Daemen College

Daemen College
Rosary Hall
Motto	A World of Opportunity
Established	1947
Endowment	$6.3 Million
President	Dr. Edwin Clausen
Students	2,958
Undergraduates	2,095
Postgraduates	863
Location	Amherst, New York
Campus	Suburban
Former names	Rosary Hill College
Colors	Blue and White
Nickname	Wildcats
Website	http://www.daemen.edu/

Daemen College is a liberal arts college^[1] located on Main Street in Amherst, New York.^[2][3]

History

Daemen was founded in 1947 as Rosary Hill College for women by the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, headed by Mother Magdalene Daemen. The school graduated its first male alumnus in 1968, and changed its name in 1976 to honor the foundress of the order which founded Rosary Hill College. Currently, Daemen is a non-sectarian four-year liberal arts college that also offers graduate programs in health care and education(Doctorate in Physical Therapy, Masters of Science in Nursing, Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Masters of Science in Education/Special Education).

Programs

Of particular interest to many prospective students are the Physician Assistant and Physical Therapy programs, for which the school has a nationwide reputation. A significant number of students in these two departments are from outside of Western New York.

There are more than thirty undergraduate programs and six graduate programs at the school.

Curriculum

Daemen College is unique for its Core Curriculum, which is competency-based. Students who graduate from the College are expected to master critical thinking and creative problem solving, literacy in information and multi-media technology, communication skills, affective judgment, moral and ethical discernment, contextual competency, and civic responsibility. Also notable is Daemen's integration of service learning into the Core Curriculum.

Daemen now offers a degree in animation, and has both a partnership an an articulation agreement with Max the Mutt Animation School in Toronto, Ontario.

Mission statement

Daemen College sign and 2009 construction

The mission of Daemen College is to prepare students for life and leadership in an increasingly complex world. Founded on the principle that education should elevate human dignity and foster civic responsibility and compassion, the college seeks to integrate the intellectual qualities acquired through study of the liberal arts with the education necessary for professional accomplishment. This integration which recognizes equal value in liberal studies and professional programs aims at preparing graduates who are dedicated to the health and well-being of both their local and global communities.

With a Daemen education students will acquire the skill to solve problems creatively and think critically. They will be comfortable with diversity and will recognize the importance of a global perspective. They will be able to work with others and be invigorated by environments that present challenges and demand innovation. Daemen students are expected to be active participants in their own education and informed citizens who understand that learning is a life-long journey.

At the heart of Daemen's integrated learning experience is the relationship that can develop between the college's faculty and its students. Daemen prides itself on maintaining a student-centered atmosphere and a close professional and collaborative association among all members of the college community. Assisted by a supportive faculty, Daemen students are encouraged to pursue goals beyond their initial expectations, to respond to academic challenges, and to develop habits of mind that enrich their lives and their community.

Gersh Experience

Gersh College is a college program established for students with neurological disorders who would have had difficulty in a public college. The school will be located in the former George L. Lowry Middle School building and its accompanying 9 acres (36,000 m²) in North Tonawanda, New York. The school will offer a two-year program for students with neurobiological disorders such as high functioning autism, Tourette syndrome, ADHD, OCD, and bipolar disorder. Individuals with violent histories are not candidates. The school is designed to educate the academically gifted who have neurobiological disorders. The middle school was closed down after the 2003-2004 school year due to budget and claims that the building was not maintained properly. The property was subsequently bought from the city by Gersh Management Services for a sum of $700,000 (this was the lowest of the three offered bids because it was the only offer that did not require tax deferment). Gersh also owns another school in New York State, Gersh Academy, which provides the same support for younger children.

Gersh College is expected to open no later than September 2007 and plans to open with a partnership with nearby Daemen College in Amherst.

Sports and recreation

Daemen sports teams are the Wildcats, formerly the Warriors, members of the NAIA. With the anticipated decline in participation in the NAIA, Daemen is currently pursuing membership to NCAA Division II status. This represents significant growth for the College's athletics program which have achieved national recognition for Women's Volleyball, Women's Basketball and Men's Basketball. Daemen has recently hired a new athletic director and a compliance professional in support of the application for NCAA DII.

MusicalFare Theatre is located on the campus of Daemen College. The theatre is housed in a small theatre near the Getzville Road entrance to the campus and the recently built modern student housing and brings professional regional theatre productions to campus which are open at reduced rates for students, alumni, faculty and staff while encouraging members of the community to enjoy quality productions by a professional staff. Active participants in the Daemen Community, the theatre share resources with the College and has several administrators from the College on their governing and community boards. More information about the theatre may be found at http://www.musicalfare.com/

Notable alumni and faculty

Lynn Marinelli - Chairwoman of the County Legislature in Erie County, New York

Mary Ann Esposito - Creator/host of Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito, America's longest-running cooking program

Sue Falsone - Physical Therapist for the Los Angeles Dodgers is the first female physical therapist in Major League baseball.

Ayke Agus - violinist who studied under Jascha Heifetz

MaryEllen Elia - Superintendent of Schools, Hillsborough County Public Schools (Tampa), Florida, 2005 to present.

References

1. ^ "Admissions". Daemen College. http://www.daemen.edu/admissions/. Retrieved 2009-06-25. 
2. ^ USGS. Overview of Daemen College (Map). http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=42.96509,-78.78957&z=14&t=T&marker0=41.00241%2C-75.07207%2CSunfish%20Pond&marker1=41.42161%2C-74.04176%2CCornwall%5C%2C%20New%20York&marker2=42.70640%2C-73.76520%2CLoudonville%5C%2C%20NY&marker3=42.96385%2C-78.79061%2C4380%20Main%20St%5C%2C%20Amherst%20NY. Retrieved 2009-06-25. 
3. ^ New York State Department of Transportation (1989). Buffalo NE Digital Raster Quadrangle (Map). 1:24,000, . http://www.nysgis.state.ny.us/gisdata/quads/drg24/dotpreview/index.cfm?code=q8. Retrieved January 21, 2010. 

External links

• Daemen College - Website