Nursing student Lynda Garrison graduates on ABC7 Chicago

Saint Xavier held its Winter Commencement on Saturday, Dec. 20, in the Shannon Athletic Center, and ABC7 Chicago was on hand to capture SXU School of Nursing student Lynda Garrison, of Riverdale, receive her B.S.N.

In October 2007, Garrison won the "Swan House," a home in south suburban Riverdale that Chris Swan and ABC7's Jim Rose helped build. The idea behind the program was to build a home for a single mother pursuing her college education.

The journey came full circle as Garrison received her bachelor’s.

Contact:

Joe Moore

Director, Media Relations

(773) 203-6671

SXU Associate Provost Dale Fast interviewed by CBS Chicago

CBS Chicago television reporter Kristyn Hartman interviewed Saint Xavier University Associate Provost Dale Fast today outside of the Warde Academic Center.

The story about the possible effect of the economy on enrollments at American universities will most likely appear at some point over the next three days.

Saint Xavier featured on Association of the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education site

A Saint Xavier University Student tends the 1,000 roof garden on top of Arthur Rubloff Hall, the first university building in the state of Illinois to receive a LEED Gold designation for green construction practices.

Saint Xavier University is the spotlight campus this week for the Association of the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

Click http://www.aashe.org/ to learn more about AASHE or go to http://greencampus.sxu.edu/ to learn more about Saint Xavier's many green efforts, including the construction of Illinois' first University building to receive the LEED Gold Designation from the U.S. Green Building Council and the GreenBike share program.

For more information, contact:
Joe Moore
Director, Media Relations
(773) 298-3937

Mother Agatha O’Brien Hall receives ASHRAE award for green innovations

Photo from left to right: Bradley Schnee, Project Architect, Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB); Todd Czworniak, Asst. Project Mechanical Engineer, Environmental Systems Design (ESD); Caroline Wolske, Asst. Project Architect, SCB; Michael McDermott, Senior Project Engineer, ESD; Paul J. Matthews, Asst VP Facilities Management Owner Representative, Saint Xavier University; and John Hill, ASHRAE Illinois Chapter President.

Chicago (Dec. 21, 2008) The Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. presented Saint Xavier University and Environmental Design Systems with a 2008 Excellence in Engineering Award for the design of Saint Xavier’s newest student residence facility, Mother Agatha O’Brien Hall. The annual awards recognize achievements in the design of new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and retrofits.

Dedicated in October 2008, O’Brien Hall is Saint Xavier’s second residence hall using the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design “green building” approach. The hall was built to LEED Gold designation standards, which requires a number of sustainable strategies protecting the Earth’s natural resources be incorporated in its construction. In 2007, Saint Xavier’s Arthur Rubloff Hall received an Illinois Chapter ASHRAE award as well as the coveted LEED Gold designation in 2007, becoming the first university building in the state of Illinois to receive the LEED Gold distinction.

“Saint Xavier University’s second Illinois ASHRAE Excellence in Engineering Award is a testament to the University’s commitment to sustainability,” said Paul Matthews, assistant vice president of facilities management at Saint Xavier. “We will continue our efforts to achieve climate neutrality, which include green building practices, our new GreenBike sharing program and our Greenhouse Gas Audit for the Presidents Climate Commitment.”

The Illinois Chapter awards have recognized outstanding engineering performance for more than 30 years, beginning during the country’s first energy crisis in the early 1970s.

The architectural firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz and Associates provided designs for the building. The firm designed three previous residence halls for Saint Xavier, including Rubloff Hall. The construction management firm is Henry Bros. Co. Terra Civil Engineering conducted civil engineering. Environmental Systems Design, Inc. provided a mechanical engineering design.

The energy-efficient 36,664 square-foot residence hall is the sixth co-ed residence hall on the Chicago campus. It was designed to use both natural and mechanical ventilation, with a 50-foot high circular glass stair tower drawing tempered air to assist in summer night pre-cooling and winter heating.

The building uses 100 percent “Green-e” Power from mixed renewable energy products to carbon offset all electrical energy consumed in the residence. The roof features a solar reflection system, the rain garden filters roof water runoff and the indoor air quality in the student rooms is significantly above ASHRAE standards.

O’Brien Hall will now be submitted for a regional ASHRAE award.

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Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1846, Saint Xavier University was the first Mercy college in the United States and is Chicago’s oldest Catholic university. Serving approximately 5,700 students at its campuses in Chicago, Orland Park and its Loop location, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors; more than 40 graduate program options in arts and sciences, business, education and nursing; and a variety of program options in continuing and professional studies. Recognizing Saint Xavier’s excellence in education, U.S. News and World Report has ranked SXU consistently among the Best Colleges in the Midwest.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Joe Moore
773-298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu

Sustainability Compact

Read about some of Saint Xavier's many green initiatives on Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn's Web site for the Illinois Sustainable University Compact. SXU is a member of the compact, which outlines 12 environmental goals universities and community colleges may adopt on their campuses.

The Compact includes objectives such as purchasing renewable energy, implementing green building practices, developing sustainable transportation options, improving water conservation, and incorporating sustainable dining practices.

Lt. Governor Quinn has invited institutions of higher education across the state to identify and accomplish attainable environmental goals by 2010.

View a more complete list of SXU's green initiatives at http://greencampus.sxu.edu/.

WXAV noted on entertainment blog

Cites “Rumble Radio” as a show to listen for

Check out SouthtownStar entertainment reporter Jessi Virtusio’s piece “The Restructuring of Radio” in which she cites Saint Xavier’s very own WXAV as one of Chicago’s worthwhile radio stations.

Check out Saint Xavier's new Facebook page

Check out Saint Xavier University's new Facebook page!

Ruth Hansen awarded Certified Fund Raising Executive designation

Joins more than 5,300 professionals with CFRE designation
Chicago (Dec. 18, 2008) CFRE International recently named Saint Xavier University Associate Director of Foundation & Government Relations Ruth Hansen as a Certified Fund Raising Executive.

The CFRE designation recognizes people who possess the knowledge, skills and commitment to perform fundraising duties in an effective, ethical and professional manner. More than 5,300 professionals from around the world hold the CFRE designation.

Hansen was granted the CFRE credential after having met a series of standards, such as tenure in profession, education, fundraising achievement and commitment to service to not-for-profit organizations. Hansen also passed a rigorous written examination and agreed to uphold Accountability Standards and the Donor Bill of Rights.

“This designation demonstrates Ruth’s level of commitment to her profession,” said Steve Murphy, Vice President of University Advancement. “Our donors will know they are working with someone who continually strives for the best for Saint Xavier University.”

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Rick Ducat
773-298-3325 or ducat@sxu.edu

Saint Xavier University Professor comments on

Read the Sept. 11 Southtown Star column about the allegations and behavior of Governor Rod Blagojevich in which Columnist Kristen McQueary quotes Graham School of Business Professor Bill Kresse, J.D.

Kresse is the director and chief architect of the financial fraud examination and management graduate program at Saint Xavier University’s Graham School of Management, currently the only classroom-based MBA program in financial fraud examination and identity theft in the country.

Saint Xavier offers the program, which combines law enforcement, law, accounting and general business education, at its Chicago campus, at the Chicago Bar Association building in the Loop and at the Chicago Police Academy. The U.S. Air Force and Chicago Police Department have both chosen the program to better train their agents and officers in identity theft and financial and procurement fraud.

SXU Merwick Academy spring sessions

Registration Jan. 12-23

Chicago (Dec. 10, 2008) Saint Xavier University’s Merwick Academy, which offers tutoring to elementary and high school students, begins registration for its Spring Session on Jan. 12, 2009.

Registration will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday from Jan. 12 through Jan. 23 at the Merwick Academy, located in a tan unit behind Pacelli Hall on the northwest side of Saint Xavier’s Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St.

The one-hour classes meet one day a week for 12 weeks Monday through Thursday or on Saturdays. Sessions run through the week of Jan. 26 through the week of April 11, with no classes on Thursday, April 9 and Saturday, March 11 due to the Easter holiday. Those dates will be made up on Thursday, April 23 and Saturday, April 25.

Elementary classes focus on reading, math, language arts and writing, study skills, introductory Spanish and Catholic high school test preparation. High school classes focus on history, literature, Spanish, biology, chemistry, geometry, algebra I and II and study skills. Classes are $250 per student with a $100 nonrefundable deposit required at time of registration.

Founded 52 years ago, the Merwick Academy allows students of different cultures, ethnic backgrounds and abilities to interact in the learning process. The academy works with parents, teachers, counselors and administrators to meet the needs of individual students.
For more information, please contact the Merwick Academy at (773) 298-3180 or e-mail koloze@sxu.edu.

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William Kresse, J.D.,available for comment on arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich

Saint Xavier University financial fraud expert William Kresse, J.D., is available for comment regarding this morning’s arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich on allegations of mail and wire fraud.

Professor William Kresse is the architect and director of the Financial Fraud Examination and Management graduate program in the Saint Xavier University Graham School of Management. He is also an authority on Chicago and Illinois history and politics.

Professor Kresse is in the downtown Chicago Loop today and available for an interview. For more information, please call (773) 298-3937.

Sister Sharon Ann Euart, R.S.M. to speak at Saint Xavier University Winter Commencement

Chicago (Dec. 8, 2008) Sister Sharon Ann Euart, R.S.M. will speak at the Saint Xavier University Winter Commencement on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008 in the Shannon Center. During the ceremony, Sr. Euart will receive a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, in recognition of her extraordinary record of service.

Shannon Center doors will open at 10 a.m. with the procession beginning at 10:40 a.m. The Commencement ceremony will begin at 11 a.m., Dec. 20, 2008. The University’s Winter Commencement Liturgy will be held at 4:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19, 2008 in the Shannon Center.

Sr. Euart is a member of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, South Central Community. She earned a baccalaureate degree in Spanish, Secondary Education from Mount Saint Agnes College, Master of Liberal Arts and a Master of Science in Administration and Supervision from Johns Hopkins University, and a Doctorate in Canon Law from The Catholic University of America.

After several years as a teacher and administrator in secondary education, Sr. Euart served as Director of Research and Planning for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. From 1988 to 2001, she served as Associate General Secretary for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. She currently serves as a canon law consultant and visiting professor in the School of Canon Law at The Catholic University of America.

She was named the executive coordinator for the Canon Law Society of America, assuming this responsibility on Aug. 1, 2008. The executive coordinator is the chief administrative officer of the Canon Law Society of America, which provides services to the Board of Governors and the Society’s more than 1,500 members. She is the first woman and the eighth person to hold this office.

Sr. Euart has been a member of the Canon Law Society since 1984 and served as its president in 2004-2005. In addition to serving as president of the Society, she has served as consultor on the Board of Governors from 1995-1997 and a member of several task forces on canonical affairs. She is currently chair of the Future Initiatives Project.

She has given major addresses and seminar presentations at the national and regional meetings of the society. She also serves as consultant to the Bishops’ Committee on Canonical Affairs and the Work Group on Apostolos suos, the Vatican document by Pope John Paul II on the theological and juridical nature of episcopal conferences. She is vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Georgetown University-based Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate and a member of the Catholic Common Ground Initiative.

Sr. Euart has published in numerous scholarly journals, delivered papers and addresses for diocesan gatherings and national organizations as well as at national and international conferences on a variety of topics including pastoral planning, religious life, lay ecclesial ministry, the role of women in the church, church structures, episcopal conferences and the canonical mandate for theologians in Catholic colleges and universities.

Her scholarship, teaching, service to the academy, and significant contributions to the church and society are outstanding. She received the Yves Congar Award from the Conference for Pastoral Planning and Council Development in 2001. She received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal from Pope John Paul II in 2000.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Joe Moore
773-298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu

Saint Xavier University Launches New Web Site Highlighting Online Master's Degree Programs

Chicago, Ill. -- Saint Xavier University (http://www.sxuonline.com/), an accredited, not-for-profit university based in Chicago, has unveiled a new Web site, http://www.sxuonline.com/, to highlight three online master's degree programs: SXU's Master of Science in Nursing - Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), Master of Science in Service Management, and Master's in Curriculum and Instruction.

These cutting edge programs were designed with the same admission standards and rigorous curriculum as their ground campus counterparts but are now accessible to students across the country.

Saint Xavier University is excited to offer these degrees as part of a long-term strategy to provide market-centric master's programs tailored for today's working professionals. These programs are designed with a three-day experiential residency at SXU's Chicago campus to reinforce the concepts learned and allow valuable time to interact with faculty.

"The new program offerings allow Saint Xavier University to reach a larger, more diverse population of students," explained Richard Venneri, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, "Students throughout the country can now take advantage of these highly successful programs that have only been available on campus up until now. The online nature allows for personalized classes and an individualized structure without sacrificing the recognition of a regionally accredited University."

Given the current national economy, many working professionals are seeking additional credentials to protect their current positions or increase marketability. Also, with unpredictable fuel costs there is a demand for advanced education without driving to a fixed location.

SXU's online master's degree programs provide small class sizes and convenient access to coursework on your schedule. For more information about Saint Xavier University online programs, please visit http://www.sxuonline.com/.

About Saint Xavier University: Founded in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy, Saint Xavier University is a private, Catholic, comprehensive university grounded in the tradition of the liberal arts. Chicago's oldest Catholic University now adds its online, global Saint Xavier campus to the existing campuses in Chicago, Orland Park and Chicago Loop. As one of 18 colleges and universities sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Saint Xavier University educates approximately 5,700 students each year. U.S. News & World Report ranks the Saint Xavier University student population among the 10 most diverse public and private colleges and universities in the Midwest and second in Illinois. Saint Xavier University welcomes and encourages students of all religious and faith traditions.

Contact Information: Susan Schreiber, Saint Xavier University http://www.sxuonline.com/ 312-607-8839