HR0447 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0447 LRB100 12970 MST 27083 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives wishes to honor the Reverend Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., Ed.D. for his leadership and many achievements at DePaul University and congratulate him on his outstanding service to the University and the State of Illinois on the occasion of his retirement as President of University; and

WHEREAS, On July 15, 2004, Father Dennis H. Holtschneider became the 11th President of DePaul University, the nation's largest Catholic university and the largest private university in the Midwest; and

WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider is a professor of education at DePaul and a faculty member in the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Management Development Program where he teaches strategy, and where, during the fall 2014 semester, he served as Visiting Scholar and President-in-Residence; he also is a faculty member at Boston College's Institute for Administrators in Catholic Higher Education; and

WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider led two national studies examining trends in governance and leadership in American Catholic colleges and universities; he is the author of one book and numerous articles on U.S. higher education and Catholic higher education, as well as a frequent consultant and speaker on these topics; and

WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider has been honored widely for his work on a variety of issues, including being listed as one of Diversity MBA Magazine's Top 100 under 50 Diverse Executive Leaders; he received the ACE Council of Fellows Mentor Award in 2015, recognizing his guidance in preparing the next generation of academic leaders in higher education; and

WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider holds honorary doctoral degrees from Adamson University, Manila; College of St. Elizabeth, New Jersey; Marywood University, Pennsylvania; Niagara University, New York; Soka University, Tokyo; St. Thomas Aquinas College, New York; and received the Vincentian Charism Award from All Hallows College in Dublin, Ireland; and

WHEREAS, In 2011, Fr. Holtschneider was honored by the Archdiocese of Chicago with its "Strangers No Longer Award" for his leadership on comprehensive immigration reform; and

WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider was appointed to the P-20 Council of the State of Illinois in 2009 and served as a council member under Governor Patrick Quinn and Governor Bruce Rauner; and

WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider led DePaul through two successful strategic plans that saw the broadening of DePaul's national applications, the rise in its graduation and retention rates, and the development of 178 new programs including the creation of new colleges and schools of Science and Health, Communication, Cinematic Arts, Hospitality Leadership, and Digital Design; and

WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider presided over the physical transformation of DePaul University, opening new facilities including the McGowan South Chemistry Building, Arts & Letters Hall, the new College of Education building, an Art Museum, the Theatre School and the acquisition of the Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Building; construction is also underway on a new home for the School of Music and, in partnership with the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the Wintrust Arena will open in November of 2017, and will become the new home of DePaul Blue Demon basketball; and

WHEREAS, To sustain the university's founding commitment to first-generation students, approximately $460 million in philanthropic support has been raised during Father Holtschneider's tenure; this includes completion of the "Many Dreams, One Mission" capital campaign, which raised $333 million, the largest portion of which was allocated for student scholarships to ensure access to high quality education for future generations of DePaul students; and

WHEREAS, U.S. News and World report noticed DePaul's strategic redesign in 2015-16, naming DePaul as among the nation's "Most Innovative Universities"; The Princeton Review ranked DePaul University students as among the happiest students in the country according to a 2014 survey and DePaul has been recognized by a variety of national groups for its diversity, its record of welcoming transfer students, its technology, arts, and communications; and

WHEREAS, On January 12, 2017, Ascension Healthcare, a $22 billion health care organization based in St. Louis, Missouri, announced that Fr. Holtschneider will step down as its board chairman to become its executive vice president and chief operating officer; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize and honor the many ways in which Fr. Holtschneider's leadership and strategic vision transformed DePaul University and will continue to contribute to the academic and career success of students for years to come; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we thank Fr. Holtschneider for his dedication to education and service to his community and wish him the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Fr. Holtschneider as a symbol of our esteem and respect.