It seems the "dog-days" of August arrived early this year. The high temperatures have kept the air conditioning running and the watering brigades hard at work, even with the reduced watering. But the heat has not deterred our progress at the summer’s mid-point.

Christine Wiseman has settled into the Office of Vice President for Academic Affairs. Chris arrived in late June and jumped headlong into the tasks at hand. Please give her a "warm" welcome to the Creighton community. At the same time, we owe our gratitude to Dr. Barbara Braden for her service as Interim AVP.

As mentioned earlier in Creighton Today, we have hired an Enrollment Manager. Mr. Don Bishop will be joining us in mid-August. He comes to Creighton from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he served as Associate Dean of Students and Enrollment Management at their prestigious School of Hotel Administration. Mr. Bishop’s arrival marks the first stage in the restructuring of Creighton’s admissions and financial aid programs. Please give him a friendly Nebraska welcome.

The University community was greatly saddened by the death of Jerome Horning, Associate Professor of Fine and Performing Arts. He died on June 28th in his studio in the Lied Education Center for the Arts. Jerry joined the Creighton faculty in 1972. During the past thirty years he had been an outstanding teacher, an active member of the University community, and a visible presence in the Omaha Arts community. Jerry was an internationally acclaimed ceramist who perfected "double-walled" pots, one of which is on display in the Skutt Student Center. In many ways he was a renaissance man - a master potter, the builder of kilns, an accomplished dancer, and a gifted athlete. We have lost a wonderful colleague whom I commend to your thoughts and prayers.

Since the last Communique the University’s bid for Burt Tower has been accepted by the Omaha Housing Authority Board. We now are waiting for final disposition by HUD. We expect all clearances to be complete by August 15.

It was announced several weeks ago that Creighton is partnering with the Joslyn Art Museum and Omaha Public Schools in a redevelopment project proximate to those institutions. Creighton House and a rental property will be sold to make way for the enhanced parking and recreational facilities for Joslyn and Central High School. Creighton House will be fully functional for the entire 2002-2003 academic year. During the year, the status and location of the present Creighton House program will be evaluated.

Work on the new Science Building is proceeding on schedule and on budget. The glass and brick work is beginning to define the handsome dimensions of the building. In a related matter, renovations are underway in the two main Medical School lecture halls. That work will be completed for the beginning of the new academic year.

Dr. Sidney J. Stohs, has announced he will be stepping down as Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, effective July 2003. Dr. Stohs has been Dean since 1991. He will return to the faculty and continue to hold the Gilbert F. Taffe, Jr. Endowed Chair in Pharmacy. Please join me in thanking Dean Stohs for a very productive deanship. Dr. Gerald Brundo, former Dean of the School of Dentistry, is Chair of the Search Committee for Dean Stohs’ successor.

Finally, I am pleased to report that the Department of Educational Opportunity Programs, under the direction of Wallace Southerland, III, has received funding for two of its federal TRIO programs. The department’s Educational Opportunity Center for Adult Learners received $250,373 to serve 1,000 eligible adults, totaling a little more than $1,000,000 over a four-year period. The department’s Educational Talent Search Program received $299,513 to serve at least 600 eligible middle school to high school students, again totaling a little more than $1,200,000 over a four-year period. Next year, EOP will celebrate 35 years of TRIO programs at Creighton.

The next Update will be in mid-August.

John P. Schlegel, S.J.
President