February 2011 E-news

Dear Friends of the College,

Welcome to the February 2011 e-newsletter for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Inside A&S.

Since December 2010, the College has been discussing ways for it to better position itself among the nation's most prestigious colleges and universities. How can the College more effectively attract the best and brightest students and faculty? How can it more effectively describe its incredibly rich academic program offerings and its vibrant community of teacher-scholars, and students, in meaningful and memorable ways so that its messages are heard? These are the types of questions the Dean's Office in the College is asking.

With this in mind, the College has secured the consulting services of the Aurora Imaging, Co., a Conshohocken-based marketing communications and video production firm, which is founded and operated by President and CEO Sean Quinn, who also happens to be a 2000 graduate of the College of Engineering. Aurora under Sean's direction has worked with many other departments and offices on campus, and their highly professional and talented team has produced exceptional work.

And our timing couldn't be more perfect.

With a new Core Curriculum designed to both enhance student choice and provide foundational learning experiences, and the addition of more and more innovative interdisciplinary programs, the College is prepared to take its message of academic excellence in the Augustinian tradition to the next level and to communicate it more strategically.

Therefore, the College is looking to build and improve its brand identity in the increasingly cluttered marketplace that is higher education and has invited Aurora to help us along this journey. Many colleges and universities claim to offer their students rigorous courses of study, small class sizes, and individualized attention, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is no different. However, how can the College better communicate its unique identity to prospective students, faculty, and its other constituencies?

The College plans to film a short video envisioned to help do just that. Moreover, this video is part of a broader marketing communications plan. I look forward to exploring these new initiatives with you in the days and months ahead.

In other important news, the College welcomes Irish writer Moya Cannon, chair holder of the Charles A. Heimbold, Jr., Chair of Irish Studies, to campus for the spring 2011 semester. Moya's presence at Villanova heightens the College's ongoing commitment to Irish Studies. You'll read about Moya's history and professional experiences in this issue of Inside A&S.

In addition, you'll also read about a unique partnership between the Department of Computing Sciences and the Comcast Corporation. Some of the College's finest computing sciences majors have been collaborating with Comcast on a project involving the evaluation of specialized business intelligence software packages. Joint industry-university partnerships like this one can have tremendous benefits for Villanova, such as increased financial support, hands-on industry-related experience for students, and possible job placement with the sponsor company.

The 13th Annual Literary Festival, sponsored by the Department of English, will feature some of the nation's most prominent writers. Click here to learn more. All readings are free and are followed by a reception and book signing.

Thank you for continuingto read Inside A&S.

Read more here.

Sincerely,
John A. Doody, Ph.D.
Dean of the College