The city of Peoria has entered into exclusive negotiating agreements with Huntington University and The College of St. Scholastica to explore the establishment of their respective programs as part of a university consortium in Peoria.
The city of Peoria has entered into exclusive negotiating agreements with Huntington University and The College of St. Scholastica to explore the establishment of their respective programs as part of a university consortium in Peoria. The schools are looking to offer complementary undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, exercise science, and digital media as well as a variety of other programs that are in line with Peoria 2010 Higher Education Feasibility Study, and Economic Development Implementation Strategy (EDIS).
The purpose of the agreement is to provide both parties an opportunity to determine the project parameters including the site plan, program roll-out, and student enrollment targets. Both schools will also be working with Trine University, an engineering school that is looking to sign a development agreement with the city later this month, to determine the parameters of the consortium that Peoria is developing. The results of the negotiations will be determined over the next few months.
Huntington University, founded in 1897, provides a Christ-centered education in more than 70 academic programs, including bachelor-degree programs in nursing, exercise science, film, animation, education and social work, and masters degrees in education, counseling and youth ministry leadership. Huntington is also consistently ranked by U.S.News & World Report in the top tier of Midwestern comprehensive colleges, among the Top 15% of colleges and universities in the United States according to FORBES.com and among the “Best Midwestern Colleges” by the Princeton Review. Huntington is well-regarded by students for its spiritual atmosphere, career preparation, quality of faculty, quality of intended major, and academic reputation and quality.
“It is with great anticipation that Huntington University explores this strategic partnership with the Peoria community. The academic programs that Peoria seeks to bring to the city parallel some of Huntingtons strongest and fastest growing programs including digital media arts, exercise science and kinesiology, and nursing,” said Dr. G. Blair Dowden, president of the University.
Dr. Larry Goodwin, president of The College of St. Scholastica agrees, “This partnership will make smart use of The College of St. Scholastica’s extensive experience in healthcare education, particularly at the graduate level, as well as our knowledge of how to successfully operate branch campuses. We find that the intersection of St. Scholastica’s strengths in healthcare education, the demographic trends in the Phoenix area, and the City of Peoria’s goal of increasing higher education opportunities for its citizens make this an exciting opportunity.”
St. Scholastica, a Catholic Benedictine college founded in 1912, offers 40 majors, 35 minors, and graduate programs in nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training and physician assistant studies, among others. US News & World Report consistently ranks St. Scholastica as a top regional university in its America’s Best Colleges’ rankings. The school currently operates four branch campuses in addition to the main campus in Duluth, Minnesota and has a presence at five community college locations, and online through a virtual campus.
University recruitment has been a top priority of the City Council since the EDIS was adopted in 2010. “We are very happy to enter into these negotiations with Huntington and St. Scholastica,” said Scott Whyte, director of Economic Development Services. “Their programs in health care particularly resonate with the city’s strong employment base in the industry and offer a perfect complement to other recent developments in Peoria, namely the establishment of our Bioinspire medical device incubator and our upcoming development agreement with Trine University.”