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Post by claver on Jul 21, 2023 14:37:56 GMT -5
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Post by FU73 on Jul 21, 2023 14:44:00 GMT -5
 September 22, 2022Fairfield University Announces Location of Bellarmine Campus in Partnership With Diocese of Bridgeport at Site of Former St. Ambrose SchoolThe new associate’s degree program will serve students from the Bridgeport region, making Jesuit Catholic higher education more accessible for all. www.fairfield.edu/bellarmine/Fairfield University and the Diocese of Bridgeport are pleased to announce that Fairfield Bellarmine, a new academic unit that will offer a two-year associate’s degree program, will open in Fall of 2023 at the site of the former St. Ambrose School on Boston Avenue in Bridgeport, Conn. The new campus will initially occupy the St. Ambrose rectory and convent. “Animated by a fundamental mission to accompany our youth on a hope-filled future, Fairfield University is committed to advancing access to our values-based, student-centric, outcomes-focused education in ever more modern ways,” said Fairfield University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD. “As educators we believe in the dignifying and transformative power of education. We are grateful to be working with the Diocese of Bridgeport, as the Bellarmine initiative is another innovative partnership providing greater opportunities and pathways to achievement for students of promise.”“This is a moment we’ve all looked forward to, and I believe one that will have lasting implications for the educational and personal success of our young people. By creating a pathway to higher education, we’re also creating a pathway to hope and to achievement for students with untapped promise and potential. I’m grateful to Fairfield University for their leadership and commitment to this effort, which will transform lives and strengthen our community,” said the Most Rev. Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport. Renovation plans for the facilities and a site plan for the campus are underway. Several buildings will house instructional, student life, community engagement, and administrative spaces. Small class sizes and cohorts will ensure one-on-one attention, dedicated faculty, and strong support services. Students will benefit from mentoring, including peer tutors. The University’s writing and math center staff will have a presence on the Bellarmine campus, and students will be actively engaged in planning and forming a student government, clubs, athletic activities, and social and faith-related events at the Bellarmine campus. Students will have the opportunity to participate in University clubs, activities and intramural and club sports, as well as have access to facilities on Fairfield’s main campus..... www.fairfield.edu/news/press-releases/2022/september/location-of-bellarmine-campus-announced.html?fbclid=IwAR3I5igZYVrAWuToa3blv34MCpAZPpRlOJ3AvpkZqJG91ttcbmddEawPJ68 |
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Post by paulie74 on Jul 27, 2023 19:48:45 GMT -5
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Post by FU73 on Jul 27, 2023 20:59:12 GMT -5
Fairfield University’s nonresidential Bellarmine Campus is located at 1596 Boston Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06610. As matriculated Fairfield University students, Fairfield Bellarmine undergraduates will have full access to the University’s main campus resources located approximately seven miles away at 1073 North Benson Road in Fairfield, CT 06824. www.fairfield.edu/bellarmine/index.html |
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Post by irishstag on Jul 30, 2023 21:28:42 GMT -5
I think the approval of the Bellarmine College concept was a breach of the fiduciary duty the Fairfield BOT has to the university. This proposal is deeply flawed but consistent with the racial justice ethos of the moment, which is obviously the impetus behind this project. First, associates degrees have very little value in the marketplace...associates degree holders are not college graduates. Second, admission is based on a "holistic" approach, meaning grades and test scores are of far less importance than identity. The Bellarmine students are told from the beginning they are Fairfield students, entitled to use all the university facilities, and the obvious objective is to have as many as possible come to the North Benson Road campus as juniors, having gotten in using a much different admissions standard than those students who start on North Benson Road and have to pay to attend. From what I've read about it, they talk about providing wrap around social services, paying for transportation and food for the Bellarmine students. This is an extremely costly undertaking for a school without a large endowment. With this and the Texas undertaking absorbing so much funding, the North Benson Road campus from which I graduated is being shortchanged. Personally, I think providing scholarships to promising Bridgeport students for 4 years at North Benson Road, where they would be integrated into the school the first year, is preferable. I have a child at a peer institution, and they aren't doing anything like Bellarmine. None of our peers are.
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Post by ctghostman on Jul 31, 2023 7:14:16 GMT -5
I haven’t studied the finances but it should be a big concern. The needs of the Bellermine students are going to be vastly different than the typical FU student. I don’t want us affiliated with a glorified/supplemental high school-i hope for high standards.
The nursing school in Texas is an odd fit too. Yes, we have a fantastic nursing school. Texas and Fairfield are vastly different.
On the MAAC board, GuyF linked this-
Among positions being eliminated are DEI ones- we have some of those too-we might need the Jesuits/campus ministry or we might need DEI folks-we don’t need both.
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Post by paulie74 on Jul 31, 2023 7:28:06 GMT -5
First, when have you ever known the very fiscally conservative Board of FU ever do something to put the university at risk?
I am very surprised at the loud dog whistle. Thought those all became obsolete in 2016.
To all you so-called Christians out there, WWJD?
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Post by dannynoonan on Jul 31, 2023 7:57:57 GMT -5
To all you so-called Christians out there, WWJD? Was that really necessary? |
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Post by paulie74 on Jul 31, 2023 8:20:28 GMT -5
To all you so-called Christians out there, WWJD? Was that really necessary? Absolutely. Calling yourself a Christian and not behaving like one is described in one word, hypocrisy. |
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Post by ctghostman on Jul 31, 2023 8:30:27 GMT -5
First, when have you ever known the very fiscally conservative Board of FU ever do something to put the university at risk? I am very surprised at the loud dog whistle. Thought those all became obsolete in 2016. To all you so-called Christians out there, WWJD? What’s wrong with asking questions? (Including hard ones). And as far as our BOT - it ain’t all that - fiscally conservative is both a positive and a negative. Two possibly bold initiatives at the same time might not be a wise move |
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Post by stag79 on Jul 31, 2023 9:02:49 GMT -5
Was that really necessary? Absolutely. Calling yourself a Christian and not behaving like one is described in one word, hypocrisy. Yes dog whistles for sure. What the heck. This is a modest undertaking at a school with virtually no Pell Grant recipients. It’s OK to reach out to the community next door where so many live in poverty. And it’s certainly important to do anything that helps broaden the racial and economic diversity of the university. |
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Post by stag79 on Jul 31, 2023 10:19:19 GMT -5
To all you so-called Christians out there, WWJD? I thought the poster asked a couple of very legit questions about how Fairfield is actually paying for all this. If you go to FU-Bellarmine website, there is no info on tuition. Is everyone going for free?? If so, who's paying for it?? Where did we suddenly get the money for this?? I was under the impression FU had to dig deep to fund all the recent construction on campus. That new Business School didn't come cheap. Actually the poster is annoyed/angry that these students may get to enter the university as juniors. That’s messed up |
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Post by ctghostman on Jul 31, 2023 10:42:24 GMT -5
I thought the poster asked a couple of very legit questions about how Fairfield is actually paying for all this. If you go to FU-Bellarmine website, there is no info on tuition. Is everyone going for free?? If so, who's paying for it?? Where did we suddenly get the money for this?? I was under the impression FU had to dig deep to fund all the recent construction on campus. That new Business School didn't come cheap. Actually the poster is annoyed/angry that these students may get to enter the university as juniors. That’s messed up If they are qualified-great/welcome. I very much doubt that anyone is against folks that can compete/survive at FU being admitted. FU isn’t for all academically -it’s unfair to all to being in kids that will struggle/just get by-let’s not denounce that reality. |
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Post by paulie74 on Jul 31, 2023 11:00:12 GMT -5
IMO, assuming it's not sending FU into financial decline, here is the key rational for FU Bellarmine.
And trust me, it's business not altruism. The benefit to the community is ancillary.
1. Qualified 4 year graduates--guaranteed
It's documented that low income school districts dramatically underperform high income suburban districts. Lots of bright qualified students just don't have the same opportunities to learn that are found in higher income districts. This makes it difficult for FU admissions to determine what success or potential is for a kid. It's not an equal playing field. (Is a 3.8 GPA from an underperforming school the same as a 3.8 from a high rated suburban school?)
- FU has talked for years about getting more kids into FU from these lower performing districts without compromising standards with little or no success. The result is we have an experience (culturally) that is an extension of the private or public suburban high school.
- To that end, a successful Bellarmine student guarantees a QUALIFIED student from a disadvantaged background can secure a 4 year degree. For those concerned this will drag down the overall value of an FU degree, Bellarmine does just the opposite. You have in essence a farm system. If you can cut it, you can move on and be a high performing qualified 4 year graduate.
2. The 4 year FU ranking stats will be improved not diminished.
- The graduation rate for an FU 4 year degree will be enhanced as Bellarmine is a separate Associate Degree program. Freshman success rates at Bellarmine will not impact FU stats. Successful Bellarmine students will enhance the profile of the upper classes at FU if kids decide and are qualified to move on.
3. Our national ranking and hiring stats will be enhanced.
- One of the big raps on our national profile ranking is the lack of cultural diversity. Feeding a more diversified slate of accomplished and qualified students into the upper FU classes will deliver a stronger pool of candidates for employers.
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Post by stagz on Jul 31, 2023 12:22:07 GMT -5
I highly doubt Texas and Bellarmine are financial stretches. On the contrary, I think they are highly strategic moves, done conservatively to fill needs, and subsequently, intelligently grow the University we know and love. Very proud of FU for taking the “chances”/steps.
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