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The Online Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Siena Heights University
After More than 42 Years, Fred Smith Leaves an Indelible Mark on SHU Athletics
By Doug Goodnough
In more than 30 years of coaching, Fred Smith never needed to use a whistle.
His booming voice, commanding personality and imposing 6-foot, 5-inch frame were more than enough to get the attention of his student-athletes, coaches, referees and anyone else within earshot.
After more than 42 years representing Siena Heights University Athletics as a coach and administrator—including the last 36 as athletic director—Fred Smith retired on June 30, 2019.
That means it will be a little quieter on the Siena Heights University campus.
But his indelible legacy will not be silenced.
His 21-year men’s basketball head coaching career included 527 wins, the most in the institution’s history. During his tenure, Siena Heights was one of the winningest small-school programs in the country. The Saints recorded five 30-win seasons, 12 appearances in the NAIA National Tournament and eight WHAC titles. His 1996-97 squad finished as the NAIA Division II national runners up, losing the title game to Bethel College 95-94.
Rice Award Winner Julie Barst Leaves Career in Accounting to Teach English
By Doug Goodnough
A career in accounting just didn’t add up for Julie Barst.
After graduating from Central Michigan University with a degree in accounting and working as a successful CPA at one of the top accounting firms in the nation, Barst knew she wasn’t on the right path.
“I pretty quickly realized it wasn’t for me,” Barst said of her accounting job. “It wasn’t fulfilling me. It wasn’t making me happy.”
A mysterious debilitating back injury that laid her up for several months allowed her the time to reassess her career. When she recovered, she left her accounting position, returned to school, earned her master’s and doctorate in Literary Studies from Purdue University and started her new career in higher education.
Barst, who completed her seventh year as an English faculty member in Siena Heights University’s College of Arts and Sciences, was honored April 26 with the Eileen Rice Award for Outstanding Teaching.
Barst, an associate professor of English who also directs SHU’s Ethnic and Gender Studies Institute, said being honored with the award helps validate her decision to enter higher education.
SHU Nursing Program Achieves 96 Percent First-Time Pass Rate on
NNCLEX-RN Exam
The Siena Heights Nursing Program announced that its 2018 graduates achieved a 96 percent first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam. This is the second consecutive year the program has achieved the highest pass rate in program history. In fact, the program has averaged a 92 percent first-time pass rate on the exam for the past four years. This far exceeds the standards set by the Michigan Board of Nursing and the AACN-CCNE accrediting body.
University Announces Siena Tuition Advantage Program
Recognizing the national trend of rising tuition costs in higher education, Siena Heights University is taking a bold step to remain affordable for its students. On the heels of Siena Heights’ 100th anniversary, President Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD, announced The Siena Tuition Advantage price certainty plan. The private Catholic university headquartered in Adrian, Mich., is locking tuition rates for full-time undergraduate students enrolled at its Adrian campus and many of its other programs beginning with the winter 2019 semester as well as for the 2019-20 academic year. In addition, SHU will phase in a two-year fixed pricing plan for all students in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College for Professional Studies and the Graduate College. The University has Michigan degree completion centers in Dearborn, Southfield, Benton Harbor, Monroe, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Jackson as well as a nationally ranked Online Program.
