Email this Page

The OLHCC Strategic Plan

Lighting the Way

for the

Leaders of Tomorrow:


Transforming the

Educational Community

The Strategic Plan for
Our Lady of Holy Cross College

 2009-2013

  

Our Mission

Our Lady of Holy Cross College participates in the teaching mission of the Catholic Church through the heritage and charism of the Marianites of Holy Cross. The administration, staff and faculty educate the minds and hearts of undergraduate and graduate students through dedicated service and innovative teaching methods. All are challenged to seek truth, goodness and beauty through critical thinking, research and dialogue. Called to be a prophetic presence in an ever-changing world, the College community shares its spiritual, material, and educational resources with all.

Vision Statement

Our Lady of Holy Cross College will be a Catholic, national, comprehensive, higher education institution known for the ability to balance liberal arts and sciences, and nationally accredited professional programs.

The College will be acclaimed for its individualized service to a diverse student body, the integration of mind and heart in the Marianite tradition, and the academic preparation for competent professionals in service to the larger community.

Vision Narrative

The Our Lady of Holy Cross College education will be framed in a liberal arts program that is strengthened by the theology and spirituality of the Catholic tradition while appreciating the value and wisdom of other religious traditions.

The College provides an individualized higher education that leads to certification, licensure, and other competencies in the working world to an academically diverse and multi-cultural student body.

The College engages students, faculty, and staff in a relationship that fosters student growth and creativity through personal attention, technological advances, innovative teaching methods, and service to the community. We look to the world of education that is emerging.

Planning Pillars

The planning process is based on the Vision of the College. The following five "pillar" statements will assist us to plan the fulfillment of the vision into the future.

Pillar I

We will be an educational community influenced by the teaching, scholarship, and service founded upon the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.

GOALS

  • The College community will be imbued with the principles and values found in the College's statement on Catholic Intellectual Tradition.
  • The College's mission, inspired by the Catholic intellectual tradition and the educational philosophy of the Marianite Sisters of Holy Cross, will be expressed in innovative teaching, scholarship and service.
  • The College's faculty and staff will commit to be servant leaders to all in light of the Gospel and best practices in education: "We are servant leaders who inspire our students to acknowledge their dreams."
  • The College will be an educational system which integrates Catholic principles into current issues found in society, especially in the areas of spirituality, ethical living, and civic participation.

Pillar II

We will be an educational community with an entrepreneurial spirit in all aspects of the College's life.

GOALS

  • The College will employ best practice in order to reform and update current programs, to develop new curriculums and programs, and to evaluate administrative structures based on an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. This will promote growth and development to meet the needs of students and the wider community.
  • The College will support the entrepreneurial spirit of growth through its philanthropic efforts and efficient management of resources.
  • The College, through its fundraising efforts, will explore the renewal of current facilities, the construction of new facilities on existing grounds, and new sites to promote the growth of academic and student development.
  • The College will explore new methods of providing education, all of which may utilize face-to-face, hybrid, and online education.

Pillar III

We will be a nationally acclaimed educational community known for its centers of excellence which will integrate academic and student life.

GOALS

  • The College's academic and student life programs will support the Mission and Vision of the College characterized by the concepts of truth, goodness, beauty, presence, compassion, and service.
  • The College will assess the quality of its existing academic programs as Centers of Excellence.
  • The College will actively support and continue to evaluate the academic administrative structure.
  • The College will actively support new academic and student life programs as Centers of Excellence.
  • The College will introduce innovative and creative methods of teaching and learning.
  • The College's faculty and staff will be servant leaders who will introduce and maintain quality student support services to improve student life and the bond between students and the College.
  • The College will be known for its institutional effectiveness policy and procedures and full implementation of assessment.

Pillar IV

We will be an educational community known for its cooperative spirit, sharing our academic and student life resources with others.

GOALS

  • The College, based on its Catholic intellectual and social justice tradition, and its academic and student life community, will be know as a community partners and servant leaders.
  • The College will serve the community by providing a private and affordable, quality four-year and graduate education and by seeking ways to assist funding education.
  • The College will foster partnerships with every aspect of the community which will allow our students growth and development.
  • The College's faculty and staff, through its academic and student life programs, will be active in their service to the local and national community.

Pillar V
We will be an educational community with the resources to achieve our vision.

GOALS

  • The College will increase its student enrollment based on the strength of our quality educational experience thereby enabling an affordable tuition.
  • The College will optimize the tuition and scholarship structure for the purpose of achieving its desired enrollment profile.
  • The College will increase and diversify the funding base to provide the human and material resources needed to deliver high-quality programs, educational support, and scholarships to the students the College serves.
  • The College, through its philanthropy efforts, will support the vision of balancing liberal arts and sciences and the professional programs.
  • The College will develop a capital campaign and enhance its annual funding base.
  • The College will increase its marketing efforts to enhance its visibility in the Louisiana area.

Accreditation

Our Lady of Holy Cross College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, baccalaureate, and master's degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033.4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Our Lady of Holy Cross College.

The Department of Nursing is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
(61 Broadway, 33rd floor, New York, NY 10006, telephone number 212-363-5555)
to award the baccalaureate degree.

The Business Degree Programs of Our Lady of Holy Cross College are accredited by the
International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
(Overland Park, KS 66225, telephone number 913-631-9154).

The Community Counseling (now Clinical Mental Health Counseling), Marriage and Family Counseling, and School Counseling programs of Our Lady of Holy Cross College are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP), (5999 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304, telephone number 703-283-9800, ext. 301).

The Radiologic Technology Program of Our Lady of Holy Cross College is accredited by
the Joint Review Committee on Education and Radiologic Technology
(20 North Wacker Street, Suite 900 Chicago, IL 60606, telephone number 213-704-5300).

The Respiratory Care Program of Our Lady of Holy Cross College is accredited by
the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
(1248 Harwood Road, Bedford, TX 76021-4244, telephone number 817-283-2835).

The Education Program of Our Lady of Holy Cross College is accredited by
the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
(2010 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20036-1023,
telephone number 202-466-7496).