The Jesuit Excellence Tour Attracts the largest Crowd in Years

Chris Rouhier, Wheeling Jesuit University

The Jesuit Excellence Tour (JET) made its annual appearance at Georgetown Prep last week and it was a raging success. Twenty-two of the 28 AJCU member colleges and universities were represented, and hundreds of students from the DC area turned out to learn more about what Jesuit colleges have to offer. 

“We’re all so different,” said Anna Follensbee, fair organizer and senior assistant director of undergraduate admission for Loyola University Maryland. “When you come to an event like this you can see what makes us each special!”

And here is a little of what students attending the 2013 JET College Night might have learned:

• Le Moyne College recently opened a 48,000-square-foot new science facility.  The $20 million building will contain the physician assistant program and features a variety of classrooms, laboratories, simulation facilities, and a computer lab.  Changing directions slightly, Le Moyne now offers a Direct Entry Physician Assistant Studies Program, which provides early provisional acceptance to high school students wishing to accelerate academic and career paths to becoming physician assistants.
• Loyola University Chicago is undergoing a $500 million campus renovation including the Arnold J. Damen Student Center and the Institute of Environmental Sustainability—an innovative, interactive, and adaptable sustainable living and learning environment.  For music and dance students, the Department of Fine and Performing Arts recently announced the addition of 3 new majors in Sacred Music, Jazz Studies, and Dance—a conservatory-level dance training program.
• Loyola University Maryland is enjoying the overwhelming success of a new minor in Forensic Studies and is very proud of the recently-completed renovation of its Donnelly Science Center. The $12 million project provides new class space, research labs, offices, a vivarium, a microscopy center and a robotics lab. In admissions, Loyola is reaching the end of a four-year “test-optional” pilot program and will be reevaluating its continuation for next year.
• Loyola University New Orleans recently announced a new major concentration in film and digital media.  This degree program combines courses in film history, analysis and theory with courses involving the presentation of texts through newer digital media such as e-readers. In sports, Loyola added women’s golf this year and will add men’s golf in 2013-14.
• Regis University is excited to announce a new Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science degree.  The four-year degree includes preparation for the American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM) exercise science certification and supports entry into various post-baccalaureate programs including Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine, and a variety of other health care fields.
• St. Joseph’s University has completed a campus-wide facelift with the construction of new residence halls, three new athletic fields, new classroom buildings on the James J. Maguire campus and an expansion of the Post Learning Commons library. Communications Studies has been added as a new major in the College of Arts & Sciences, and the Haub School of Business has been expanded to include majors in business administration, family business & entrepreneurship, managing human capital, and sports marketing.  Only one of 5 in the country, St. Joseph’s Food Marketing major remains among its most popular draws.
• St. Peter’s University celebrated its 140^th anniversary last fall by rebranding to "university" status. To continue the celebration, St. Peters will open a 90,000 square-foot new student center this month and has introduced a new Sports Management program.
• The University of Scranton recently dedicated one of the most innovative science buildings in the country—the $85 million, nearly 200,000 square-foot Loyola Science Center.  The facility incorporates a dynamic, modern design that includes visible glass-walled laboratories and informal learning spaces intended to promote collaboration among students with different interests.
• Wheeling Jesuit University has a new president and all systems are go for the future!  Responding to increased demand for engineers in the Ohio River Valley region, Wheeling has begun offering a four-year Engineering Science degree, which is designed to give students a solid foundation for graduate studies in any engineering discipline.  And running counter to trends, Wheeling will begin a wrestling program in 2013-14.
• Xavier University is entering the third phase of a multi-year campus expansion program including new commercial space, student housing, a fitness center, as well as a new hotel on campus. Xavier’s School of Nursing has added a new Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track to its master’s-level nursing program, and the College of Arts and Sciences is now offering a new major in Gender and Diversity Studies.  And for sports fans, Xavier will join ‘Catholic 7’ in the new ‘Big East’ next season.