What Unification Means for Our Community
What Unification Means for Saint Mary’s
To ensure clarity about this transition, here is what unification does and does not mean for Saint Mary’s. These points reflect both our commitment to the College’s mission and our responsibility to support students, faculty, and staff as we move forward together.
What This Does Mean
- Strengthens our mission – Unifying Liberal Arts and Science enhances our Catholic, Lasallian, liberal arts identity.
- Supports all disciplines – Arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences flourish together in a holistic liberal arts model.
- Preserves and furthers signature programs – Ensuring continuity while positioning them for growth.
- Invests in faculty excellence – Expanding opportunities for interdisciplinary teaching and research.
- Continues shared governance – Faculty and staff voices will guide implementation, help shape the new school’s identity, and contribute to the naming process, with final affirmation by the Board of Trustees.
- Positions SMC for the future – Enhancing enrollment, strengthening fundraising, and aligning with peer institutions.
What This Does Not Mean
- No loss of identity – Departments and programs retain their unique strengths and missions.
- No elimination of programs – The goal is to strengthen, not reduce, academic offerings.
- No elimination of staff roles – Staff remain essential to student, faculty, and institutional success.
- No diminishment of faculty roles – Faculty remain central to curriculum, research, and to shaping the academic life of the College.
- No erosion of resources – Commitment to preserving and further supporting academic strengths.
- No break with our mission – This unification deepens, rather than changes, our Catholic, Lasallian, liberal arts identity.