Time Line
Holy Family University
Compiled by S. Brendan O'Brien, CSFN, Holy Family University

During July, Reading and Writing Connection – an annual summer program conducted by graduate students for elementary school children - commences services.

The four academic divisions are restructured into six academic units: humanities, math and natural sciences, social and behavioral sciences, education, business administration, and nursing.

On the 8th of the month, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools reaffirms Holy Family's accreditation.

The modular Lourdes Hall is assembled on campus, and the athletic field completes improvements on July 17.

Holy Family negotiates a contract with The Defense Industrial Supply Center (Naval Depot), for continuing education credits.

In August, S. Immaculata Kraemer resigns after 33 years of service to Holy Family University as alumna, teacher, academic dean, assistant to the president, and secretary to the board of trustees. One month later the university community mourns her death on September 28, 1991.

On September 4 Carl Gregory is announced as vice chairman of the board of trustees.

A new tradition, senior citizen day, is introduced in October.

Campus minister Rev. Al Smith, OSFS, and director of careers center Lou Giuliana initiate a monthly Cabaret in the Commons featuring entertainment and free refreshments in a coffeehouse setting.

Rita Casey becomes one of the first certified college health nurses in the country through testing administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

The public relations department initiates a speakers bureau.

As the spring semester gets underway, Holy Family implements the American Disabilities Act and inaugurates the annual "Ray Taylor Memorial Awards for Faculty Development” in February.

Holy Family hires Kaludis Consulting Group in March to guide it through a yearlong strategic planning process. In May, senior administration and consultants gather for a strategic planning retreat.

The Tigers basketball team wins its 6th, and the Lady Tigers win their 7th consecutive national playoff berths, and Lady Tigers coach Kathy Killian is voted “NAIA District 19 Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year.” Jim Schultice becomes the first Holy Family athlete to place on First Team All-American.

In the spring, Holy Family acquires the former Michael house on Stevenson Lane as a student residence.

Holy Family acquires the gazebo and the Bohanan house (to be used as a student residence). Aquinas Hall modular unit is constructed on the site of the former St. Joseph's Hall.

The cooperative education program operates for its first year with the support of a Title VIII (5 yr.) Grant.

Holy Family enters into an agreement with the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in Warsaw, Poland through which students from their academy study at Holy Family University.

In October, trustees attend a strategic planning retreat.

Dr. Chaim Potok, at the invitation of Dr. William Zulch, delivers the first lecture, “The Writer Against the World,” in the Ray L. Taylor Memorial Lecture Series.

During the spring, Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE) is formed. Holy Family is a founding member.

On May 5, a “no smoking” policy takes effect in Holy Family Hall.

As Holy Family celebrates its fortieth anniversary, it introduces more “firsts”: the Tigers golf team; the mission effectiveness and enrollment management teams; annual scholarship balls; the Holy Family Alumni News; formation of a chapter of Associates of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth; “Earth Day” clean ups of Poquessing Creek and environs under the direction of lecturer Leslie McGoldrick, and the faculty professional development plan.

Holy Family acquires Holy Spirit Hall on Stevenson Lane as a student residence.

In October, trustees approve the “Strategic Agenda.”

On November 18, all Holy Family buildings are declared smoke free.

During Charter Week, Holy Family University officially celebrates its fortieth birthday on February 19.

Later in the spring, Lady Tigers softball coach Michael McGroarty is voted “Coach of the Year,” and “Project Prayerbook” is initiated by the mission effectiveness team.

In the summer, the Sisters of St. Joseph hold their general chapter in the College Center June 24-July 4.

In the summer preceding the opening of school, a five-year technology plan is developed and the language lab is upgraded to a video-based center for language instruction.

In September, the committee for multiculturalism is formed, and Tri-Lite resumes after a two year hiatus.

As the academic year gets underway, the Lady Tigers cross-country team is organized; an outdoor scoreboard is installed for the soccer and softball fields.

Students at Your Service (SAYS) is created to support community service projects; nursing students volunteer with other community groups to assist Frankford Rotarians with the Rotary International’s “Immunize PA Kids” program.

Over the course of the year, Holy Family library staff and volunteers barcode over 100,000 books and other library materials in preparation for a computerized circulation system.

Money Guide, Your Best College Buys Now published by Money Magazine, lists Holy Family University as one of the top ten private commuter universities in the nation.

On November 13, Kappa Delta Pi, honor society for education, is established.

Following approval by trustees on September 2, Holy Family officially purchases a 155-acre tract for a new campus in Bucks County on December 29, 1994.

The next month, Holy Family begins a partnership with the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in Enfield, England, to develop a study abroad program.

On April 21, a chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, international honor society for history, is established.

Student Appreciation Day is inaugurated at the conclusion of the spring semester.

Summer sees the inauguration of classes at the new campus in Newtown, Bucks County, beginning July 3.

Kappa Theta Epsilon, honor society for students in cooperative education program, is established on campus, and Holy Family commences participation in the Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency's Business Education Initiative (BEI).

In November, “Family CAT” is implemented in the library.

One month into the spring semester, Holy Family holds its first winter commencement on February 11.

A chapter of the National Business Honor Society, Sigma Beta Delta, is established on campus in March.

An additional 106 parking spaces and a retention pond are added adjacent the College Center.

Tigers and Lady Tigers advance to national basketball tournaments.

On April 15, Holy Family transfers ownership of 52 acres and the original building on Newtown campus to Lockheed Martin and 18 acres to Newtown Township. Later that month, Holy Family holds groundbreaking for the new classroom-administration building at Newtown, Bucks County.

As part of the comprehensive technology plan, a new university-wide phone system is installed.

Holy Family receives a grant of $20,929 from the Foundation for Independent Higher Education for direct Internet connectivity.

The faculty senate establishes a faculty development committee.

The Lady Tigers intercollegiate soccer team is organized.

As part of the Northern Ireland Initiative Program, Colette McCann and Peter Kane arrive from Northern Ireland to study at Holy Family for the year.

Subsequent to approval by the faculty senate and senior administration, The Family Tree publishes Holy Family's belief statement on multi-culturalism in the October 24th issue.

By the conclusion of the fall semester, a faculty and course assessment tool is implemented.

With the start of the spring semester on January 13, the nursing division introduces its community care-based graduate program; and the new classroom-administrative building on the Newtown, Bucks County campus opens.

Earlier in the month, the business administration division introduces six week accelerated courses.

As Charter Day approaches, “Holy Family [University] Week” (February 9-15) is observed in Bucks County.

The following month, the Lady Tigers advance for the first time to the second round of national basketball playoffs.

On April 28, the first spring “Graduate Research Symposium” is conducted.

During the summer, St. Mary's Hall, purchased in 1954 as the first temporary student residence, is demolished.

The new strategic planning process for the “1999-2004 Strategic Agenda” commences with S. Francesca’s appointment of the strategic planning steering committee and Catherine McKenna as vice president for planning.

On July 1, under the guidance of lecturer James Frost, Linda McArdle, Deanna Marie Horrell, Denise Kligge, and Amy Lynn Kligge win a SEPTA transportation improvement competition with their development of the TransitTracker®.

In August, Dr. David Rice succeeds Dr. Lisa Woodside as academic dean.

The summer study abroad program in London, England, commences.

After years of negotiations, Philadelphia Streets Department orders the striking and vacating of Stevenson Lane on August 14.

As part of the Northern Ireland Initiative Program, Kenneth Logue and Dermot Hughes arrive from Northern Ireland on August 18 to begin studies at Holy Family for the year.

With the commencement of the school year, a review of core curriculum is initiated; the math and natural sciences division introduces its baccalaureate program for radiologic technology; and the social and behavioral sciences division introduces its counseling psychology graduate programs.

The office of professional and community education and the office of graduate studies begin operations.

In October, the office of professional and community education introduces its certificate program in international trade, and the department for institutional planning conducts SWOT seminars.

On October 28, Holy Family's second capital campaign - “One Mission-Two Campuses” - is initiated under the chairmanship of trustees Ray Angelo and Richard Manna.

In November, SEPCHE receives a $1.5 million federal grant to be divided among its eight member universities.

By the conclusion of the fall semester, the university announces the premiere of Holy Family’s first official Website.

During the spring semester, Holy Family marks the retirement of the library mortgage with a mortgage burning on March 8.

The Lady Tigers advance to the “elite eight” of the national basketball tournament for the first time; their head coach, Mike McLaughlin, is named “Coach of the Year.”

In June, Brian Schrack, a management-marketing concentrator, is featured in News Gleaner, The Bulletin-Shield, and Fox 29 television for his boxing prowess while bidding for a spot in Pan Am games.

During the summer, Holy Family Neighborhood Center begins operations, and Dr. David Rice is appointed vice president and dean for academic affairs.

On August 24, campus-wide networking commences.

John Convery travels to Northern Ireland to participate for a year in the Irish/American Scholars Program sponsored by the Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency's Business Education Initiative.

With the commencement of the school year, Holy Family Prayer Book is introduced to the university community and receives positive acclaim.

In October, the board of trustees appoints S. Francesca to a fourth six year term.

During the first week of November the Lady Tigers host the Irish National Basketball Team.

On November 12, S. Neomisia Rutkowska, founding president, dies. Throughout the remainder of November until December 25, the library hosts a S. Neomisia exhibit: “Remembering Sister Neomisia: Founder and First President of Holy Family [University].”

On November 17, Holy Family welcomes Dr. Eudora Pettigrew, a member of the International Association of University Presidents' Executive Committee and chair of the International Association of University Presidents/United Nations Commission on Disarmament Education, Conflict Resolution, and Peace (IAUP/UN), to the campus as visiting professor.

On December 4, the Ray L. Taylor Catholic Intellectual Lecture Series premieres with “Living and Learning: The Legacy of Thomas Merton” to mark the 30th anniversary of Merton's death.

With the commencement of the spring semester, video-conferencing between Northeast Philadelphia and Newtown campuses debuts.

In March, senior administrators select Datatel Colleague to replace the Wang/Eas administrative system.

On March 20, Holy Family students Richard Bittle (history), Klaudia Dobrycka (biology); Melissa McElwaine (philosophy); Joseph Papeika (history) participate in the first annual SEPCHE Honors Symposium.

The Tigers soccer team earns national ranking. Tigers and Lady Tigers basketball teams advance to their respective national basketball tournaments, and Lady Tigers coach Mike McLaughlin is named “Coach of the Year” for the second straight year; the golf team qualifies for the national tournament after an outstanding year in which team captain Mike Haney made the first hole-in-one in the team’s history. In May, Lady Tigers softball player Sharon Brown is named “Player of the Year,” and softball coach Mickey McGroarty is named “Coach of the Year.”

On April 21, the Student Government Association celebrates the unveiling of the “Tiger” university mascot outside the commons. Holy Family begins acquiring duplex units as student residences.

John Jaszczak succeeds Robert Galardi as vice president for finance and administration; and the academic advising center is created from the former continuing education department.

Significant technology initiatives take place when Holy Family receives a grant to wire the third floor language lab to support computer equipment; the university installs a satellite dish atop Holy Family Hall; and a “model classroom” is created in Holy Family Hall for education faculty and students.

In August, Holy Family welcomes Caroline Doherty for the 1999-2000 school year as part of the Northern Ireland Initiative Program.

The self study for reaccreditation commences.

September 1, Holy Family's sports program is elected to provisional membership in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II. Later in the year, Lady Tigers advance to the NAIA national basketball tournament, and Joe Borden, men’s basketball, receives the highest individual honor awarded by the NAIA, the “Scholar Athlete.”

Throughout the fall semester, the Northeast Philadelphia campus chapel is relocated to the College Center; technology improvements continue when underground wiring is installed to connect buildings and the network infrastructure is installed in classroom and lab settings, faculty offices, library, and administrative offices; administrative staff participate in training for the implementation of Datatel Colleague.

Early in the spring semester, the first annual “Martin Luther King, Jr. Award” is presented to Patrick McElwaine and Lisa Cardamone. The Lady Tigers basketball team advances to the national tournament, and the business administration division introduces its graduate human resources management and computer communications management programs.

March 2 - 9, Holy Family sends a contingent to Rome for the beatification of Sister Stella and Companions, martyred Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, who were executed by the Nazis during World War II in Novogrodek, Poland.

By mid-March, Datatel Colleague recruitment/admissions, curriculum management, and registration modules go live.

On April 17, Robert H. Lafond is appointed vice president of technology. That same month, Holy Family Hall commences a complex renovation project.

As the spring semester concludes, the three-year capital campaign - “One Mission-Two Campuses” comes to a successful conclusion.

During the summer the university community mourns the death of S. Florianne Zacharewicz, CSFN, PhD, one of the founding sisters, who passes away on July 8.

In the meantime, the board of trustees approves the “2000-2004 Strategic Agenda”; the six academic divisions are reclassified as schools, and their heads become deans; and S. Francesca appoints Dr. Gloria Kersey-Matusiak coordinator of diversity - a university-wide diversity committee is formed.

On July 19, Lambda Pi Eta, international honor society for communication, is established.

In November, trustees approve the seven mission core values, identified by the mission effectiveness team.

By the time the spring semester commences, a new security system has been installed in Holy Family Hall, and SEPCHE implements the “8=1” program, allowing students, faculty, and staff access to facilities and resources at each other's libraries.

Later, in April, Holy Family Neighborhood Center celebrates the dedication of Dr. Albert E. Welsh, Jr. Memorial Park.

After months of self-study and an accreditation visit, Holy Family receives notice in June that Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools has reaffirmed its accreditation.