We've been waiting, hoping against hope that they'd change their minds, but now they've gone and done it. This week Villa Julie College became a university and with it abandoned their name in favor of the insipid "Stevenson University". "We" is my family - which includes three VJC students/alumni - as well as lots of other students, alumni, and parents. We supported the institution obtaining university status, but this goofy idea that somehow the name was hurting them because it was feminine - what a bunch of nonsense! If ever there was a solution in search of a problem dreamt up by some high-priced consultants justifying their services, this is it! You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what attracts students to enroll at a college. Do you offer a degree in what interests me? Do you have a solid academic program that will enable me to succeed upon graduation or in my graduate studies? Are the facilities modern? And yes, how's the campus social life? The name of the place is pretty far down the list. Villa Julie had steadily risen in recognition over the last decade, focusing on a solid education in a small setting with faculty that really cared about their students. The US News & World Report rankings had them 13th for Northern schools offering a baccalaureate. Other online ratings showed an above average opinion of the school. Reputation of graduates in the business community was also increasing thanks to the adherence to a mission statement embodied by their "design your career" motto. And they certainly did not have a problem attracting applicants.But that's all history now. My diploma, my alumni vanity license plates, my alumni' decal, my VJC tumblers, etc., etc., - all are rendered quaint anachronisms thanks to president Manning. Time will tell just where the university is going in this rush to become something else. The only thing I can do is shake my head and wonder why the school was so uncomfortable in its own skin, while at the same time so many of us who attended it grew to love it and were immensely proud of it- feminine name and all.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Adieu VJC
We've been waiting, hoping against hope that they'd change their minds, but now they've gone and done it. This week Villa Julie College became a university and with it abandoned their name in favor of the insipid "Stevenson University". "We" is my family - which includes three VJC students/alumni - as well as lots of other students, alumni, and parents. We supported the institution obtaining university status, but this goofy idea that somehow the name was hurting them because it was feminine - what a bunch of nonsense! If ever there was a solution in search of a problem dreamt up by some high-priced consultants justifying their services, this is it! You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what attracts students to enroll at a college. Do you offer a degree in what interests me? Do you have a solid academic program that will enable me to succeed upon graduation or in my graduate studies? Are the facilities modern? And yes, how's the campus social life? The name of the place is pretty far down the list. Villa Julie had steadily risen in recognition over the last decade, focusing on a solid education in a small setting with faculty that really cared about their students. The US News & World Report rankings had them 13th for Northern schools offering a baccalaureate. Other online ratings showed an above average opinion of the school. Reputation of graduates in the business community was also increasing thanks to the adherence to a mission statement embodied by their "design your career" motto. And they certainly did not have a problem attracting applicants.But that's all history now. My diploma, my alumni vanity license plates, my alumni' decal, my VJC tumblers, etc., etc., - all are rendered quaint anachronisms thanks to president Manning. Time will tell just where the university is going in this rush to become something else. The only thing I can do is shake my head and wonder why the school was so uncomfortable in its own skin, while at the same time so many of us who attended it grew to love it and were immensely proud of it- feminine name and all.
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