Ave Maria University

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Ave Maria University
Image:avemariauniversity.jpg
Established: 2003
Type: Private
Religious affiliation: Roman Catholic
President: Nicholas J. Healy, Jr.
Undergraduates: 450[1]
Postgraduates: 150[1]
Location: Ave Maria, Florida, USA
Website: www.avemaria.edu

Ave Maria University is a new private university with a Roman Catholic character and liturgical tradition in southwest Florida, founded in 2003 by Tom Monaghan, Catholic philanthropist and retired founder of Domino's Pizza. Bishop Frank Dewane, the local Catholic ordinary, has endorsed the university.[2] The university moved into its permanent campus, situated in the planned town of Ave Maria, 17 miles (27 km) east of Naples, Florida, in August 2007. Current total enrollment is approximately 600 students.[1]

Monaghan calls Ave Maria the first Roman Catholic university established in over 40 years. His goal is to create a Roman Catholic university faithful to the magisterium of the Catholic Church. Monaghan said "We wanted to build a major Catholic university in the southern part of the United States with the highest standards."

The university's founding has generated controversies including Monaghan's vision of creating a town that would encourage beliefs consistent with the Roman Catholic faith, as well as the unexplained March 2007 firing of its first provost, Joseph Fessio.

Contents

[edit] Founding

Monaghan initiated the founding of Ave Maria University with a donation of $250 million.[3] The Barron Collier family donated the land in southwest Florida for the campus. In August 2003, the university opened an interim campus in The Vineyards in Naples, Florida, enrolling some 100 undergraduate students, 75 of whom were freshmen.[3]

[edit] Accreditation status

As a new university, Ave Maria is pursuing accreditation with the appropriate collegiate authorities. In 2007, the university applied for accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools after withdrawing an earlier application to the same organization, in order to accommodate the accreditation of its new campus.[4] The university also currently has preaccreditation status with the smaller American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE).[5] University officials have admitted that lack of accreditation is one reason for the school's slow enrollment growth.[4]

[edit] Academic degrees

Ave Maria University currently offers ten undergraduate and three graduate degrees.[6] Graduate programs include M.A. and Ph.D. studies in Theology and a Master of Theological Studies for "non-traditional students."[7] The university also offers an undergraduate Pre-Theologate program, which prepares men for the seminary, paralleled by a religious discernment program for women. Undergraduate students must complete all courses in the core curriculum, with more than 10 required courses, including a full year of Latin, courses in philosophy, theology, literature, science, math, history and political science. The philosophical emphasis of the school is based on Thomism.

[edit] Undergraduate degrees

[edit] Campus

The new campus is located in the planned town of Ave Maria, Florida, under construction about 17 miles (27 km) east of Naples. The town site occupies about 5,000 acres (20 km²), of which nearly 20 percent are designated for the campus. The area was previously used primarily for farming. Several more master-planned communities are under construction or planned in the immediately surrounding area, north and south of the campus. Managed wetlands lie north and west of the campus. Wildlife preservation and restoration projects have also been instituted on the site, to preserve a degree of its natural state.

[edit] Residential life

Dorms are not coed. Quiet hours (9-9 on weekdays, 11-10 on weekends) are enforced by residence assistants and adjusted by residence directors. Students’ apartments are open to members of the opposite sex during open hours only. Chapels are located in each of the three dorms and contain an altar for Holy Mass, and tabernacles housing the Eucharist perpetually. Members of the clergy, who live on campus, assist in maintaining strong spiritual life. Televisions are only permitted in common areas, though students are allowed to use their computers to play videos in the dorms and common rooms. Social life on campus includes intramural sports, drama productions, talent shows, excursions, dances, and many other events. Students are encouraged to organize and participate in wholesome social and recreational activities. Drinking is only permitted in private quarters, or where deemed appropriate by the residence director(s). Men and women are encouraged to dress in modest attire, in accordance with standards of decency.

[edit] Liturgy

Mass is offered in the Ave Maria Oratory, the landmark building on campus, which is located in the heart of town. The parish serves the town and the university. Traditional liturgical actions are encouraged, including kneeling for communion, the use of Latin, the daily praying of the Angelus (especially at lunch time, when a bell is rung across campus), the use of incense, and male-only altar servers at Mass. The chaplaincy has issued directives regarding the use of Latin, ad orientem posture (the priest facing the altar, away from the congregation), and kneeling for communion. Other Masses are said in English with the priest facing the people. The Sunday Mass schedule begins with 7:30 Tridentine Mass, 9:00 Novus Ordo, 10:30 English, 12:00 English, and 8:00 P.M. Praise and Worship. The thrice daily Masses are 7:50, Noon, and 5:15. On Tuesday and Thursday at 7:50 A.M. the Latin "Tridentine" is often said.

[edit] Controversies

For controversies surrounding development of the town of Ave Maria, Florida, see Ave Maria, Florida.

[edit] Provost status

On March 21, 2007, the provost of the university, Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J., was dismissed for undisclosed reasons. In a formal statement, Monaghan, in his role as chancellor, stated only that the dismissal was because of "irreconcilable differences over administrative policies and practices."[8] However, some articles covering the firing cite administrative conflicts over Fessio's traditional style of liturgical worship.[9] Fessio was reinstated the following day as theologian-in-residence and continues to work with the university in its study abroad program and as a professor of theology on campus, teaching courses that have received favorable student reviews.

The position of provost is currently vacant.

[edit] FERPA violation

On February 25, 2008, the Naples Daily News reported that Ave Maria University leaked federally protected student data such as grade point averages and detailed exam evaluations. [10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Catholic college crosses new ground - USATODAY.com
  2. ^ "Bishop dedicates Ave Maria University Oratory", Catholic Online, 2008-Apr-05. Accessed 2008-04-23
  3. ^ a b Ave Maria University
  4. ^ a b url=[1]
  5. ^ Ave Maria University
  6. ^ Ave Maria University | Academics
  7. ^ Welcome to The Institute for Pastoral Theology :: The Program
  8. ^ "Top Ave Maria official dismissed", Naples Daily News (Mar. 21, 2007)
  9. ^ Brian Mershon, "Chaos erupts at Ave Maria University after Fr. Fessio firing; McCaffrey: Traditionalist Catholics need not apply", Renew America, Apr. 3, 2007
  10. ^ "Ave Maria Web site publicly releases private student records"

[edit] External links