It's official.
After much debate, research and critical consideration, the issue that has taken the forefront on the Evergreen campus and beyond over the past few months has been put to rest. In a unanimous vote, the Executive Committee of Loyola's Board of Trustees recently confirmed the decision to change Loyola's designation from a "College" to a "University". As part of the most recent strategic plan to further Loyola's progress in the environment of higher education, on August 15, 2009 the school will henceforth be called "Loyola University Maryland".
"Loyola's progress has been dramatic over the last 40 years, and that has all been the result of very careful planning that brings the school to the next level," said Loyola President Fr. Brian Linnane, S.J. "We felt that the designation "College" didn't really communicate what this institution had become over the course of the past four decades and so we felt that this was now the time to make this change."
Though the decision for a name change may seem sudden and rash to some, the process has actually being ongoing for a while now.
The latest strategic plan in which the topic of a designation change first surfaced began a couple years ago, when Linnane and company found that Loyola was among the top Catholic comprehensive universities in the country, comprehensive meaning a well-rounded school generally with strengths in various areas like arts and sciences, core, and undergraduate and graduate programs. After assessing where Loyola stood, the next step was clear - to move towards being the premiere Catholic university in the nation. The plan for this goal underwent revision upon revision over the past year.
Then the basic question arose: why not change the school's designation?
The procedure and discussions then began. In addition to seeking feedback from various Loyola constituencies, the school utilized the higher education consulting firm, SimpsonScarborough, to conduct research regarding the possible change and how it would affect Loyola on both a positive and negative level.
The Board was also very careful to examine the costs associated with a name change and where the money would come from (funds already in place allocated for the expenses). After rounds of research reinforced that the change to a "university" would indeed be beneficial, the Board of Trustees moved towards authorizing their Executive Committee and making the final decision.
"This is not a decision we made lightly," said Board Chairman H. Edward Hanway recently to Loyola public relations. "We've engaged in conversations on this matter for months with Loyola constituents. The research reports reinforced the feedback we received from other channels - that the designation change is the right choice for Loyola, not just at this point in it's history but for years to come."
However, while the majority of individuals, particularly students, have become more and more receptive to the name change over the past few months, many Loyola College alumni remain strongly opposed to the Board's decision.
"I think the only reason we're just changing the name is in hope of keeping up with other great academic institutions," said alumna Meaghan Biraer. "But we have the College of Holy Cross and Boston College which are both great schools without a designation change."
Many alumni argue that the change from "Loyola College" to "Loyola University Maryland" will actually make the institution less unique because of the other Loyolas across the country. Some say that buying into the franchise mentality and marketing strategy will cost Loyola its distinct brand and lessen the school's reputation as a close-knit and student-focused environment.
"The term college, to me means a liberal arts institution," said alumnus Michael Campitelli. "I think by switching the name to university, the small intimate feelings you get associated with that term goes away."
Yet, while the name may change, the values that Loyola's reputation is rooted in, what's important overall will remain the same, says Linanne.
"I hope that they realize that Loyola is still Loyola. It's the same experience and we're not turning our back on anything that is fundamentally important to the school. I hope that there would be some trust in my commitment to the school, my wanting to see it improve. I'm looking concretely at where the situation for higher education is at the moment, where Loyola is and where we need to go. Because we cannot stay the same. If we stay the same, we fall back."
While the change is indeed an issue that has raised controversy out of fear of losing what Loyola College has become, it is important to note that other changes in the past are what allowed Loyola to grow into the institution it is today.
One of the most prominent aspects of Loyola College is, of course, the Sellinger School of Business and Management. In September of 2007, U.S. News and World Report ranked Loyola's undergraduate program tied for second in Best Universities Masters (North) while Business Week named Loyola among the world's 20 largest providers of part-time graduate business education for full-time professionals. Thus, it is hard to believe that in the 60's, then president Fr. Sellinger (from whom the school derives its name) at first opposed the idea of incorporating a business school into Loyola and was at first focused more on making it a strong liberal arts college like rival Holy Cross.
However, recognizing the educational needs that business warranted in the location, Sellinger became open to change and soon strove to make Loyola a comprehensive university and eventually establish the now very distinguished business school despite some controversy.
Other changes in the past that have certainly added to Loyola's growth and success were the university's decision to become coeducational in 1971 and an increase in resources put into graduate programs under former President Fr. Ridley to make them more first-rate among competing institutions.
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