PRES RPT 2022 ONYX ANNEAU

PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2022/Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Magazine

NOW SHOWING: From the Archives Aspire Even Higher Strategic Plan Updates Presidential Corps Returns The Woods Way: The Hellmann Connection

The tradition continues with students, faculty and staff coming together to decorate the Christmas tree in the Guerin Hall Rotunda. After the beautiful tree is decorated, everyone gathers for the Christmas tree blessing. This is a photo of the 2022 Christmas tree.

A REFLECTION OF THE YEAR A note from President Dottie L. King, Ph.D.

Happy New Year! A new year is filled with such promise. It offers opportunities for reflection upon both successes and challenges. The Aspire Even Higher Strategic Plan update included in this issue of Onyx Anneau will provide information of both. SMWC continues to make great strides in each area defined in our evolving plan. At the same time, there is much need created by the growth of the College. Resources to support our growth are balanced with those needed to address years of deferred maintenance. It is a balancing act every day. We have been so pleased, with the help of bequest funds, to create a newly renovated, shared archives space with the Sisters of Providence. This has been a dream for a few years and is now a reality. In addition to the environmentally controlled room, we created an ADA accessible restroom, office spaces, an educational viewing room and a display area. What a treasure! Among the greatest of the blessings of my job are the opportunities to know and form close relationships with the people of The Woods. The deep devotion of a committed group has made such a difference in our lives. We recently lost three “giants”. Frank Morgan was a trustee during the presidency of Sister Barbara and he remembered us in his will. Cindy Hux Martin was a trustee at the beginning of my tenure. I will forever remember her generosity of spirit. She saw the very best in everyone and she loved SMWC. I knew Jerry Hellmann best and he represented the very best of the Woods spirit. I knew him as a generous donor, a lover of fun and a man of deep faith. He gave sacrificially of both his time and resources. His reports to the Board of Trustees were filled with such joy and enthusiasm as he embraced progress. He was such a forward-thinking dreamer! More than any of these things, I will remember Jerry as one who SHOWED UP. I am thankful for Frank, Cindy and Jerry and for each of you who demonstrates great care for this fine institution. May we all be inspired to continue to Aspire Higher every day!

Blessings,

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ONYX Anneau PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2022-2023

Vol. 97

No. 2

Karen Dyer Editor in Chief Vice President for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives BJ Riley ’16 Editorial Director Director of Marketing Elizabeth “Izzy” Reel ’21 Managing Editor Content Marketing Manager Kristy Fry Creative Director Director of Creative Services CONTRIBUTORS Jessica Bicknell Crawford ’19G Hope McGuire Lindsey Richardt ’07 Catherine Mickey Saunders ’98 Heather Tighe Stephen Thomas ’20

SMWC celebrated International Education Week November 14-18, 2022, with in-person and virtual events. The international flag ceremony was part of cultural displays, student global projects, sweets from around the world, an interactive global community art project and The World Reflected at The Woods Walking Tour. Undergraduate, graduate, visiting international and ELI students joined faculty and staff in sharing their cultures, traditions and heritage from around the world.

CONTENTS

FROM THE ARCHIVES 6

ON THE COVER Newly recovered seats and lighting in the Conservatory of Music auditorium are a part of the Aspire Even Higher Strategic Plan initiatives, completed this fall.

ASPIRE EVEN HIGHER STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE 12 2022 SNAPSHOTS 18

Please send correspondence to: Office of Advancement PO Box 70 Saint Mary of the Woods, IN 47876-0070 Phone: 812-535-5270 E-mail: alumni@smwc.edu © 2023 by Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information contained in this magazine is accurate.

INSIDE EVERY ISSUE Woods Today............................................. 3 Nota Bena................................................. 28

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THE WOODS TODAY

When I first came to SMWC, I had no idea what my future held. When I drove through the gates, it instantly felt like my home away from home. My first experience walking on campus ... I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! I couldn’t believe it – I was finally in college! Even though I was scared my first year, the orientation leaders, the admissions staff and track team made me feel welcomed. I came to The Woods because the campus is amazing, and I felt like I belonged. The animals are my favorite! I love that I can just go outside, sit down and enjoy the weather with them. As a student-athlete, my college experience has kept me accountable and helped me to grow. Being a student athlete is hard on the body, but is rewarding through the traveling and meeting of new people. I love it! Making the dean’s list my freshman year revealed to me that I can be successful in school and sports at the same time. If I put my mind to it, I can do anything. This is my motto every day that keeps me motivated. As a student ambassador, I love sharing my love for The Woods with future students and helping them see this is a place they could call home. It shows me that people want to know about my opinion. Because of the impact my orientation leaders had on me, I applied to be an orientation leader my sophomore year. I wanted to make everyone feel comfortable and explain to them that they belong at The Woods. Being an orientation leader allowed me to be a resource for new students when they needed help. At SMWC, there are many opportunities to be involved. The Black Student Association (BSA) piqued my interest my freshman year, and I was nominated to be president this year. It made me want to be a leader for others, helping other people of color feel comfortable and show that I am here for them throughout my years at The Woods and beyond. I love this school and can’t wait to see where I will go from here. Hope — Hope McGuire, Sophomore Criminology major/business minor

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FALL 2022

NEW STUDENT ENROLLMENT PROFILE TOTAL ENROLLMENT 1,116 Campus 569 • Online 320 • Graduate 227 New students will be enrolled throughout the year.

New Campus Students

New Online Students

Applications Admits Deposits New Students

-26%

+39%

Applications Admits Deposits New Students

174

1,125

-10%

+40%

132

871

-12%

+20%

106

336

-11%

+23%

90

252

ONLINE BREAKDOWN

CAMPUS BREAKDOWN

Freshmen 2

Freshmen 193

Certificate 59

International 6

Transfer 29

Transfer 53

Dual Credit 6

NEW CAMPUS STUDENT DETAILS

freshmen median high school GPA 3.3

are students of color 38%

of the 252 new students are student-athletes (172) 68%

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CAMPUS Nursing Business Administration Psychology Education Exercise Science

ONLINE Music Therapy Equivalency Transition to Teaching Education Human Services Psychology

5 TOP

MAJORS

TOTAL STUDENTS

Puerto Rico

KEYCODE

Campus Online Graduate

ALL - Campus, Online and Graduate Campus and Online

The geographic makeup of the total student body as of December 2022 includes 45 states, the US territory of Puerto Rico, Argentina, Canada, China, Colombia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Republic of Serbia, United Kingdom and Vietnam.

Campus and Graduate

Online and Graduate

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: Our collective story has a new home.

By Lindsey Richardt ’07

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What’s in the Saint Mary-of the-Woods archives? The original daguerreotype photograph of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, a sewing kit belonging to a member of the Le Fer family, student scrapbooks and artwork dating back to the 1800s, are among the treasure, as well as thousands of records and artifacts that tell the collective and intertwined stories of Saint Mary-of-the Woods College (SMWC) and the Sisters of Providence. In preparation for the renovation of Owens Hall in 2015, the Sisters of Providence were in search of a new home for their archives. SMWC offered a temporary storage location in Le Fer Hall with the long-term goal of bringing the archival collections from both institutions together in Rooney Library, where the College’s archives had long been stored. This transition is part of an ongoing collaboration between the College and the Sisters of Providence. “It is hard to separate the College from its founding roots of the Sisters, particularly with respect to the archives as it is one, shared history for so much of our time together,” said Karen Dyer, vice president for advancement and strategic initiatives at SMWC. Today, libraries are becoming more and more digital, which provided an opportunity and the space needed to accommodate both collections in one location. Following nearly a year of renovation work to enhance the

protection and storage of documents, the Sisters’ archives moved to the 4,500 square foot space in August, creating the combined SMW Archives. “After seven long years of being in transition, we were finally able to bring the two archives together. There is still much work to be done as we begin collaborating in new ways, but the future offers many “After seven long years of being in transition, we have finally been able to bring the two archives together.” — Karen Dyer, vice president for advancement and strategic initiatives opportunities. There is a possibility of a showroom for our unique pieces, digital collections and new research as the College continues to add more masters and doctoral programs,” said Dyer. Archivists Alice Quinlan ’65 and Janet Gilligan, SP, ’61 organized and planned the move. Quinlan began volunteering in the SMWC Archives following her retirement from the College’s Woods External Degree office in 2008. Organizing the collection gave Quinlan the opportunity to explore many historical artifacts and records that capture the unique history of the College. “An astronomy class from the 1870s had a telescope on top of Providence

[Hall], and they made notes from observations and sketches of the moons of Jupiter. I particularly loved seeing those. It is good for people to see and to know that the education at The Woods in the 19th century wasn’t just needle point and lace making. It was truly very broad and included science as well as arts, literature, music and the rest,” said Quinlan, adding that the astronomy notebooks were later displayed at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Gilligan became the archivist for the Sisters of Providence from some of the first council meetings, as well as hundreds of photographs. “It’s important to remember where you come from. The past shapes the present. We have such a rich history here. Mother Theodore kept such meticulous records, diaries and journals—we have it all,” she said. “We have a lot of treasures back here.” Though many items are available to view digitally, the archives are open to the public by appointment, giving alumni, students and researchers a unique opportunity to explore early life at The Woods. following her retirement as an English teacher in 2015. She notes some of the most interesting items from the collection to be Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s original letters and journals, records

Left, top to bottom: Alice Quinlan ’65, the archivist for the College, and Janet Gilligan, SP, ’61, the archivist for the Sisters of Providence; Miss Mamie Helm’s notebook from 1882; a scrapbook of theatre productions from the 40s; the composite of the Class of 1898; and the only known photo daguerreotype of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin in existence.

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The Woods Way and the Hellmann Connection By Karen Dyer, Vice President for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives I t was 1904, and John “Henry” Hellmann stopped by the grounds of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods on his way to the World’s Fair in St. Louis, Mo. Jerome “Jerry” Hellmann loved to tell this story about his grandfather, who would never make it to the World’s Fair on account of a girl - Philomena Bockhold. Philomena had three sisters: Sisters of Providence, Mary Jerome, Mary Veronica and Mary Rosina. Jerry’s grandfather, Henry, who had become enthralled with Philomena, decided to take a job as a farmhand at The Woods so that he might have another opportunity to see her the next time she visited her sisters. The plan worked, and she married Henry, becoming mother to John, Jerry’s father, the first of 15 children. Many years later, Jerry would find himself following in the footsteps of his grandfather, great-aunts and father. This fall, Jerry passed away after 13 years of service on the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Board of Trustees. His own Woods legacy, much like this story of his family, is filled with service and dedication. Hellmanns and The Woods in a letter he wrote about his family’s history in 2021. In the letter, Jerry tells of how his grandfather, Henry, helped to rebuild the fountain and planted the trees along Grotto Road. His father, John, ran the power plant and handcrafted nine alters for The Woods, two of which remain today. “Today, everyone who enters the gates has their own unique Avenue moment. Imagine my Avenue moment as I turn into these gates and see the fountain my grandfather helped rebuild three generations ago,” wrote Jerry. “The Hellmann connection to The Woods continued into the third generation – my own. Between 1960 and 1964, I spent nearly every Wednesday night at The Woods for date night, pursuing my future bride, Mary Ann, just as my grandfather did decades ago. Like my grandfather, I was successful!” he said. According to Jerry, his legacy as a trustee includes being part of the decision to become a fully coeducational institution, to build the Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center, and to hire Dottie L. King, Ph.D., as president. “I feel proud of my impact on The Woods,” he said. Jerry and Mary Ann, an alumna from the Class of 1964, have been among the most generous donors in the Jerry referred to this legacy as the “Hellmann connection,” recounting the intersections of the

Mary Ann Kelly Hellmann ’64 and Jerry

College’s history, having led an initiative with Mary Ann’s class to raise $1 million in celebration of their 50th class reunion. Many spaces around campus and a set of golf carts bear the Class of 1964 moniker due to the handiwork of this Hellmann duo. Jerry also never missed a Woods Giving Day, coming in person with his own list of alumni and friends to call for donations to the College. Each May, you could find Jerry on the Avenue, helping to prep and seal coat the campus roads. If you were to stop and ask him why he was out working on this project, he would tell you it is because he wanted to make sure everything looked great for the return of the alumni at Reunion, in addition to investing in the campus infrastructure and improving the curb appeal for students and families. In 2014, Jerry wrote a prayer and gifted it to the College. The prayer is titled, This Place, An Invocation to Saint Mother Theodore Guerin . His words ring true to this day, exemplifying Jerry’s passion for the place that has meant so much to him and his family throughout the years. At its most basic, the word legacy means that which is left to another. Jerry, his grandfather and his father left visible, tangible signs of their love and investment in this place as part of the Hellmann connection. What does this connection, this legacy mean for us? It is a gift, an opportunity for each of us to pick up where Jerry and his family left off, leaving our own impression on these Woods.

8

Rest in peace, Jerry.

“As you enter the gate, fountain straight ahead, You experience beauty and peace, and it can be said, Once through these gates, you’ll never erase, The feelings and spirit you found…in this place. “A canopy of trees stretch down the road, You experience a calm that lightens your load. All feel transformed by this special space. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is the name of this place.” — Jerry Hellmann

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PRESIDENTIAL CORPS

KORTNEY BUCKLEY Senior

Setting an example: How the Presidential Corps serves SMWC

JOY CAMINERO SANTIAGO Sophomore

By Elizabeth Reel ’21, Content Marketing Manager

Since established in 1840, Saint Mary of-the-Woods College (SMWC) has taught young individuals to indulge themselves in opportunities to give both learning experiences and opportunities for growth. In addition to challenging students in the classroom to think outside the box, students are also encouraged to be involved in

“When we brought the Presidential Corps back, it was my idea, believing that Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is a special place. One of the things that makes it special is that there is meaningful interaction between students and the happenings of the College. In addition to the relationships with faculty and staff, students in the Presidential

MOLLY COOMER Freshman

“In addition to the relationships with faculty and staff, students in the Presidential Corps are engaged with the board of trustees, the selection of the president and much more. This is the kind of empowerment we teach so that leadership becomes easier in the future.” — President Dottie L. King, Ph.D .

LILLIE GENDEL Sophomore

student clubs and organizations. The Presidential Corps is just one of 24 student led organizations at The Woods. Reintroduced in 2018, after years of being dormant, the Presidential Corps was formed to serve the College as student ambassadors. “They really strive to be an example for the College,” said Peggy Nash, Presidential Corps advisor. Specifically, being part of the organization is a great honor for students as faculty or staff must recommend them. President Dottie L. King, Ph.D., explained that when the Presidential Corps was reinstated, it was a very intentional process.

Corps are engaged with the board of trustees, the selection of the president and much more. This is the kind of empowerment we teach so that leadership becomes easier in the future,” said King. Nash shared that along with the organization upholding the core pillars of the institution, the organization really strives to give back. “Because the College is so committed to service work, we want to ensure that students are aware of how blessed we really are and the importance of serving and giving back,” she said. The Presidential Corps hold themselves to a high standard as they represent more than

CLAIRE GILLEN Senior

ARIANA HALL Junior

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POLET HORSLEY Senior

ASHLYN HUNLEY Sophomore

Ariana Hall shakes President Dottie L. King’s hand after being pinned during the Presidential Corps Pinning Ceremony.

just themselves. Members of the Presidential Corps must hold a GPA of 3.0 or higher and display characteristics in leadership, professionalism, humbleness and would be great representatives of the College. “Whether it’s on social media or in person, they are always expected to be a positive representation of SMWC,” Nash explained. Lillie Gendel, current member of the Presidential Corps, learned that she has a unique connection to the organization. “One of the most special moments I have experienced through Presidential Corps is meeting with Peggy McCormick-Platz ’88, ’21G. She is a current member of the Board of Trustees, the president of the Alumni Board of Directors and a former member of Presidential Corps. She informed us that my great aunt, Sister Jeanne Knoerle ’49, actually established Presidential Corps. I wasn’t previously aware of that and it was so special to hear that I have yet another connection with her,” Gendel shared. “It makes me feel as if she is watching over me and guiding me on the right path. It’s so beautiful to me how events that happen before our existence lead us to where we are supposed to be.” The organization participates in College events like Ring Day, Commencement, the President’s Gala, the Light Your Way Christmas Parade, banquets and more. Students also receive opportunities to travel with the President. A unique feature

of the organization is that members have a required uniform that must be worn at official events —a blazer, dress shirt, black slacks and a pin. The pins are presented during the annual pinning ceremony where King pins each member. “I think pinning each member individually really elevates the event itself and it helps the students better understand the achievement of earning a place in the organization. It embraces a true sense of belonging for them,” King shared. Polet Horsley, who serves as president for the Presidential Corps, shared how meaningful it is to be part of such a prestigious organization. “It has been such an extraordinary experience to see myself grow as an individual and have the opportunity to be a leader this year,” she said, “I really love how Presidential Corps provides countless opportunities to make connections with President King, faculty, alumni and our community. The SMWC community is intertwined with everyone on campus, so being able to take those foundational connections from The Woods into the real world is absolutely life changing.”

LAUREN KEITH Junior

MADDIE RANDOLPH Junior

LAUREN RINDONE Sophomore

Were you a member of Presidential Corps? Tell us!

I I Junior

RYLEE WILLIAMSON

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S aint Mary-of-the-Woods College accomplished and the College continued its momentum of progress. In 2019, Phase II began and the plan was renamed the Aspire Even Higher Strategic Plan. Phase II is a dynamic framework plan - subscribing to an agile strategy methodology or a strategy-forward approach that is dynamic began Phase I of a new Aspire Higher Strategic Plan in 2016. Much was Agile strategy plans are used in business and industry to: • Reduce the time to tangible value and expected results; • Maintain momentum on the execution of long-range strategic plans through shorter, iterative implementation cycles; • And pivot proactively and reactively to adapt to changes in both internal and external environments. Three pillars were chosen for the Aspire Even Higher Strategic Plan and include academics, environment and awareness. and responsive, intended to support innovative and progressive growth.

Aspire Even Higher Strategic Plan

By Karen Dyer, Vice President of Advancement and Strategic Initiatives

Three threads run through the strategic plan and each pillar:

Spirituality

Enrollment

Innovation

Phase I began in 2016 and Phase II of the plan began in 2019.

Academics

Environment

Awareness

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Choosing a more progressive funnel framework rather than the traditional pyramid plan allows the College to have an ever-changing and forward moving plan SMWC’s overarching strategy incorporates smaller strategies including plans within plans to help identify tactics and support objectives. This opportunity based planning strategy began Online Task Force and the Coed Transition Committees in 2015 – forming a framework for the 2016 and 2019 phases of today’s Aspire Higher Strategic Plan. with President Dottie King’s establishment of the Woods

Plan for Desired Future

Values

Strategic Teams Collaborate

Social Justice

Sustainability

Spirituality

Vision

Gender Equity

Explore Opportunity & Challenge Mission

Assess &

Repeat

Implement

OPPORTUNITY-BASED PLANNING STRATEGY

CAMPAIGN Plan 2016

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Plan 2019

DIVERSITY Plan 2019

ASPIRING HIGHER Plans within the Strategic Plan build buy-in, strengthen data and create synergies.

STUDENT SUCCESS Plan 2020

FACILITIES Master Plan 2020

ATHLETICS Plan 2016

TERRE HAUTE 2025 COMMUNITY Plan 2019

SPACE UTILIZATION Plan 2018

BRANDING Plan 2019

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ACADEMICS

ENVIRONMENT

AWARENESS

PILLARS

CURRENT PHASE OVERVIEW

Each pillar has several objectives, focus areas and tactics for Phase II of the Aspire Even Higher plan.

4

4

4

OBJECTIVES = 12

17

13

16

FOCUS AREAS = 47

16

84

17

TACTICS = 163

ACADEMICS - PILLAR 1

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS CREATE ENROLLMENT PIPELINES

Strategic Priority 1: Innovate and elevate the distinctive, high-quality education of SMWC, laying a foundation of visionary growth and expansion.

•K-12 School Corporations

- Add credentials or licenses for para-professionals - Bartholomew County - Monroe County - Tippecanoe County - Vigo County

NEW PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

B.S. in Exercise Science B.S. in Kinesiology B.S. in Sport Management Masters in Business Administration (MBA) Ph.D. in Global Leadership

•Union Hospital

- MHA Cohort •Pre-College Outreach

- C.A.M.P. at The Woods

AMPLIFY STUDENT SUCCESS THROUGH INNOVATIVE STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS

Other (1%) Not specified (1%)

Biracial or Multiracial 14 (5%)

Hispanic or Latino16 (6%)

White 227 (80%)

Black or African American 21 (7%)

• TimelyCare provides campus, online and graduate students easy access to scheduling an appointment at the health clinic or having telehealth and telecounseling available 24/7. • Workshops were provided on inclusive teaching for faculty development and student retention.

SEPTEMBER 2022

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ENVIRONMENT - PILLAR 2

Strategic Priority 2: Create an environment in which students enjoy exceptional academic and co-curricular experiences on their path to achieving excellence.

Janet Gilligan, SP, ’61, the archivist for the Sisters of Providence and Alice Quinlan ’65, the archivist for the College.

MARI HULMAN GEORGE SCHOOL OF EQUINE STUDIES

OUTDOOR ARENA

NORTHGATE ENTRANCE

x x

SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS ARCHIVES After a year of planning, the SMWC Archives and the Sisters of Providence Archives moved to a new shared space in Rooney Library as part of an ongoing collaboration and was named the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Archives.

NORTHGATE AVE.

25% increase in students living on campus since opening Les Bois Hall and Doherty Dining Center and transitioning to Bon Appétit. ST. JOSEPH PL. CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION INDOOR ARENA G R O V E P L . G R O V E P L .

WHITE VIOLET CENTER

N

E.

150

W

E

TER

S

SAINT MOTHER THEODORE GUERIN STATUE

EASTGATE PL.

CORBE HOUSE

LADY OF LOURDES GROTTO

GUERIN AVE.

HULMAN HALL

WOODLAND INN

150 Hall and Hulman Hall to address growth needs for student parking. 89 new parking spaces added behind Le Fer

EASTGATE PL.

O

ONE WAY

N

E

W

A

Y

LE FER HALL

.

O A K

E

V

L E A

F A

L

E

THE AVENUE

F

E

R

P L A

EASTGATE PL.

C

LES BOIS HALL

E

GATEHOUSE

MAIN ENTRANCE

ST MARYS RD. 64 new students were enrolled with the addition of men’s volleyball and sprint football - both sports with low front-end implementation costs due to our strategic partnership with Vigo County School Corporation. BIKE RACKS ATM ATM MACHINE

SMWC SP

CAMPUS STORE

EASTGATE ENTRANCE

ST MARYS RD.

FACULTY/STAFF PARKING

DINING CENTER

Funded by a $950,000 Lilly Grant Endowment, the second floor of Rooney Library will expand the Learning Resource Center to form a more robust Center for Student Success to improve retention.

61 students enrolled in Kinesiology or Exercise Science and are using newly created spaces in Hulman Hall in the former bookstore space.

$280,759 was invested in interior and exterior lighting upgrades since 2019 as students consistently reported lighting and safety as a concern on the Campus Climate Survey.

15

Gifts and grants help drive the completion of many projects.

GRANTS AND SPECIAL GIFTS Grants from Lilly Endowment, Inc. and READI (Regional Economic Acceleration & Development Initiative) as well as special gifts assist in the accomplishment and completion of many projects. CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC $554,000 ADA accessibility • Seating and lighting Stage • Limestone steps • Exterior masonry I LOVE LE FER $2.3 million New kitchens • 27 of 81 bathrooms •Free laundry •Community spaces • The 1840 • PK Parlor • LED lighting • Carpet

KNOERLE CENTER $760,000 Locker room expansion • Classroom expansion

GUERIN HALL $158,000 Elevator renovation

2022 DEFERRED MAINTENANCE: FACILITIES UPGRADES

$36,577 Cleaning and inspection of air handler units - Le Fer Hall

$270,000 Cooling tower - Hulman Hall

$55,530 Boiler house decelerator tank replacement

$25,910 Inspection and repair of boiler systems

AWARENESS - PILLAR 3

Strategic Priority 3: Position the College to become a leader regionally by enhancing the reputation and visibility of the institution.

INTENTIONAL VALUE-BASED CONTENT

Terre Haute Pole Banners

•Diversity •Gender equity •Inclusion •Liberal arts •Service •Spirituality

COLLEGE TOWN EFFORTS Promoting Terre Haute as a College Town and partnering with Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce and Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) promotes brand awareness and pride.

A.S.P.I.R.E. Artists. Speakers. Performers.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

ONE WOODS OUR WOODS

Series

• Creation of inclusion and belonging “One Woods” video • Creation of Human Resources video for new employees to share SMWC history • Faculty and staff volunteer at 89 unique organizations

Inspiring. Reflecting. Educating.

Development of an educational, arts and cultural series for students, faculty, staff and community. The series will be launched in 2023-2024.

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ASSESSMENT

The Assessment Committee works with each Pillar group to measure and determine progress of the plan.

PROGRESS • Course evaluations • Program review • Program accreditation • Quarterly reports

DATA COLLECTION • Retention rates • Climate surveys • Satisfaction surveys • Ad hoc survey

ASSESSMENT • Plan completion benchmark • Graduation rates • Handshake - career outcomes • Analytics from web, social, SIS and CRM • Alumni surveys

PLANNING STRATEGIES • Burning Glass - market research • Focus groups • Enrollment demographics

STRATEGIC PLAN PROJECTS BY STATUS 2019 - PRESENT

IN PLANNING

IN PROGRESS

COMPLETE

25

20

15

10

5

0

PILLAR 1 - ACADEMICS

PILLAR 2 - ENVIRONMENT

PILLAR 3 - AWARENESS

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2022

snapshots

300 graduates celebrated in the 188th commencement. Sharon Harley ’70, Ph.D. was recognized as the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.

A delegation to Ecuador solidifies the partnership for SMWC and Universidad San Francisco de Quito.

The Global Leadership Institute (GLI) is established as a part of the Lilly Endowment’s Charting the Future Initiative.The vision of the GLI is to position SMWC as a global leadership epicenter.

SMWC softball team wins the River

SMWC women’s basketball advances to the USCAA National Championship for the first time in the school’s history.

States Conference tournament in its first year of membership and advances to the NAIA National Tournament. Wabash Valley Leadership Institute resumed for its first in-person gathering since COVID-19 with the 11th cohort.

Woods Giving Day blasts through the 1,000 donor goal and

SMWC adds a Myoskeletal Massage Therapy Associate Degree and minor.

SMWC adds a B.S. in Addictions Counseling and Post-Bachelor’s Addiction Counseling Certificate.

raises over $300,000.

WOODS GIVING DAY

May

April

June

March

January

February

Reunion weekend welcomed 300 attendees and guests from 33 states.

Blaine Powell is named Sprint Football head coach, coming from Sullivan High School where he was

SMWC nursing programs are ranked among the best in the Wabash Valley by U.S. News & World Report and the Nursing Schools Almanac.

The Aspire sculpture, located at the entrance to the Knoerle Sports and

the head football coach for the past five seasons.

SMWC education department partners with Bartholomew County School Corp. and Monroe County Community School Corp. to help fill teacher shortages with the Pathway to Licensure Program.

Marcia Miller, Ph.D., RN, is named Dean of Division Nursing.

Woods Café reopens in Woods Student Center

SMWC announced a newly developed open-access academic journal focusing on global leadership across multiple academic subjects and cultures. Arete Journal of Excellence in Global Leadership is published through the Global Leadership Institute in

Recreation Center, was dedicated thanks to the Nordloh Family Foundation in memory of Mary Cavanauh Nordloh ’60.

SMWC ranked among best in online programs.

SMWC was recognized for its educational partnership with Monroe County Community School

The 100th anniversary of the ring was celebrated in two Ring Day ceremonies with more than 110 rings awarded.

Corp. by the Indiana Office of Career and

Technical Education, under the Governor’s Workforce and Indiana Association of Career and Technical Education (IACTE).

collaboration with SMWC.

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SMWC ranked among the best in the Midwest and Indiana by U.S. News & World Report.

SMWC receives $702,775 from Lilly Endowment, Inc. through

The Ring Centennial Celebration was held in the McMahon Ballroom of Le Fer Hall.

its initiative, Indiana Youth Programs on

Campus (IYPC), to fund Challenging Ambitions and Maximizing Potential (C.A.M.P.) at The Woods and establishes a new Office of Pre-College Outreach.

Homecoming hosts hundreds with many fun activities.

U.S. News &World Report announced rankings for America’s Best Colleges for 2023 for SMWC:

The Margaret “Peggy” Kelly Deputy ’64 Parlor (PK Parlor), formally known as the Formal Parlor was blessed. Deputy served on the Alumni Board from 2013 – 2019. Sullivan Parlor was renamed The 1840 in honor of the generosity of the Class of 1964 and their contributions to the Aspire Higher Campaign.

•Social Mobility –

Regional Universities Midwest #4

SMWC celebrates Private College Week., sponsored by the 29 Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI).

•Best Value – Regional Universities Midwest #5

The sprint football team won the Midwest Sprint Football League championship game, defeating Calumet College of St. Joseph 23-7.

•Regional Universities Midwest #33

SMWC announced the creation of a Paramedic Science to BSN degree.

A record-breaking number of new students arrived on Move-In Day, totaling 260 from 23 states and 10 countries.

SMWC begins an Education P-12 Mild Intervention Bachelor of Science degree.

July

August

November

September

October

December

SMWC announces the addition of a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

ONE WOODS OUR WOODS SMWC launched “One Woods. Our Woods,” a campaign that speaks to the SMWC culture as a way of life – the shared behaviors, beliefs and values, which focus on respect, personal responsibility and recognition of the value of all people.

SMWC receives $1.5 million READI grant for equine and athletic facilities expansion.

International Education Week highlights the international students of SMWC and the status of SMWC as an international institution.

Mary Pat Kelley ’67, Ph.D., relaunched her book, Martin Scorsese; A Journey which she first published in 1991. She also dedicated memorial bricks in the Garden of Reflection outside of the Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center to her parents and Martin Scorsese’s parents. More than 400 students participated in the annual Foundation Day of Service, allowing students the opportunity to give back in honor of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin.

The College welcomed the largest cohort of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Scholars in its history.

10,000 people attend SMWC’s Light Your Way Christmas Parade, an annual event led by students.

SMWC receives Indiana Landmark’s Servaas Award for achievement in historic preservation.

The Saint Mary-of-the Woods Archives opens on the lower level of Rooney Library.

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Invested in others - Cindy Hux Martin ’78 passes

“Never be complacent… the village can do a lot,” were words Cindy Hux Martin ’78 passed along during an interview in 2016 as she accepted an award for service from Union Health Foundation. “Making a difference

Growing up, Martin was taught the importance of serving others by her parents, and she took that lesson to heart. She held directors seats on the Union Hospital Board, Union Hospital Foundation Board and Bank of Lawrence County. Martin gave much to the community, holding civic leadership roles in such organizations as the Service League of Union Hospital and 100+ Women Who Care. She was the recipient of the SMWC Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014, in addition to receiving Union Health Foundation’s Baur Award, Hamilton Center’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service and Hospice of the Wabash Valley’s highest honor, the Chapman Root Award. Whether it was hosting events to help others “be the change,” baking gourmet meals for students, contributing generously to memorialize her fellow Woodsie Anne Coveney ‘79 through the creation of a beautiful terrace at the Knoerle Center or praying for others daily, Martin invested herself in her passions – heart, mind and soul. May she rest in peace. Below: At the 2014 Commencement, President Dottie L. King, Ph.D., presented Cindy Hux Martin’78 the SMWC Distinguished Alumni Award.

in people’s lives is never a solo effort – it takes a village,” she said. Alumna, emerita trustee and generous benefactor Cindy Hux Martin passed away on December 30, 2022. Martin graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. She served on the College’s Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2015. Following in her father’s footsteps, Vernon Hux was an SMWC trustee from 1979 to 1998. Martin attributed her character-forming years at The Woods in the 1970s as a significant influence on her philanthropic spirit. “During this time, women were not taught by society to be leaders. But SMWC empowered me to be one. It nurtured me,” she said. “Cindy was a selfless leader, bringing light and life to everything she touched,” said Dottie L. King, Ph.D., president. “She served the College in many ways,

including helping to build the Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center. And her volunteerism and philanthropic spirit did not stop at the edges of campus – she was a treasure through her time, talent and giving to many organizations in our community.” Martin credited her parents, her father and her mother, Donna Hux, for instilling in her a generous spirit. She said education and health were two causes dear to her father’s heart, and her parents transferred that passion to her. She ran the family business, Hux Oil Corp, and was co-director of the Hux Family Charitable Trust, which has funded more than $5 million of charitable endeavors in the community, particularly in education and health, Martin said.

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Morgan remembers TheWoods with a $100,000 bequest

Frank J. Morgan, an American businessman, philanthropist and SMWC trustee from 1987 to 1996, who served as president of The Quaker Oats Company, died peacefully on October 15, 2022, in Barrington, IL. He was 97. Morgan was a generous donor to The Woods throughout his life and was a member of the Onyx Cumulative Gifts Society and the Legacy Guild, remembering The Woods in his estate with a $100,000 bequest to continue the great work of the institution in perpetuity. SMWC honored Morgan as a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2021, which consisted of the SMWC Board of Trustees for the academic years 1992-1993 and 1993-1994. Morgan was one of 38 trustees who made the vital decision to create scholarship athletics beginning with the women’s basketball team and the softball team during their tenure. “The decision to add scholarship athletics was a historical one — a gym floor that would be talked about for the next 20 years, for strengthening the College at a time it was most needed, making The Woods competitive with other institutions, and finally, for setting in motion a ball that has never stopped rolling… enabling us to add women’s and men’s volleyball and men’s basketball which has brought enrollment and vitality to the campus program,” said Dottie L. King, Ph.D., president.

Morgan enlisted in the United States Navy and served on the USS Piedmont, Store Keeper 3rd Class and subsequently served in the V-12 Officer Program at Yale University. He graduated from Yale in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering and business administration and completed the Program for Management Development (PMD) from the Harvard University Business School in 1966. Early in his career, Morgan worked in various manufacturing positions, including Chance Vought, where he helped lead the project team for the F7U Cutlass Fighter, a cutting-edge plane developed for the U.S. Navy that was the first American fighter designed with an afterburner. He later worked at the New Departure Division of GM, The Remington Arms Company (a subsidiary of DuPont) and American Bosch Arma, where he was involved in the design and installation of the first all-inertial guidance system on the Atlas E (SM-65) ICBM missile. In 1964, Morgan accepted a position at the Quaker Oats Company, where he served 26 years. May he rest in peace. Top: . During a visit in 2021, President Dottie L. King, Ph.D., presented Frank Morgan a plaque for being a member of the Ahtletic Hall of Fame Class of 2021, which consisted of the SMWC Board of Trustees for the academic years 1992-1993 and 1993-1994.

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Women’s Cross Country

Women’s Basketball

Men’s Basketball

Men’s Cross Country

Pomeroy Pride: Athletics Growth “We are a family, no matter where you come from. The whole team

Thirty years ago, the trustees and administration of Saint Mary-of-the Woods College (SMWC) bravely shifted the school’s enrollment strategy by establishing scholarship athletic programs. The purpose? To grow the College and enhance the campus experience for all students. From 1994 until 2014 SMWC’s Pomeroy Athletics program grew slowly as there was no athletic facility on campus. The program needed a significant boost to truly meet the needs of Woods students. The 2014 opening of the Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center was the catalyst to an athletics explosion. Growth began with the addition of women’s volleyball, making it the eighth scholarship sport. One or two teams have been added each year since the 2015 decision to become fully coeducational, doubling the number to 16. With the growth and success of Pomeroy Athletics, SMWC joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 2021-2022, moving

from the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) and becoming part of the River States Conference (RSC). Success was immediate. Last year, the women’s cross country and softball team won their RSC championships and appeared in NAIA nationals. Women’s volleyball went to the NAIA nationals this fall. “There is no doubt the Trustees’ vision in the mid-1990s is a reality today. Athletics is a significant factor in driving enrollment growth,” said Brennan Randolph, vice president for enrollment and institutional technology. In August, the College welcomed a record-breaking incoming class of 252 students. Among those new Pomeroys were 172 student-athletes. Their arrival helped established a historical record of 569 students in the campus program. Today, approximately 50% of campus students are athletes with 290 students on team rosters. “As the campus population grows, so

has a sense of belonging, and each has a voice, no matter their background.” —

Women’s Volleyball Coach

Ashley Harris

Softball

Men’s Soccer

Women’s Soccer

Women’s Track and Field

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Women’s Golf

Western and Hunt Seat Equestrian Teams

Men’s Golf

Sprint Football

Drives Enrollment Growth does the student experience,” said Randolph.

he continued. Today’s Pomeroy athletes represent 29 states, Puerto Rico and 10 countries, as the campus program draws from more geographic and international locations than ever before. This geographic diversity has led to an increase in overall diversity. Persons of color represented 38% of the new students who arrived this fall. Dee Reed, associate vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, said that she is pleased with the increase in diversity and cultures represented at The Woods. “These visible and intangible changes provide great possibilities for students, faculty and staff. “There is an opportunity for dialogue and interaction among the student body for students of all races and nationalities to learn about each other and to learn from one another,” Reed said. The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion partners with the Office of Academic Affairs to conduct workshops and presentations for the faculty about

inclusive teaching and belonging. Additionally, they are working with students to provide them with tools that will help create awareness of beliefs and assumptions. Coaches Ashley and Ian Harris arrived at SMWC in June 2021. Their recruiting efforts have resulted in 48 student-athletes collectively arriving from around the United States and other countries. “We are a family, no matter where you come from,” said Coach Ashley. “The whole team has a sense of belonging, and each has a voice.” Coach Ian has had great success recruiting for the men’s volleyball team internationally. “We intentionally have diverse rosters to reflect the world. Everyone can fit into our family and culture.” The men’s roster boasts players from seven different states, Puerto Rico and four different countries.

In the fall of 2021, men’s basketball began play; in the fall of 2022, sprint football made its debut and won the Midwest Sprint Football League Championship. In spring 2023, the men’s volleyball team will take the court for the first time. “These new sports collectively brought SMWC significantly more students; however, the volume in students also creates a robust experience for all students. The growth of our Pomeroy nation impacts every aspect of the student experience as classrooms are filled and the dining hall is bustling with students. There are more activities for all students across the board, and many things that keep students engaged on campus during the weekends,” said Randolph. “Athletics growth helps us meet the overall collegiate expectations of prospective students from Indianapolis and Chicago, internationally and even right here in our own Wabash Valley backyard,”

Women’s Volleyball

Men’s Track and Field

Men’s Volleyball

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LEAK The least favorite word

By Catherine Mickey Saunders ’98, Associate Vice President for Advancement

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“Leak is my least favorite word,” said Janet Clark, Ph.D., provost. “Because it means another pipe has broken.” During the 2022 Christmas break, College leadership received a call from the public safety team that a pipe burst in the bathroom of 319 and had wreaked havoc in the south wing of Le Fer Hall. Aimee Janssen-Robinson, Ph.D., associate vice president for student affairs, explained, “The water damage destroyed 219. The entire ceiling dropped in the student’s room and water leaked out into the hall and across to another room, ruining new carpet, furniture and original hardwood floors. Both rooms were occupied. This is never a call any of us wishes to receive.” Recently recarpeted floors and painted walls, original built-in cabinets, new lighting fixtures, seating and books in the Sacred Heart Chapel were damaged in the leak. The Chapel was relocated to the academic wing in 2017, occupying the westernmost room facing The Avenue.

Student room after water damage.

needs of today’s students. After the completion of four stacks this fall thanks to generous gifts from Nancy Payonk ’81 and Tom Deputy, widower of Margaret “Peggy” Kelly Deputy ’64, the College successfully upgraded one-third of the bathrooms leaving 54 (or 18 stacks) that still await funding. Since the summer of 2020, the 81 student bathrooms have been the priority. The residential floors’ nearly identical layouts arrange the bathrooms in stacks of three. As such, they must be renovated together to replace the original cast iron plumbing and to include a proper ventilation system. North wing bathroom renovations, which have all been completed, were originally prioritized to protect the McMahon Ballroom. A leak during the Christmas break several years ago caused the original hardwood floor to warp expediting its replacement in 2019. “The slow progress is concerning, given the growing campus student population. Housing was almost at capacity in fall 2022, said Clark. Plumbing issues create housing problems. When a sewage pipe leaked in September, 12 students were displaced for

Student bathroom after ceiling collapsed.

Water was also found in the south wing of Le Fer’s garden level, which had until recently housed the Sisters of Providence Archives. The archives were relocated to Rooney Hall in October 2022. The spaces were sealed in plastic by a local restoration services company with large blowers working for weeks to dry four floors of damage. “As disappointing as this latest leak is, we are not shocked,” shared Jensen-Robinson. “The plumbing has outlived its life as the grand building approaches its 100th anniversary.” Opened in 1924, Le Fer Hall’s plumbing problems have plagued SMWC for decades. Deferred maintenance and patches were the solutions until the building became a philanthropic funding priority. With more than $2.3 million in donor support since 2016 many renovations have been made in Le Fer Hall to meet the

New carpet and furniture ruined from water and falling plaster.

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