‘04 for S. Catholic

ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE, Dec. 5 — Southern Catholic College in Dawsonville, Ga., will delay its projected opening date by one year and open in fall 2004.

Jeremiah Ashcroft, president of the prospective college, said the institution will open at that time “if we meet critical objectives,” including finances.

The difficult part “will be turning away the numerous applicants for enrollment next fall,” said Thomas Clements, chairman of Southern Catholic's board of trustees.

Catholic Is Cool

THE BOSTON HERALD, Dec. 16 — Despite the priest sexual-abuse scandal, it is harder to get into most Catholic high schools in the Boston area, reported the Boston daily.

“Money is pouring in for new buildings and parents say they see their children being accepted into colleges and becoming well-rounded people,” the newspaper said.

Headmaster William Burke of St. Sebastian's High School in Needham said the scandal has not hurt the quality or quantity of applicants. Among students already in the school, Burke said, “the faith is really, really strong.”

Accreditation Reaffirmed

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, Dec. 10 — After two years of warning, Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Ky., a Cincinnati suburb, has seen its accreditation fully reaffirmed by the College Commission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

The four-year Catholic college of 1,554 students never lost its accreditation but was put on warning in 2000 following a review process that raised a number of concerns related to the financial solvency of the institution and its long-range planning.

Under the leadership of Thomas More's president, E. Joseph Lee, the college has formulated a five-year strategic plan, formed a new management team, implemented new internal budget controls and increased outside funding.

New President

THE NEW YORK TIMES,

Dec. 17 — Father Joseph McShane, a former theology professor and dean at New York&x0027;s Fordham University and the current president of Scranton University, has been named Fordham&x0027;s new president, the newspaper reported. Both Scranton and Fordham are Jesuit institutions.

The Times said Father McShane replaces retiring Father Joseph O&X0027;Hare, who was "a leading voice" among those who expressed reservations about "the Vatican&x0027;s efforts to codify the relationship of Catholic colleges and the Church."

The newspaper described Father McShane as favoring that effort as a way to prompt "colleges to re-examine their missions," but said that he thinks the need for a Church mandatum for theology professors "must still be resolved."

Two More Years

SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE, Dec. 12 — Holy Cross College, a two-year institution since its founding in 1966, has been authorized by the higher learning commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools to add a four-year degree program, said the South Bend, Ind., daily.

The college “will be an associate/baccalaureate college, with two-year associate's degrees continuing to account for most degrees granted,” the newspaper said.

However, most Holy Cross graduates go on to four-year schools, and many might now opt to do that by staying put.