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No longer hidden, Ohio Dominican becomes precious educational show piece |
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By Felix
Hoover
For Your
News Columbus
August 25,
2010
Even after
changing its role from a small, women's-only college, Ohio Dominican
University long remained a hidden gem on the East Side.
As it
approaches its centennial, Ohio Dominican University continues to add
buildings, programs and people as it claims greater prominence on the
local education scene as a four-year liberal arts institution.
The school
was founded in 1911 by the Dominican Sisters of the Congregation of St.
Mary of the Springs, now the Dominican Sisters of Peace. The
congregation’s roots in Ohio date to 1830 in Somerset, about 45 miles
southeast of Columbus in Perry County.
A fire in
1866 at the school operated by the sisters, St. Mary’s Academy,
eventually led them to the current location, on land donated by
businessman Theodore Leonard. In those days, the area was two miles east
of a young Columbus.
In 1964,
the College of St. Mary of the Springs became a coeducational
institution and changed its name to Ohio Dominican College. It became
Ohio Dominican University in 2002.
This fall,
more than 3,100 students will be enrolled in day, evening and online
programs in 50 majors. Many students commute, but new residence halls
make living on campus an option for more students.
Fall
enrollees will be greeted by a new president, Peter Cimbolic, who had
been provost and vice president for academic affairs at Marywood
University in Scranton, Pa. July 1 marked his start date at ODU.
In
accepting the presidential appointment he said, “As the university
enters its second century of providing the highest quality education in
a student-centered environment, I believe ODU will reach new heights on
its Path to Preeminence, continuing to be inspired by its Catholic and
Dominican roots. I look forward to being part of the transformative
power of ODU as it continues to impact and improve the lives of the
students and the community it serves."
Cimbolic's
immediate predecessor at Ohio Dominican is Interim President Ron
Seiffert, who resumed duties as vice president for university resources.
Another
former interim president leaves his imprint on the campus as well,
Bishop James A. Griffin, interim in 2007-2008. He led the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Columbus from 1983 to 2004 and remains on the faculty as a
professor of theology.
His
influence looms even larger because the Bishop James A. Griffin Student
Center , which opened in August 2009, was named in his honor. The
building also houses a bust of him.
The
student center includes recreation and entertainment space, a gymnasium,
conference rooms, food service, a student radio station and meditation
and worship space. The center sits on the west side of Sunbury Road, a
long punt away from the football field.
Football
didn’t become a varsity sport at the school until 2004, but the program
has gained respect in that short time. In January, Bill Conley, formerly
an assistant coach at Ohio State, was named head coach of the Panthers.
The
athletic program will begin competing in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate
Athletics Conference in the 2010-11 season and expects to gain full
membership with the NCAA next year.
Across the
street, construction of Battelle Hall is on schedule for opening at the
end of August, when fall semester begins, said John Palmer, director of
University Relations. The $9 million science facility will house
instructional and research labs and will feature state-of-the-art
equipment.
In
addition to the 72 acres along Sunbury Road, Ohio Dominican has campuses
at Easton and Tuttle Crossing. Its Learning Enhanced Adult Degree
program, a nontraditional program for working adults, is offered at all
three sites.
The
school’s mission statement espouses: “Truth is the basis of human
freedom and the source of human effectiveness,” and aligns with the
Dominican motto: “to contemplate truth and to share with others the
fruits of this contemplation.”
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