2024年5月6日
皇冠体育和Mount Mercy大学宣布计划考虑战略合并 两所天主教大学签署新协议，扩大学生的课程选择
皇冠体育和Mount Mercy大学的校长很高兴地宣布签署一项新的联合协议，因为他们认为这是一个开创性和创新的战略组合的潜力。 直接的协议允许学生从2024年秋季开始参加两所大学的一系列课程，无论是面对面的，还是混合形式或在线形式。
This arrangement, which was approved by each university’s board of trustees, will lead to more pathways for students at both institutions. 两所大学还在敲定第二份协议，以促进合格学生从本科到研究生学位课程的无缝过渡。 总的来说，这包括进入18个独立的研究生课程的途径，以及各种成人学习者的证书和学位完成课程。
“This deepened collaboration lays the foundation for a new model of Catholic higher education. The expanded pathways that this collaboration provides for our students and our communities will be groundbreaking.”
– Dr. Todd A. Olson,
President of 皇冠体育
“In the current higher education environment, this type of work represents a bold and proactive approach to capitalize on the current academic and financial strength of both Mount Mercy and St. Ambrose,” says Dr. Amy Novak, president of St. Ambrose University. “Currently, both universities boast a number of strong financial indicators. This joint work promises to strengthen our collective ability to innovate and grow as vibrant, values-based leaders in our marketplace.”
“This deepened collaboration lays the foundation for a new model of Catholic higher education. The expanded pathways that this collaboration provides for our students and our communities will be groundbreaking,” says Dr. Todd A. Olson, president of 皇冠体育.
一年多来，两所院校一直在讨论合作的机会，努力提高传统学生和成人学习者的负担能力和获得优质教育的机会。 预期的学生福利包括：
- 有可能缩短完成学位所需的时间。
- 在医疗保健、工程、婚姻和家庭治疗、社会工作、公共卫生、教育和商业领域，扩大了从本科课程无缝转入研究生课程的机会。
- 加强核心课程，注重整体形成，并在两所大学的天主教传统基础上发展道德决策框架。
- 为成人学习者提供了完成学位、获得证书和提高技能的新机会，使他们在劳动力市场上更具竞争力。
- 四城和锡达拉皮兹社区的新利益和可能性。
这两所非营利性大学仍然专注于长期可持续性，并采取相应措施控制高等教育成本，增加学生入学机会。 两位总裁表示，通过探索战略合并，可能有机会利用共同的行政职能和规模经济来实现成本节约和更高效的运营。
“We have seen great collaboration between our two universities in recent years,” says Olson. “We both strongly value our students, our communities, and our missions, and have seen the results that can come from expanding opportunities with other like-minded institutions. We must remain innovative in the current higher education landscape and be proactive in our learner-centered approaches, rather than waiting to see what happens.”
天主教学院和大学协会（Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities）的联合主席丹尼斯·霍尔特施奈德（Dennis Holtschneider）神父和唐娜·m·卡罗尔（Donna M. Carroll）博士对此表示赞同，并指出，这正是他们一直鼓励大学探索的积极活动类型。 “We know these are challenging times for our colleges and universities,” says Carroll. “We fully support the work St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy are doing to lead the way in creating a leading-edge, responsive and sustainable future for Catholic higher education.”
两所大学计划在未来几个月就潜在的战略合并扩大对话，确保所有行动都经过适当的尽职调查，并遵守所有适用的监管和认证机构的要求。
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