From the Heights—Summer 2016 Campus News

Adrian Dominican Sisters Gift St. Joseph Academy to Siena Heights University

The Adrian Dominican Sisters donated the St. Joseph Academy building to the University in February 2016. Located on the Sisters’ campus, the five-story building will be used for academic purposes, classrooms and faculty offices.

“We are grateful to the Adrian Dominican Sisters for this wonderful gift and promise to live out our Dominican values and traditions with all the students who are educated in this building,” said SHU President Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD. The Prioress of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, Sister Attracta Kelly, OP, JD, noted that the Congregation was pleased to make this gift to Siena Heights University. “Whether through myth, legend or actual history of the Congregation, our Congregation grew when Mother Camilla, with great courage and daring, began the Academy from whence St. Joseph College, now Siena Heights, became a reality,” Sister Attracta said. “We can only begin to imagine the hundreds of Sisters and students who have learned about life and how to love themselves and each other in the classrooms and hallways of the Academy. We know that the many who have now gone to their reward will look lovingly and send special graces to all who keep alive the vision of Dominic there.”

The building, which formerly served as an elementary and high school since its construction in 1948, will undergo renovations this year. The first department to move to the facility will be the Education Department. Renovations will occur in phases, and the total project will cost around $4 million.

From the Heights—Fall 2015 Campus News

SHU Named Gold Level Veteran-Friendly School

Siena Heights University was one of 28 Michigan colleges and universities that earned Gold Level status in Veteran-Friendly School program created by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. The program recognizes institutions of higher learning for their dedication to student veterans and dependents utilizing their G.I. Bill and other educational benefits.

SHU Again Recognized for Online Veterans Program

Siena Heights University was again recognized as 2015 Best Online Programs for Veterans by U.S. News and World Report. SHU is ranked the following in this year’s listing:

21st overall (tied),
Second in Michigan,
First among Michigan private institutions.

Last year, Siena Heights was ranked 47th in the same category. To qualify for the Best Online Programs for Veterans rankings, the 737 online degree programs featured first had to be among the top 75 percent of schools ranked in the 2015 Best Online Programs rankings.

Ripper Presents at Center for Scholastic Inquiry Conference

SHU Assistant Professor of Business Matthew Ripper had two papers accepted by and presented at the October 2015 international conference in Charleston, S.C., on behalf of the Center for Scholastic Inquiry. His two papers are entitled “Building an Authentic Workplace Community Through Social Media” and “Community Benefits Districts: Nonprofit Governance Using Social Capital and Cross-organizational Collaboration.”

Saints Athletics Highlights—Fall 2015

SHU Lacrosse Goes to National Tournament

Led by senior goaltender Ryan Mailloux and junior defenseman Joshua Abruzzo, the Saints made their first trip to the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association Division II national tournament. SHU defeated Missouri Valley 8-7 in the opening round, then fell to eventual national champion the University of Dayton 7-6 in overtime to finish the season 13-3 and ranked sixth in the final MCLA poll.

Mailloux and Abruzzo were each named first team MCLA Division II All-Americans, while Ed Maloney was named MCLA D-II Coach of the Year. Mailloux finished with a 13-3 record, 6.23 goals-against average and 187 saves in roughly 895 minutes of action. Abruzzo was a key cog within SHU’s defense, finishing with a team-leading 54 groundballs. Junior midfielder Tom Kreitzer was recognized as a All-MCLA third team selection and was the Saints’ leading goal-scorer with 34 tallies.

Maloney was also recognized as CCLA and Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Coach of the Year while guiding Siena Heights its highest win total and best finish in program history. The Saints were also 4-0 in CCLA Central Division play—good enough for SHU’s first division championship.