Spring Break is over, although spring is not yet here! These days are very busy as students return for the last quarter, graduates-to-be are expectant, the music of the “Big Dance” is in the air, bulldozers are surrounding the campus and I could use a vacation! Some important updates follow:

As you may know, Father Richard McGloin, S.J., passed away this past weekend. He was diagnosed with cancer of the liver 10 days ago. He returned to a hospice setting in the Jesuit Community on March 9. Father McGloin came to Creighton in 1955. Since that time he has been a constant presence in the classroom, confessional and Swanson Hall. His was a familiar figure crossing the campus at the dawn of each day. He became Creighton’s own “Mr. Chips” as he welcomed students to his classes or his room; he mentored hundreds of Creighton health professionals, all of whom have great affection for him. Please keep Fr. McGloin in your prayers.

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT

The University was informed last week that the Athletic Department and programs received a full recertification by the NCAA. The certification process was 18 months in duration. Mary Higgins chaired the certification committee. I want to take this opportunity to thank Mary and her committee for a job well done. We are certified until 2010.

Men’s Basketball Team: Congratulations to the men’s basketball team for winning the MVC tournament championship for the fifth time in seven years. This will be their sixth appearance in the NCAA tournament in seven years. The men will be playing West Virginia in Cleveland on Thursday night.

Women’s Basketball Team: Kudos to the women’s basketball team for winning a bid to the WNIT tournament. They will be playing Iowa at Iowa City on Friday.

Admissions: Undergraduate Admissions is running right on schedule to enroll a first-time freshman class of 950 and 100 transfer students. All of the professional programs are doing well; all of them are expected to meet budget goals. Retention of undergraduates is solid.

Construction: In my February Convocation talk, I addressed the future capital projects for the campus.

CONSTRUCTION

In February Convacation talk, I addressed the future capital proects for the campus.

• Two parking structures are to be builtone on 24th Street between Burt and California, with a second site at 20th and Cass Streets proximate to the Law School and Davis Square. Both projects will begin in mid-May and are scheduled for completion in early January 2006. There will be congestion, to be sure, but our plans for alternate parking should address the major concerns. As an aside, your parking fees will be increased over the next several years to bring them in line with comparable settings in Omaha and on university campuses generally.
• Phase Two of student town homes will begin construction in mid-May on the site occupied by the Murphy Building. The project will house 300-310 students and is scheduled for completion in July 2006. Given the popularity of Davis Square, the new units will replicate much of what has been successful in Davis Square.
• This summer, Phase Two of the central mall will continue westward to Gallagher Hall and the Humanities Building. While less aggressive than last year’s mall reconstruction, this addition will have a significant impact on the total “effect” of our campus living room.
• In another update, I will comment on a third significant construction project, the Student Living and Learning Center.

PERSONNEL

As you may know, the University has appointed Dr. Steven Friedrichsen as the Dean of the School of Dentistry. Dr. Friedrichsen comes to Creighton from Idaho State University. He will assume the position on Aug. 1, 2005.

The search for the Dean of the School of Business Administration is progressing well. Finalists are returning for second interviews this week.

Let me end with a significant update concerning the NCAA and its evaluation of Division I athletic programs.

In late February, the NCAA introduced its most recent tool for the evaluation of the academic quality of participating programs. The APR, the Academic Progress Report, is intended to gauge the progress student-athletes are making to degree completion and graduation.

Creighton, of all Division I programs in the United States, ranked #7 (tied) for academic progress and success. On a scale of 1000, seven CU teams scored a perfect 1000 and seven were considerably above the 925 cut off. Creighton’s composite score was 987 and ranked #7 in the country. This is a great accomplishment considering we continue to have winning programs. As an institution, we are deeply grateful to the Athletic Department and to the academic liaisons that made this enviable success possible. I do not know of a better program in the entire Jesuit network.

Finally, let me end with an interesting statistic. Creighton’s Online Ministries offers a variety of programs from the Daily Reflections, to online retreats, to streamed talks and much more. During the month of February, that site had over 2,250,000 “hits.” The numbers for March are projected to be even higher. Congratulations to Andy Alexander, S.J., and Maureen Waldron for getting the Creighton name out in cyberspace with such magnitude. Every “hit” has a Creighton moniker! Through this program, the University is gaining international recognition and the users are gleaning spiritual sustenance!

Have a blessed and peace-filled Easter and Passover celebration.

Go Jays!

John P. Schlegel, S.J.
President