“The mission that the Church, with great hope, entrusts to Catholic Universities holds a cultural and religious meaning of vital importance because it concerns the very future of humanity.” - Ex Corde Ecclesiae (ECE)
Presidential
PROFILE
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An Extraordinary
LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY The Ave Maria University Board of Trustees invites nominations, inquiries and applications for the Office of President of the University.
The University takes as its mission the sponsorship of a liberal arts education curriculum dedicated, as articulated in the apostolic constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae, to the advancement of human culture, the promotion of dialogue between faith and reason, the formation of men and women in the intellectual and moral virtues of the Catholic faith, and to the development of professional
and pre-professional programs in response to local and societal needs. As an institution committed to Catholic principles, the University recognizes the importance of creating and maintaining an environment in which faith informs the life of the community and takes expression in all its programs. The University recognizes the central and indispensable role of the Ordinary of the Diocese of Venice in promoting and assisting in the preservation and strengthening of the University’s Catholic identity. The University was founded in 2003 and moved to its permanent Florida campus in the fall of 2007. The University has grown with a unique and exciting vision to proudly be an
authentic, orthodox, Catholic institution; deeply committed to the highest standards of academic excellence; and committed to transforming the lives of students who will be prepared to impact the world for good as authentic Catholic leaders in whatever profession they choose. The opportunity to provide leadership for this lofty, visionary mission is indeed an extraordinary opportunity. The Presidential Search Committee has established qualifications, criteria, expectations, and preferences for the position that are detailed later in this Profile, along with specific instructions on how to submit an application. The following pages provide a broad overview of the University.
“In promoting [the] integration of knowledge, a specific part of a Catholic University’s task is to promote dialogue between faith and reason, so that it can be seen more profoundly how faith and reason bear harmonious witness to the unity of all truth.” - ECE
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Core Values &
CATHOLIC IDENTITY CORE VALUES Ave Maria University (AMU) is ardent about its Catholic faith. The truth of the Catholic faith is the core value of the University. It is called to serve the pursuit of truth with a spirit of love, and foster a genuine Marian devotion, as its name suggests. AMU wishes to be at the forefront of the “new evangelization”, which popes past and present have extolled. As a university, Ave Maria pursues truth for its own sake. Among those who are essential to maintaining the Catholic identity of the University are its trustees, administrators, faculty, staff, and students. The identity of its members matters, as do the kinds of activities they share in common. For this reason, the University is guided in its bylaws and current practices by clear membership norms and is committed to vibrantly sharing core activities and practices. Ave Maria University is a Catholic liberal arts-based institution of higher education devoted to the
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education of the whole person, a dynamic process engaging students in both the pursuit of academic excellence and a deep exploration of Catholic faith and culture. The essential mission of the University is conversion of heart and the development of a Christ-centered scholar prepared for lifelong learning, professional career, or pursuit of further graduate education.
CATHOLIC IDENTITY AND HISTORY In 1998, Ave Maria Institute was founded as a two-year institute of Catholic higher education with the encouragement and support of Bishop Carl F. Mengeling of the Diocese of Lansing, MI. After it began in September 1998 with 40 students, Ave Maria Institute quickly grew and developed an ambitious and far-reaching plan for its expansion. In 1999, it acquired a branch campus in Nicaragua. In the year 2000, Ave Maria College was preaccredited by the American Academy for Liberal Arts Education and approved by the
State of Michigan as a four-year, degree-granting educational institution offering the Bachelor of Philosophy degree. Ave Maria College graduated its first class in Spring 2002. The College received candidacy status from the North Central Association in the Spring of 2003. While originally conceived as a Michigan institution, the wisdom of becoming a Florida entity became increasingly clear. Thus, an interim campus of Ave Maria University was established at the Vineyards Campus, 1025 Commons Circle, in Naples, FL. This campus was located on seven acres and contained two four-story mid-rise, condominiumstyle residence halls, a two-story residence hall, indoor-outdoor recreational facilities, classrooms, academic laboratories, a multipurpose facility (bookstore, chapel-auditorium, visitors center, library, classrooms, and offices), an adoration chapel, a dining facility, offices for faculty and administrative personnel, and faculty residences. This campus contained more than
75,000 square feet of space. While the University launched its operations in this Vineyards Campus in North Naples, property acquisition, planning, permitting, and construction began on the permanent campus located east of Naples near the Immokalee community. In the Summer of 2007, the University opened the doors of its new campus in Ave Maria, FL. The campus is located in the community of Ave Maria, which is in Eastern Collier County on property between Oil Well Road and Camp Keais Road approximately 20 miles east of Naples, FL and 5 miles south from Immokalee. The campus opened with single-sex dormitories, the Canizaro Library, an academic building with classrooms, faculty offices, a lecture hall and an impressive array of scientific laboratories and equipment, a student union with a spacious dining hall, conference rooms, fitness room, student lounges, as well as several outdoor sports and recreational fields and courts. Adoration chapels
are located in the dormitories and in the Canizaro Library. On the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary in 2011, Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of the Diocese of Venice, FL, established Ave Maria University as a Catholic University according to the guidelines of the Code of Canon Law. In 2018, the University completed construction of the Thomas and Selby Prince Building, which includes the 400-seat O’Bryan Performance Hall, a state of the art nursing laboratory, and the Jack Donahue Black Box Theater. The University was built as a separate entity from the town of Ave Maria, but designed in a truly complimentary fashion. The University constructed a beautiful and distinctive church at the center of the town, which was later purchased by the Diocease of Venice and is now the Parish of Ave Maria. The land designated as the University District within Ave Maria is approximately 800 acres.
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Student
LIFE CAMPUS MINISTRY Campus Ministry facilitates spiritual life on campus and is at the core of the Catholic identity at Ave Maria. Whether it is supporting the sacramental life of the student body or putting on retreats and offering spiritual direction, the staff and priests of Campus Ministry strive to model and live the Gospel, helping all to “establish and nurture a loving relationship with Christ Jesus, our hope.” Campus Ministry works closely with Student Affairs to integrate the practice of the faith with a dynamic Catholic student life.
FAITH HOUSEHOLDS A Household is a group of female or male students who mutually support each other by spending time together in prayer and recreation. These Christ-centered groups strive for balanced, healthy, interpersonal relationships while they support and challenge each other to develop spiritually, emotionally, academically, and physically. Currently there are 17 Households (10 female and 7 male) officially recognized by the University.
RESIDENCE LIFE Residence Life is a key part of the overall education at Ave Maria University. It provides an opportunity to develop life-long friendships and enjoy company and surroundings that support and encourage students in their faith and vocation. The overarching principle governing life in the residence halls is courtesy toward others and the practice of Christian virtue. The residence halls are places where students can flourish in their vocation: places characterized by an atmosphere that mingles warm, free-flowing friendship with religious devotion and intellectual seriousness.
MOTHER TERESA PROJECT This program of service consists of local service opportunities, usually served in small increments of time, and also immersion service experiences,
both international and domestic. Ave Maria University has become the epicenter of devotion to Saint Teresa of Calcutta within Catholic higher education. In 2013, the religious order Mother Teresa founded in Calcutta, the Missionaries of Charity, granted the University permission to establish the Mother Teresa Project, the first-of-its kind in the world. No other college campus in America has a program of study and service which honors this modern-day saint. The goal of the Mother Teresa Project is to produce graduates who will spread her compassion and teachings to a new generation of Americans, and in the process, spread peace in the same manner as she did – one person at a time.
“BISHOPS HAVE A PARTICULAR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROMOTE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES, AND ESPECIALLY TO PROMOTE AND ASSIST IN THE PRESERVATION AND STRENGTHENING OF THEIR CATHOLIC IDENTITY...” - ECE 6
SOUTWEST FLORIDA AREA AMU is located in a vibrant community that is one of the safest in Florida. The town of Ave Maria has been the fastest growing community in southwestern Florida for the past seven years. AMU’s stateof-the-art campus is a 35-minute drive from Naples, the center of culture, history, and the arts in Southwest Florida. Naples is home to five performing arts groups and nine museums, along with Opera Naples, Artis-Naples (the Naples Philharmonic), Youth Orchestra and Philharmonic Youth Chorus. Fifth Avenue South, Naples’ main street, is filled with fashion boutique shops, cafes, delicatessens, gourmet restaurants, and book stores. Visitors and residents alike enjoy the sidewalk dining and freshly landscaped promenades of the historic downtown area. Along with its famous beaches, Naples offers boating, scuba diving, and paddle-boarding in the Gulf of Mexico. Among its world-class parks are the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens; Naples Botanical Gardens, a 170-acre garden paradise featuring plants and cultures of the tropics and subtropics; and the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a 13,000-acre Preserve with a 2.25 mile boardwalk meandering through a pristine wilderness that dates back more than 500 years. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is less than an hour’s drive from the AMU campus.
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sept 7, 2021: ranked one of florida’s best christian colleges -lordslibrary.com
Academic
PROGRAMS “Students are challenged to pursue an education that combines excellence in humanistic and cultural development with specialized professional training.” - ECE
CORE CURRICULUM Curriculum includes 14 courses or 56 credits out of the total 128 credits required for the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. To graduate with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a candidate must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements; complete the requirements within a major according to the specifications of the respective discipline; and earn a minimum of 128 credit hours from the Core, the major, and elective courses. Transfer students must complete at least 32 credit hours of coursework at AMU.
31 MAJORS AND 29 MINORS The top majors among the 31 offered at the University are: Business Administration, Psychology, Exercise Physiology, Biology, and Theology. The top minors are: Theology, Psychology, Biology, Elementary Education, Health Science, Literature, Shakespeare in Performance, and Business Administration.
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HONORS PROGRAM The Honors Program allows high-achieving and highly-motivated students to experience the Core Curriculum in a more challenging, accelerated and enriching manner, creating additional opportunities for integrated studies. The Honors Program extends beyond the classroom, the library, and the laboratory, as it fosters a genuine fellowship of Christian intellectual inquiry and conversation.
STUDY ABROAD IN ROME AMU partners with Thomas More College to create an opportunity for students seeking to study abroad to take courses for credit in Rome.
march 4, 2021: 17th best undergraduate program in biology-study.com march 31, 2021: 2nd best in value physiology & pathology sciences -courseadvisor.com
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PATRICK F. TAYLOR GRADUATE PROGRAMS The Patrick F. Taylor Graduate Programs in Theology offer students both M.A. and Ph.D. degree programs in Theology. Guided by a highly qualified faculty, graduate students at Ave Maria University have the opportunity to read deeply in Sacred Scripture, the Church Fathers, Thomas Aquinas, and John Paul II. There are now 34 alumni of the Ph.D. program in Theology serving in various capacities in the Church and academy.
LUX MUNDI / ON-LINE PROGRAMS AMU offers a limited number of courses and degree programs, including an MBA, at a distance in a fully online modality. This program is called “Lux Mundi” (Light of the World). The courses and degree programs offered are formally part of Ave Maria University and share in the institution’s accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Course scheduling in the Lux Mundi program consist of six, seven-week terms throughout the year.
september 2020: 1st best small college degree in economics 10
-bestvalueschools.org
september 2020: 22nd best health science degree -learning.org
Special Centers &
PROGRAMS THE AQUINAS CENTER FOR THEOLOGICAL RENEWAL In response to Pope Saint John Paul II’s call for a New Evangelization, the Aquinas Center for Theological Renewal aims at providing scholarly resources that will assist in a transformation – a new evangelization – of the academic discipline of Theology. It seeks to reinvigorate the place of Catholic Theology in the academy by supporting research, writing, lecturing, and teaching.
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CATHOLIC SCHOLARS AND ARTISTS The aim of the American Academy of Catholic Scholars and Artists (“Academy” or “AACSA”) is to identify, connect, support, and cultivate an elite group of Catholic scholars and artists who comprise the intellectual leadership of the Catholic Church in America, are dedicated to exploring questions in the Catholic intellectual and artistic traditions, and seek to engage the modern world in the Church’s universal call to holiness.
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“EVERY CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY FEELS RESPONSIBLE TO CONTRIBUTE CONCRETELY TO THE PROGRESS OF THE SOCIETY WITHIN WHICH IT WORKS...” - ECE
ATHLETICS The Gyrenes compete in 21 varsity team sports in the Sun Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Ave Maria University is committed to the philosophy that academic excellence and athletic excellence are mutually compatible. The University’s Athletics Department strives to enable students to live out Pope St. John Paul II’s vision of sports and the overall idea of physical, moral and social development through its athletic programs. The program provides students with a constructive learning experience that enables significant growth and enhances the development of values that will be critical for personal and professional success in the future. AMU’s athletic programs are developed and maintained in an environment where academic pursuits have priority and all students are expected to maintain the proper balance between athletics and academics.
WOMENS
CROSS COUNTRY
SOCCER **
TRACK AND FIELD
DANCE
SOFTBALL **
VOLLEYBALL **
BASKETBALL **
GOLF
SWIM AND DIVE
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
LACROSSE
TENNIS **
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MENS
CROSS COUNTRY
SWIM AND DIVE
FOOTBALL
TENNIS **
BASEBALL **
GOLF
TRACK AND FIELD
BASKETBALL **
SOCCER **
** - In addition to
varsity, AMU offers a JV or Developmental level of competition in these sports. 13
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Financial and
FUNDRAISING INFO
Gifts from its Founder, Thomas S. Monaghan, were the impetus for the land acquisitions and construction of the interim and permanent campuses, as well as campus operations during the University’s initial decade. The university’s second president, Jim Towey, took up the office in the spring of 2011 and endeavored to establish a foundation for long-term financial stability by increasing enrollment revenue. During his tenure, AMU achieved commendable success both in securing restricted and unrestricted charitable
donations, and more than doubling the enrollment revenue (tuition, fees, room & board) from its 2010 level. As with many other private colleges, Ave Maria University faces the ongoing challenge to grow revenue (both from enrollment and fundraising) and manage its expenses. AMU’s additional sources of revenue come from transactions resulting from the growth of the town of Ave Maria, conferences, and income from investments.
“A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY, AS CATHOLIC, INFORMS AND CARRIES OUT ITS RESEARCH, TEACHING, AND ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES WITH CATHOLIC IDEALS, PRINCIPLES AND ATTITUDES.” - ECE 15
Leadership
PRIORITIES “The identity of a Catholic University is essentially linked to the quality of its teachers and to respect for Catholic doctrine.” - ECE
ADVANCE THE UNIVERSITY WHILE STAYING TRUE TO AMU’S FOUNDING PRINCIPLES Ave Maria University was founded by lay Catholics to be a university passionately devoted to the rich intellectual traditions of the Church, dedicated to remaining faithful to the magisterium and offering an educational program steeped in the liberal arts. The University has embraced high standards with a vigorous commitment to academic excellence. These standards are reflected in its quality faculty, staff, student life programs, and facilities. Faculty members of outstanding caliber, dedicated to teaching and student development, provide each student a rewarding and personal educational experience. Over the last decade, the University has grown its enrollment, greatly expanded the number of majors and increased the number of extracurricular programs available to its students, all while remaining true to its core principles and aspiration to be a leader in returning Catholic higher education to its roots. While the landscape of American higher education continues to experience turmoil and significant changes, the new president will be mindful of, and committed to, the legacy commitments of the University and its mission. The next president will be ready to guide the University in a rapidly changing world which needs authentic Catholic leaders, both in the Church and society as a whole.
INCREASE REVENUES WHILE MAINTAINING HIGH STANDARDS AND THE CULTURE OF AVE MARIA Christopher Ice, the University’s third president, assumed office in January 2020 and recruited record enrollment for the University. Both the 2021 incoming cohort of students and the cohort of returning students are the largest in the history of the school. There are approximately 150 more 16
undergraduate students on the campus during the current year than the previous year. There are currently 1,230 full-time undergraduate students enrolled at AMU and the total enrollment including part-time students and graduates students is 1,303. The University’s current facilities can accommodate approximately 1,200 residential undergraduates. A significant priority for the next president will be to increase revenue. The next president will have the opportunity to solidify and expand upon the strong foundation that has been established. The president will be challenged to increase enrollment revenue within the University’s unique mission, legacy, and exceptional campus culture.
ARTICULATE AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO GROW THE DONOR BASE Founded by a truly magnanimous businessman, Tom Monaghan, with a great vision for a world class, faithful Catholic university,
the school has been the recipient of his truly extraordinary generosity. Monaghan’s vision and founding principles have been warmly embraced by a significant number of enthusiastic and loyal supporters who have generously supported the University during these formative
decades. Monaghan also creatively structured a business arrangement connected with the growth of the town of Ave Maria to benefit the University, which currently provides ongoing operational support and holds enormous potential for longterm, endowment-type support for the University. The University, like most private universities, has had to weather significant financial challenges. As previously mentioned, Ave Maria University needs to increase its net revenue. This factor emphasizes the priority of continuing to build enrollment to strengthen AMU’s overall financial operations. Yet, through the dedication and leadership of its administration, faculty and staff, the University has remained loyal to its mission often with personal sacrifice for the overall benefit of the university. 92% of the professors hold a PhD or equivalent and are
exceptional classroom teachers dedicated to their students. As the University continues to grow and fortify its finances, it looks forward to being able to reward its faculty and staff with better salaries, benefits, and personal opportunities. AMU, like all institutions of higher education in America, must constantly work to increase financial support to sustain the University’s mission, including its commitment to keep the cost of attendance as low as possible in order to ensure this faithful, quality Catholic education is accessible to everyday Catholic families across the country. The governing board is seeking a new president who will relish the challenge and be devoted to strengthening the financial status by expanding the donor base, increasing charitable giving to the institution, and developing innovative alternative sources of income. Financial stability will insure that its noble mission will not only be sustained but will allow the University to grow and flourish as it strives to be a beacon in Catholic higher education.
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CONSTANTLY IMPROVE STUDENT RETENTION AND SATISFACTION WHILE MAINTAINING INTEGRATION BETWEEN ATHLETICS AND ACADEMICS Although last year, AMU achieved its highest retention rate in a decade, student retention and satisfaction remain key objectives. The University is also committed to maintaining a unique athletic program that is fully integrated with its Catholic mission and identity. The board will expect the next president to improve student retention and ensure the athletics program serves the mission and identity of the University.
MAINTAIN STRONG BOARD-PRESIDENT PARTNERSHIP As with all highly effective organizations, the Board of Trustees requires the continuation of a strong partnership bond between the board and the new president. The board has established high expectations from its members and they are committed to support Ave Maria University with their considerable business and academic experience and wisdom, their financial resources, their time, and their daily prayers. The board members look forward to welcoming their new president and developing a strong working partnership that is transparent and open with a high level of trust.
“EVERY CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IS TO MAINTAIN COMMUNION WITH THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH AND THE HOLY SEE; IT IS TO BE IN CLOSE COMMUNION WITH THE LOCAL CHURCH AND IN PARTICULAR WITH THE DIOCESAN BISHOPS OF THE REGION OR THE NATION IN WHICH IT IS LOCATED.” - ECE 18
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Desired Presidential
ATTRIBUTES THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY WILL: Be a devout, faithful, authentic, orthodox Catholic who has demonstrated a deep commitment of loyalty to Christ and His Church and will passionately embrace the University’s legacy, mission, identity and core values as a Catholic liberal arts university. Fearlessly practice personal Christian faith externally and openly to lead by example for students, faculty, staff, and all of the University community, and will demonstrate personal devotion to Christ, His Blessed Mother, and the Catholic Church. Be a committed advocate of the Catholic, liberal arts educational tradition. Have a record as an open, candid leader of an entity preferably of the size and complexity of AMU or larger, and who understands the need for, and embraces a partnership with, the Board of Trustees.
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Have experience in and with Catholic higher education, preferably in a leadership/administrative capacity. Demonstrate personal joy and eagerness in fundraising from individuals, foundations, and businesses. Possess suitable academic credentials (PhD preferred). Show evidence of financial and business acumen. Present highly successful public and interpersonal communication skills. Be a person with a track record of leading with strength tempered by Christian humility. Be approachable, willing to listen to others, and respect the views of others. Be authentic - inspiring trust, respect and confidence.
“...THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SHOULD GIVE A PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION OF ITS FAITH IN ITS DAILY ACTIVITY, WITH IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF REFLECTION AND OF PRAYER.” - ECE 21
NOMINATIONS, INQUIRIES AND APPLICATIONS The Search Committee will begin to review applications in December 2021 and continue until an appointment is made. Applications must include: A one-page statement summarizing the applicant’s interest in this position. A one-page statement that highlights the applicant’s understanding of Pope St. John Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae. A statement addressing the Leadership Priorities and Desired Presidential Attributes. Curriculum vitae. Five professional references with e-mail addresses and telephone numbers. References will be contacted only for selected candidates at an advanced stage of the search, and then only with prior authorization from the applicant. Nominations and Electronic Submissions may be submitted to: President.Search@avemaria.edu Hard copies may be mailed to: Ave Maria University ATTN: Eugene Munin 5050 Ave Maria Blvd Ave Maria, Florida 34142
Ave Maria University does not discriminate in employment opportunities, practices or the terms and conditions of employment based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Additional information about Ave Maria University may be found at avemaria.edu.
WWW.AVEMARIA.EDU 5050 AVE MARIA BOULEVARD | AVE MARIA, FL 34142-9505 | PRESIDENT.SEARCH@AVEMARIA.EDU