Ave Maria University

Infobox_University
name = Ave Maria University


established = 2003
type = Private
president = Nicholas J. Healy, Jr.
provost emeritus = Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J. Society of Jesus, Jesuits
city = Ave Maria
county = Collier County
state = Florida
country = USA
undergrad = 450 [http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-07-31-avemaria-growth_N.htm Catholic college crosses new ground - USATODAY.com ] ]
postgrad = 150
affiliation = Roman Catholic
website= [http://www.avemaria.edu/ www.avemaria.edu]

Ave Maria University is a private university with a Roman Catholic character and liturgical tradition in southwest Florida, founded in 2003 by Tom Monaghan, Catholic philanthropist and retired founder of Domino's Pizza. Bishop Frank Dewane, the local Catholic ordinary, has endorsed the university. [ [http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=27461 "Bishop dedicates Ave Maria University Oratory"] , Catholic Online, 2008-Apr-05. Accessed 2008-04-23] The university moved into its permanent campus, situated in the planned town of Ave Maria, convert|17|mi|km east of Naples, Florida, in August 2007. Current total enrollment is approximately 600 students.

Monaghan calls Ave Maria the first Roman Catholic university established in over 40 years. His goal is to create a Roman Catholic university faithful to the magisterium of the Catholic Church. Monaghan said "We wanted to build a major Catholic university in the southern part of the United States with the highest standards."

The university's founding has generated controversies including Monaghan's vision of creating a town that would encourage beliefs consistent with the Roman Catholic faith, as well as the unexplained March 2007 firing of its first provost, Joseph Fessio.

Founding

Monaghan initiated the founding of Ave Maria University with a donation of $250 million. [http://www.avemaria.edu/aboutus/ Ave Maria University ] ] The Barron Collier family donated the land in southwest Florida for the campus. In August 2003, the university opened an interim campus in The Vineyards in Naples, Florida, enrolling some 100 undergraduate students, 75 of whom were freshmen.

Accreditation status

As a new university, Ave Maria is pursuing accreditation with the appropriate collegiate authorities. In 2007, the university applied for accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools after withdrawing an earlier application to the same organization, in order to accommodate the accreditation of its new campus.url= [http://www.bonitanews.com/news/2007/jul/23/ave_maria_remains_focused_gaining_accreditation/?latest] ] The university received full accreditation from the American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE) in June 2008. [ [http://www.avemaria.edu/accreditation Ave Maria University ] ]

Academic degrees

Ave Maria University currently offers ten undergraduate and three graduate degrees. [http://www.avemaria.edu/academics/ Ave Maria University | Academics ] ] Graduate programs include M.A. and Ph.D. studies in Theology and a Master of Theological Studies for "non-traditional students." [ [http://www.ipt.avemaria.edu/program.htm Welcome to The Institute for Pastoral Theology :: The Program ] ] The university also offers an undergraduate Pre-Theologate program, which prepares men for the seminary, paralleled by a religious discernment program for women. Undergraduate students must complete all courses in the core curriculum, with more than 10 required courses, including a full year of Latin, courses in philosophy, theology, literature, science, math, history and political science. The philosophical emphasis of the school is based on Thomism.

Undergraduate degrees

*Biology
*Classics and Early Christian Literature
*Economics
*History
*Literature
*Mathematics
*Music with a concentration in Sacred Music
*Philosophy
*Politics
*Theology

Campus

The new campus is located in the planned town of Ave Maria, Florida, which continues to expand convert|17|mi|km east of Naples. The town site occupies about convert|5000|acre|km2, of which nearly 20 percent are designated for the campus. The centerpiece of the campus and the town is the Ave Maria Oratory, which is a large gothic-inspired structure that serves as the parish church and university chapel. The area was previously used primarily for farming. Several more master-planned communities are under construction or planned in the immediately surrounding area, north and south of the campus. Managed wetlands lie north and west of the campus. Wildlife preservation and restoration projects have also been instituted on the site, to preserve a degree of its natural state.

Residential life

Dormitories are organized into small, same-gender communities. Quiet hours (9-9 on weekdays, 11-10 on weekends) are enforced by residence assistants and adjusted by residence directors. Students’ apartments are open to members of the opposite sex during open hours only. Chapels are located in each of the three dorms and contain an altar for Holy Mass and tabernacles housing the Eucharist perpetually. Members of the clergy, who live on campus, assist in maintaining spiritual life. Televisions are only permitted in common areas, though students are allowed to use their computers to play videos in the dorms and common rooms. Social life on campus includes intramural sports, drama productions, talent shows, excursions, dances, and many other events. Students are encouraged to organize and participate in social and recreational activities. Drinking is only permitted in private quarters, or where deemed appropriate by the residence director(s). Men and women are encouraged to dress in modest attire and to avoid sexually suggestive or revealing attire.

Liturgy

Mass is offered in the Ave Maria Oratory, the landmark building on campus, which is located in the heart of town. The parish serves the town and the university. Traditional liturgical actions are encouraged, including kneeling for communion, the use of Latin, the daily praying of the Angelus (especially at lunch time, when a bell is rung across campus), the use of incense, and male-only altar servers at Mass. The chaplaincy has issued directives regarding the use of Latin, "ad orientem" posture (the priest facing the altar, away from the congregation), and kneeling for communion. Other Masses are said in English with the priest facing the people. The Sunday Mass schedule begins with 7:30 "Tridentine" Mass, 9:00 "Novus Ordo", 10:30 English, 12:00 English, and 8:00 P.M. Praise and Worship. The thrice daily Masses are 7:50, Noon, and 5:15. On Tuesday and Thursday at 7:50 A.M. the Latin "Tridentine" is often said.

Controversies

"For controversies surrounding development of the town of Ave Maria, Florida, see Ave Maria, Florida."

Provost status

On March 21, 2007, the provost of the university, Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J., was dismissed for undisclosed reasons. In a formal statement, Monaghan, in his role as chancellor, stated only that the dismissal was because of "irreconcilable differences over administrative policies and practices." [ [http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/mar/21/top_ave_maria_official_dismissed "Top Ave Maria official dismissed"] , "Naples Daily News" (Mar. 21, 2007)] However, some articles covering the firing cite administrative conflicts over Fessio's traditional style of liturgical worship. [Brian Mershon, [http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/mershon/070403 "Chaos erupts at Ave Maria University after Fr. Fessio firing; McCaffrey: Traditionalist Catholics need not apply"] , "Renew America", Apr. 3, 2007] Fessio was reinstated the following day as theologian-in-residence and continues to work with the university in its study abroad program and as a professor of theology on campus, teaching courses that have received favorable student reviews.

The position of provost is currently vacant.

FERPA violation

On February 25, 2008, the Naples Daily News reported that Ave Maria University leaked federally protected student data such as grade point averages and detailed exam evaluations. [ [http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/feb/25/ave-maria-web-site-publicly-releases-private-stude/ "Ave Maria Web site publicly releases private student records"] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.avemaria.edu/ Official Ave Maria University Website]
* [http://avemariaonline.info/ Ave Maria Online]
* [http://www.naplesnews.com/news/ave_maria Running Series on Ave Maria from Naples News]
* [http://www.naplesdailyphotos.com/bm/ Video Tour] from "http://www.naplesdailyphotos.com"
* [http://free.naplesplus.us/search.php?search=ave+maria Info and business about Ave Maria from http://free.naplesplus.us - Collier County News & Information]
* [http://avewatch.com AveWatch.com - Investigative Journalism on Tom Monaghan's Ave Maria Entities]