Villa Maria College is pleased to announce a new visionary plan that positions the institution as the premier student-centered college in Western New York. Developed over the last 12 months, the plan was approved by the Board of Trustees on June 18, and parts of it will begin to be implemented as early as this summer.
Recognizing that students are entering college with varying levels of preparation and academic, professional, and social experiences, Villa’s visionary plan builds on and introduces initiatives that meet students at their skill level, providing them with the support and tools to succeed while they are enrolled, and the skills needed after graduation.
Organized around four pillars of success–Felician Franciscan identity, academic excellence, student focus, and stewardship–the plan touches on nearly every aspect of the college in support of serving individual student needs. Villa will foster academic programs that, along with faculty members who can nurture emerging talent, guide and empower students individually to success. The college will also deliver new student life experiences, including opportunities that build life skills to help students realize their full potential. All of these pieces will be afforded through methodical fiscal stewardship in support of a Felician Franciscan and student-centered environment. 
From revamping curriculums, to adding intercollegiate athletics, and the exploring on-campus residence options, the college is taking a bold step forward at a time when other institutions are shrinking. But for Villa, it is a necessary step, and one that makes sense.
“Our core values and ideals are still as relevant now as they were when Villa Maria College was founded over 50 years ago, and by staying true to our mission and the needs of our students, the college can grow and continue to provide a quality education,” said Sister Marcella Marie Garus, President of Villa Maria College.
This fall students can begin utilizing the newly formed Student Success Center and become enrolled in the Honors Program, a couple of pieces that when fit together inside the whole vision, become part of a signature experience.
“This is a natural growth for the college, enrolling at Villa gives students a different experience from any other college in the region,” said Dr. Matthew Giordano, Vice President for Academic Affairs. “We already have the capacity to deliver a signature experience of interdisciplinary collaboration and extraordinary support from faculty and staff, so this plan galvanizes and magnifies those efforts across the board.”
A private, co-educational, Catholic college, Villa Maria offers students a unique student-centered experience to learn and grow with a culturally diverse population and a growing baccalaureate culture that lives its values of truth, charity, and unity.
For more information call 716.896.0700 or visit www.villa.edu.
