ENHANCE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Carroll's academic initiative supports:
- Student scholarships
- Endowed academic positions
- Faculty development
- New and existing academic programs
Endowed professorships are funded posts assigned to faculty, with salary, research support and paid student internships. These positions directly fortify academic disciplines, further scientific research and strengthen teaching excellence at Carroll College.
LIBRARY RENOVATION & EXPANSION
Under this initiative, the Carroll College Corette Library, built in 1979 and named in honor of Jack and Sallie Corette, will be physically expanded and renovated to transform it into a central academic, study and student services/job placement hub, including an auditorium to accommodate the growing interest in Carroll public lectures in addition to educational and cultural events.
CIVIL ENGINNEERING PHASE II
This initiative proposes Phase II of Carroll successful Civil Engineering program to strengthen offerings in four areas critical in today's world: environmental engineering, water resources, transportation systems and structural engineering.
HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND PROGRAM
A growing field in health sciences is the study of the unique relationship between humans and animals in healing, service and therapy. Carroll's Department of Psychology, led by internationally recognized researcher Dr. Anne Perkins, has created a first of its kind program, Human Animal Bond.
This program prepares students for careers in mental and physical health care and therapy through the training of service dogs and horses. These students work with members of the disabled community to prepare them for fulfilling lives with their service animals and assist with therapeutic work - all while embarking on new research into this field.
ENHANCE NELSON STADIUM FIELD
This initiative intensifies the potential of the Nelson Stadium by pursuing installation of an artificial playing surface and adding up to 2,000 seats to accommodate the burgeoning fan base. This endeavor will give our champions the best possible home and our fans the best of accommodations,
CATHOLIC AND SPIRITUAL VITALITY
As one of the last remaining Catholic diocesan colleges in the U.S., Carroll College continually renews its commitment to its mission to continually reaffirm and revitalize our Catholic identity. Despite sometimes impossible odds and ominous world events, this college in the Rocky Mountains grew from a small, male-only outpost of higher learning to a regional leader offering students an exceptional, yet affordable, education. This initiative will result in enhanced service and social outreach missions, the building of a chapel to serve as centerpiece of our vibrant faith life and worship, and creation of a Center for Peace and Social Justice to further the college's Catholic mission by pursuing social justice for all.
ADVANCE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SCIENCES
To meet the growing demand for health care professionals, Carroll College is pursuing creation of a Department of Health Sciences to centralize health related majors and capitalize on the college's national reputation for excellence in science-related fields. This initiative will expand career opportunities in the health sciences, which encompasses nursing, community and public health, athletic training and other health sciences.
INITIATIVES COMPLETED TO DATE
ENHANCING PROGRAMS IN NATURAL SCIENCES
During the 2007-08 academic year, Carroll College received a $522,125 grant from the E.L. Wiegand Foundation of Reno, Nev., to establish the E.L. Wiegand Undergraduate Research Center in the college's Simperman Hall science building. Renovation work began in summer 2008, with the new labs and classrooms opening in fall 2008.
The Wiegand grant funded renovation of six laboratories, classrooms, and prep spaces on Simperman Hall's second floor. The grant provided further resources that allowed the college to acquire new molecular-grade equipment. These improvements are an integral component of Carroll's planned degree program in biochemistry/molecular biology. The project also significantly enhances undergraduate research opportunities in the life sciences and lays the foundation for curricular improvements that will better integrate mathematics, physics and chemistry into biology courses.
DEVELOPING A MASTER PLAN FOR THE NEXT CENTURY
As Carroll embarked on planning for its second century, the college realized that it needed to invest in its facilities and infrastructure. Responding to this need were Ray (class of '69) and Elaine Messer, who made a $200,000 gift to pay for the creation of an updated master plan-the key first step in shaping the future of Carroll facilities, including its founding structure, St. Charles Hall.
Last spring, the firm of Dober, Lidsky, Craig and Associates, Inc., was hired, with principal George Mathey working closely with a Campus Planning committee comprised of members of the college administration, faculty and staff. In this highly interactive and participatory approach to campus facility planning, a final plan will synthesize the needs of students and academic and administrative departments in creating a plan for campus buildings and facilities to serve Carroll through its second century.
BUILDING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE THROUGH INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESSIn summer 2007, U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester announced that Carroll College would receive Title III grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education's Strengthening Institutions Program. Under this $2 million grant, the college has been implementing new initiatives to strengthen institutional planning and assessment. Accreditation bodies across the U.S. are stressing assessment more than ever before, with a focus on students and faculty evaluating how classes and academic departments are meeting their objectives. Assessment is also necessary at the institutional level, so that a college can examine what it is doing well and where it needs to improve. Carroll's Title III grant is a key step in achieving Carroll's strategic goals and meeting the increasing call for better responsiveness to student and alumni needs.
In spring 2008, the college hired Dawn Gallinger to oversee the newly created Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Technology pursuant to the Title III grant has already been installed across campus. This includes a new student information technology system and the training for faculty and staff to use it most effectively. In addition, the grant funded two additional staff positions to support the new system, plus stipends extended to other staff during the implementation phase. This business tool will assure that Carroll provides the highest value education for its students. By spring 2009, the new system will be activated in campus business functions (such as payroll and budgeting), admissions and enrollment, human resources, faculty advising and student online class registration. In the coming months, the system will offer analysis of enrollment data and student recruitment and retention efforts.
