As chairwoman of Loyola University Chicago’s Faculty Council, I would like to respond to J. Linn Allen’s “Plummeting Loyola enrollment leaves school scrambling,” the Nov. 15 Page 1 article regarding Loyola University Chicago’s drop in enrollment.
Although it is true that some administrative errors were made in the past, I felt that the article was biased in focusing on past mistakes while not commenting on initiatives currently under way here at Loyola.
We are focusing on collaboration between faculty, students, staff and administration in decision-making and strategic planning.
The Committee on Academic Review and Planning, an elected faculty committee, recently finished a six-month study of academic programs.
The committee concluded that whether the focus was the particular educational programs being offered or the energy and skill of the faculty providing those programs, they were struck by the quality they encountered.
Loyola’s academic quality has been cited in several national rankings including U.S. News & World Report, which rated Loyola a “Best Value.”
In addition, the National Survey on Student Engagement (NSSE), published in a recent issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education, rated Loyola an “exemplary institution.”
The survey found that students from Loyola regard faculty as important mentors who provide a level of academic challenge that is ranked as the best among the 47 research universities participating in the survey.
An internal student satisfaction survey commissioned by Faculty Council indicates that students are very pleased with their academic experience while at Loyola.
The reference to the Loyola Campus as being perceived as dangerous is also taken out of context.
An article in a recent edition of the Chicago Tribune compared campus crime statistics among Chicago-area universities.
The article stated that Loyola University reported fewer campus crimes than the other Chicago institutions during 1998 and 1999.
Contrary to the impression left by your article, Loyola is a good value.
It provides students with an exemplary education in a safe and nurturing academic environment.
