnership between the two institutions.

Similar scholarships were also promised to students in some Albany City schools. The new president would like to see those programs remain.

"I'm excited about that," he said. "It's perfectly in sync with the mission of the college. I'd like to continue and expand the program. All credit goes to my predecessor, Lou Vaccaro. It's a noble undertaking."

Links between elementary schools and colleges are important for students, according to Dr. Sullivan. "Education should be seamless," he said. "The boundaries between schools and colleges should be evaporating." [[In-content Ad]]