The College of New
Rochelle Celebrates
Commencement
with Hurricane Relief Fundraising Effort for Xavier University
in New Orleans
Xavier President Will be
Keynote Speaker at CNR’s 99th Commencement
Exercises
NEW ROCHELLE, NY, March
30, 2006 -- The College of New Rochelle (CNR) announced today
that, as a
central part of its Commencement celebration this year, it is launching
a
fundraising effort to assist in rebuilding efforts at Xavier University in New Orleans, which sustained extensive damage
from Hurricane Katrina. At its 99th Commencement Exercises on May 25
at Radio City
Music Hall,
CNR will confer an honorary degree on Dr. Norman C. Francis, Xavier’s
president,
who will also give the Commencement Address.
"CNR and
Xavier are in many ways sister institutions. Like CNR, Xavier started
as a
small liberal arts college founded by Catholic nuns to provide college
degrees
to a population excluded from higher education,” said Dr. Stephen J.
Sweeny, Ph.D.,
president of CNR.
“There are many
ways for Americans to support individuals affected by Hurricane
Katrina. We cannot personally meet all the needs of
the people of New Orleans,
as much as we might yearn to do so. However,
we can make a real difference in the future of one important part of
this
hurting city by supporting Xavier in its time of need. We encourage the
entire CNR
community and members of the public to join with the Class of 2006 in
making a generous
financial contribution to the rebuilding efforts of the
university.”
The first
African-American lay president of Xavier, Dr. Norman C. Francis is
nationally recognized
for his unwavering commitment to educational and social freedom and
equality,
spiritual enlightenment and community service.
“Dr. Francis has served
as President of Xavier for 38
years, making him the longest serving university president in the U.S.,”
added Dr. Sweeny. “His outstanding accomplishments and leadership to
date,
particularly in dealing with Hurricane Katrina, are truly remarkable.
It is for
these reasons that we will recognize Dr. Francis at our upcoming
Commencement
with an honorary doctorate.”
Since his appointment as Xavier’s president
in 1968, the university has more than tripled its enrollment, broadened
its
curriculum, expanded its campus and received national attention for its
award-winning academic initiatives and programs. Its tradition of
academic
excellence has fulfilled the dreams of its original founders, Saint
Katherine
Drexel and her religious order, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.
Dr. Francis
started his five decade-long association with Xavier when he enrolled
in the
class of 1952. After graduating with his
baccalaureate, he became the first African-American to receive a law
degree
from Loyola
University Law School.
Dr. Francis returned to his alma mater in 1955
to begin an illustrious administrative career which began as dean of
men and
culminated in his current position as university president.
An
advisor to five U.S. presidents, Dr. Francis has also served as
chairman of the
Member President's Council for the United Negro College Fund, former
president
of the American Association of Higher Education, former member of the
boards of
the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the
Foundation for
the Improvement in Education, former chairman of the board of the
Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools, immediate past chairman of the
Board of
Educational Testing Service, and past member of the board of the
Equitable Life
Assurance Society of the United States. Dr.
Francis has provided leadership for civil rights, educational, civic
and
religious organizations throughout his career. He is a fellow of
the American
Academy
of Arts and Sciences and holds 31 honorary degrees from institutions of
higher
education. In New
Orleans, he serves as chairman of the
board for Liberty Bank and Trust, co-chair of the Committee for a
Better New
Orleans, on the Advisory Board of the Times Picayune Publishing Co.,
and an
advisory member of the Business Council of New Orleans, as well as many
other
local organizations.
XAVIER UNIVERSITY
Just
over six months ago, in the country’s worst
natural disaster, levee breaks caused massive flooding in every
building on the
Xavier campus. Despite massive damage, the
University has reopened its doors for the spring 2006 semester,
bringing back
students, faculty and staff to the campus for what is officially the
resumption
of the “fall” semester. More than 70% of
Xavier’s pre-Katrina student body is currently enrolled and attending
classes –
surpassing dire post-hurricane estimates that only half of the
University’s
4,100 pre-Katrina students would return.
The University still
faces tremendous
financial challenges. Xavier has had to
pre-fund substantially all of the expensive reconstruction costs
required to
re-open the campus in January – last estimated at nearly $50 million.
To date, the
University has received no substantial funds from FEMA, and only a
partial
settlement from insurance. While some
additional federal aid is anticipated, the University has had to borrow
money
to pay for necessary repairs.
Xavier
University of Louisiana is Catholic and historically Black. The
ultimate
purpose of the University is the promotion of a more just and humane
society.
To this end, Xavier prepares its students to assume roles of leadership
and
service in society. This preparation takes place in a pluralistic
teaching and
learning environment that incorporates all relevant educational means,
including research and community service.
Xavier is #1 in the
nation in the number of Doctor of Pharmacy
degrees awarded to African Americans, #1 in the nation
in placing African-American students into medical
schools, and #1 in the nation
in the number of African-American
undergraduates receiving degrees in Biology
and the life sciences.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
The first Catholic
college for women in
New York
State, The College of New Rochelle was founded in 1904 by the Ursuline
Order.
Today, it comprises the all-women School of Arts & Sciences, and
three
schools which admit women and men: the School of New Resources (for
adult
learners), the School of Nursing and the Graduate School. The
main
campus of the College is located in lower Westchester County, 16 miles
north
of New York City. The
College maintains five other campus locations in New York City. Visit
the College’s website at www.cnr.edu.
