Newswise — In front of a cheering crowd of nearly 500 students, faculty, staff, graduates and trustees, President Mary Pat Seurkamp announced that College of Notre Dame of Maryland will become Notre Dame of Maryland University. In revealing the long-awaited news, President Seurkamp said that Notre Dame of Maryland University will make its official debut on an historic date, September 9, 2011 – the 116th anniversary of the institution’s first day of class in 1895.
“What’s in a name? In this instance the answer is ‘everything,’” said Dr. Seurkamp. “’Notre Dame of Maryland’ honors our proud tradition, while ‘University’ enthusiastically embraces our path forward in leadership in liberal arts, health sciences and education—nationally and internationally. Notre Dame of Maryland University encompasses the strength of our past and the promise of our future.”
Dr. Seurkamp said the university’s new logo and branding identity, as well as website, athletic uniforms and all other related changes, will be unveiled for the first time when students return for the 2011-2012 academic year.
The new name comes after months of detailed and collaborative study by a university committee, including a comprehensive survey of graduates, faculty, staff, and current and prospective students. Notre Dame’s administrators began to formally review the prospect of university designation last fall. Campus focus groups were held in February to gather the perspectives of faculty, staff and students. In May, the Notre Dame Board of Trustees voted to move toward university designation and the Board unanimously endorsed the name selection at a meeting on October 30.
External sources, including U.S. News & World Report and The Carnegie Foundation, routinely categorize Notre Dame as a university. In fact, Notre Dame’s original charter envisioned the progression, authorizing the school to establish masters’ and doctoral level degrees since its founding by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1895. Today, Notre Dame offers undergraduate and graduate programs through four schools—the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, School of Pharmacy and School of Nursing.
ABOUT COLLEGE OF NOTRE DAME OF MARYLANDCollege of Notre Dame of Maryland is recognized for its commitment to a liberal arts education, including strong teacher preparation, health sciences programs and small class sizes. The Women’s College—the first Catholic college for women in the United States to award the four-year baccalaureate degree—offers 29 majors. Notre Dame was named to the “Great Schools, Great Prices” and “Best Regional Universities” rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” 2011 edition. In fall 2009 the College welcomed its inaugural class to the School of Pharmacy. Weekend and Accelerated colleges offer part-time programs for working women and men. Graduate Studies in education, nursing, management, communication and liberal studies provide students with a focused contemporary curriculum. Visit ndm.edu for more information.
To view highlights of today’s announcement and celebration, please visit www.ndm.edu.
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