Does not play well with others
Fri, Aug18, 2006 - Category: University
"But what Bonilla and his university won't talk about
is the price Franciscan paid for the assistance it
gave to one college in particular, Ave Maria
University."
Our Sunday Visitor, Aug. 10,
2006 - excerpt from "New Catholic colleges seek
fidelity, face obstacles, present challenges" -
Max Bonilla, vice president of academic affairs at Franciscan University, said that more Catholic colleges give students more places to study, noting that over the years Franciscan has supported fledgling schools in several ways, including forming a foundation in the 1990s that helped new Catholic colleges get off the ground.
"No one wants to be the only Catholic university. Without support from other schools we couldn't survive," he said.
But what Bonilla and his university won't talk about is the price Franciscan paid for the assistance it gave to one college in particular, Ave Maria University. Franciscan lost key faculty and staff, prospective students and important donors to the Naples, Fla.-based school. And other universities have as well.
According to Richard Yanikoski, president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Ave Maria's new location has presented a particular challenge to other Catholic universities because many typically travel to Naples, one of the wealthiest retirement communities in the country, to solicit donors and alumni. Ave Maria's permanent location there now puts other schools at a distinct disadvantage.
Yanikoski is also concerned about the way a few of the newer schools have promoted themselves - not just trumpeting their own virtues, but drawing attention to others' weaknesses.
"Every institution has its imperfections. But the preferred Christian response is to encourage our brothers and sisters, not publicly write them off," he said.
Max Bonilla, vice president of academic affairs at Franciscan University, said that more Catholic colleges give students more places to study, noting that over the years Franciscan has supported fledgling schools in several ways, including forming a foundation in the 1990s that helped new Catholic colleges get off the ground.
"No one wants to be the only Catholic university. Without support from other schools we couldn't survive," he said.
But what Bonilla and his university won't talk about is the price Franciscan paid for the assistance it gave to one college in particular, Ave Maria University. Franciscan lost key faculty and staff, prospective students and important donors to the Naples, Fla.-based school. And other universities have as well.
According to Richard Yanikoski, president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Ave Maria's new location has presented a particular challenge to other Catholic universities because many typically travel to Naples, one of the wealthiest retirement communities in the country, to solicit donors and alumni. Ave Maria's permanent location there now puts other schools at a distinct disadvantage.
Yanikoski is also concerned about the way a few of the newer schools have promoted themselves - not just trumpeting their own virtues, but drawing attention to others' weaknesses.
"Every institution has its imperfections. But the preferred Christian response is to encourage our brothers and sisters, not publicly write them off," he said.