University of Holy Cross New Orleans, Louisiana

Campus Location

The Campus is situated on 40 acres in the Algiers section of Orleans Parish. It is located on the West Bank of the Mississippi River, within ten minutes of the metropolitan area of New Orleans. The Campus may be reached by crossing the Crescent City Connection and traveling east down General DeGaulle Drive to Woodland Drive. It is within easy access to Plaquemines and Jefferson Parishes, both within 10 minutes of the Campus. St. Bernard Parish lies just northeast across the Mississippi River and is within a 15-minute ferry ride of the Campus.

President’s Message University Catalog 2020-2021

Dear University of Holy Cross Community:

Welcome to a university community that cares for individual students. As the President of University of Holy Cross (UHC) and also an alumnus, I thank you for your decision to pursue your educational dreams and ambitions with us. We share a vision of hope and lifelong learning. Even during these extraordinary times with the COVID-19 pandemic, we remain fully committed to living our University Mission and Core Values in ways that keep you safe and, at the same time, provide the quality education for which the University of Holy Cross is so well known.

This Catalog contains essential information for both current and future students, such as the history of the University and the Marianite tradition, as well as the academic programs, policies, and services offered at UHC. In these pages, you will learn more about our quality programs; our highly accessible, outstanding faculty and staff; and our deeply-rooted University Mission, which is fully integrated with both intellectual and practical resources.

The rich Marianite tradition has guided Holy Cross since its inception in 1916. This tradition, linked with our Mission to educate the heart and the mind, is as relevant today as it was one hundred years ago. The University is committed to educating the minds and hearts of students through freedom of inquiry, the pursuit of truth, and compassionate care for all. University of Holy Cross continues to be a place where students are prepared for both the present and the future.

Our faculty, staff, and administration are committed to your success and are here to help you reach your full potential. Please do not hesitate to call upon us if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Stanton F. McNeely, III, Ed.D. President

Description of University of Holy Cross

University of Holy Cross (formerly Our Lady of Holy Cross College) is a privately administered, accredited, coeducational, Catholic university offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional curricula to a student population that reflects the diversity found in Louisiana. The University focuses on teaching, public service, and research.

The University remains faithful to its liberal arts tradition in committing itself to academic challenge, professional preparation, attainment of marketable skills, personal enrichment, and the rightful integration of Catholic philosophy and theology. It takes pride in its low student/professor ratio and in the quality of its diverse programs and services.

University of Holy Cross lives out its commitment to the educational mission of the Catholic Church by its participation in the educational ministry of the Marianites of Holy Cross. As a faith community of teaching, learning, and service, actively involved in the life of the local, state, national, and international communities, it is a leader and a responsible innovator in liberal arts education and professional programs.

We believe that education flourishes in a community motivated by a Catholic Christian vision, Gospel values, and a commitment to the education of the total person. We accept the responsibility to respond to the needs of our students by challenging and empowering them to develop holistically in the attainment of knowledge, skills, and values necessary to thrive in an ever-changing world.

The mission of the University of Holy Cross is supported and made visible through the following Core Values:

• EXCELLENCE

  The University of Holy Cross promotes excellence in all aspects of university life: developing character, fostering curiosity, and assimilating the knowledge essential to becoming servant leaders.

• RESPECT

  Animated in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, all members of the University strive to recognize the image of God in each person and honor all in their giftedness and limitations.

• INTEGRITY

  Concerned for the common good as individuals and as a community, we commit ourselves to honesty in relationships with all, and we pledge to be just and consistent in word and deed.

• INCLUSION

  In a spirit of unity and solidarity, the Holy Cross family nurtures an inclusive, diverse community that fosters new opportunities, partnerships, collaborations, and vigorous, yet respectful debate.

• COMPASSIONATE SERVICE

  Rooted in the joy of the Gospel and in Catholic social tradition, the University of Holy Cross serves all people and chooses to be a compassionate witness in service to a world in need.

History

The University of Holy Cross (UHC), formerly Our Lady of Holy Cross College, has the distinction of being the only four-year college on the West Bank of New Orleans, as well as one of eight Holy Cross colleges and universities nationwide. It has provided South Louisiana a tradition of academic excellence and has been setting the standard for quality education for nearly a century.

UHC was established by the Marianites of Holy Cross. The history of the Congregation of the Marianites of Holy Cross began in 1841 with the founding of the Marianites by Father Basil Anthony Moreau in Le Mans, France. Two years after their founding, the Sisters were ready to leave Le Mans to set up foundations in North America. Several Marianites accepted the invitation of Archbishop Antoine Blanc in 1848 to come to New Orleans to work with the Holy Cross Brothers in administering the St. Mary's Orphan Boys Asylum. Soon, the Sisters were concerned over the plight of young girls who were orphaned as a result of the yellow fever epidemic. Thus, in 1851, the Sisters began the Immaculate Conception Industrial School to instruct orphan girls. This school evolved into the Academy of the Holy Angels, which was dedicated in 1866 as a high school for girls. Holy Angels was the parent school of University of Holy Cross.

In 1916, the Louisiana State Board of Education granted the Marianites the right to open Holy Angels Normal School to prepare teachers for the many schools the Marianites staffed in southern Louisiana. This approval assured that teachers would be prepared according to the Louisiana State Norms of Education.

In 1938, the Louisiana State Department of Education, again at the request of the Sisters, approved a program which would lead to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. Its first graduation was held in 1942 in the renamed College Department at the Academy of Holy Angels. Five years later, the Ernest B. Norman family presented the Sisters with a gift of forty acres of land on the West Bank of the Mississippi River in Algiers to be used for educational and religious purposes.

In the early 1950s, the College admitted lay women who were teaching in schools administered by the Marianites. When it was moved to its new quarters in Algiers in 1960, the name of the College was changed to Our Lady of Holy Cross. In that same year, the first lay student received her degree. The first male students were admitted in 1967. The Marianite Corporation organized a governing board in the late 1960s according to the requirements of the Commission on Colleges (COC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The Provincial Superior of the Marianites was the President of the College until 1969, when the two positions were separated, and for the first time the Board of Regents of Our Lady of Holy Cross selected the President.

In the Spring of 1971, the Board of Regents submitted the first status report, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) approved candidacy for accreditation of the College. The College grew in student enrollment, adding new academic and professional programs to the initial teacher education curriculum. In the academic year 1975-1976, the College awarded its first honorary degree and celebrated its sixtieth anniversary. In 1976, UHC received accreditation for a ten-year period from the Commission on Colleges of SACS.

To coordinate the best use of faculties and facilities on the West Bank, UHC and Delgado Community College, also accredited by SACS-COC, formed the West Bank Higher Education Union in 1976. They pledged cooperation, exchange of faculty, mutual support of programs, and agreements for joint degree programs and use of libraries. The Institutions discontinued this arrangement in 1993.

In the Spring of 1984, the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) granted approval for a four-year baccalaureate degree program in Nursing. Today, it remains the only Catholic generic baccalaureate nursing program in the state of Louisiana. The LSBN gave full approval to the program in July 1987. In the Fall of 1989, a self-study was submitted to the Council of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree programs of the National League for Nursing, and the nursing program was granted full approval.

A Master of Education program was begun in the Fall of 1984. In 1986, the program received approval from SACS-COC as a Level Three Master’s degree program and graduated its first students.

In 1990, the College received approval from SACS-COC to grant the Master of Arts degree in Counseling. Students may select one of the following areas of specialization: Marriage and Family Counseling or School Counseling. Certification is offered at the post-Master’s level in Marriage and Family Counseling. The program educates students to provide services that are preventive and developmental in nature in order to help individuals and families deal more effectively with problems and decisions of everyday living in urban/rural environments. The department offers a comprehensive program in counselor preparation, leading to professional licensure, professional certification, and state certification. It reflects the belief in individual differences among students, provides for a balance of didactic and experiential learning activities, and offers experiences for the personal growth and development of students. The Thomas E. Chambers Counseling and Training Center was dedicated in 1998. Providing counseling services to the UHC family and the community at large, it also serves as an educational resource for students pursuing both Master's and undergraduate degrees in counseling.

In the late 1980s, 1990s, and into the Twenty-first Century, the Institution attained financial stability, made substantial renovations to the physical plant, built an addition to the library, added classroom and office space, increased parking facilities, and established a program of long-range maintenance. New science labs and a state-of-the art nursing lab have also been recent additions. The Institution has been successful in increasing student scholarships and financial aid as well as increasing the endowment fund. Ongoing curriculum renewal has taken place in order to maintain the Institution’s compliance with accreditation standards and cultural needs.

Largely undamaged by the effects of Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, the Institution resumed instruction in January of 2006.

In 2011 the Institution signed articulation agreements with Delgado Community College to facilitate the entrance of Delgado graduates to pursue Bachelor’s degrees in Education and Business. A similar agreement was signed with Nunez Community College to accommodate its education graduates.

The College continued to meet the growing needs of its students, the community, and the Church. The Business department offers an Accelerated Organizational Management Program for a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. The Education Department provides Alternative Certification Programs for elementary and secondary teachers. The Archdiocesan Teachers Institute (ATI) is a partnership between the Office of Catholic Schools and UHC. This exciting program was created to provide additional educational opportunities for the teachers of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. All of these programs are designed for non-traditional adult students who are already working in the community.

The Institution now offers two doctoral programs: a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and an Ed.D. in Executive Leadership. The first doctoral degree was awarded in May of 2015. A Master’s degree in Catholic Theology began admitting students in the Summer of 2016.

In January of 2016, the Board of Regents made the historic decision to change the name of the Institution to the University of Holy Cross. With the leadership of President Dr. David M. “Buck” Landry, it also formed a new Board of Trustees of the University of Holy Cross Corporation that assumed sole ownership and control of the land and buildings that house the University. The evolution of the name of the Institution reflects both the amazing chronicle of its past, as well as the incredible opportunities that lie in our future. As the University enters a period of unprecedented growth in undergraduate and graduate education, this new name represents a milestone in the history of our institution as a university recognized for its outstanding degree programs.

Rich in historical experience, following the celebration of its centennial year in 2016, the University of Holy Cross continues to guide its students toward self-realization, professional competency, and dedicated service to the human family. The University’s institutional accreditation was reaffirmed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges on December 3, 2017. Reaffirmation continues through 2027.

With the opening of its first Residence Hall in Fall 2018, the University continued its evolution from a local college to a nationally recognized university. With the appointment of Dr. Stanton F. McNeely, III, himself an alumnus of the school, in July 2019, University of Holy looks toward a bright and promising future.

As we face the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we remained committed to providing quality education in novel ways to meet the needs of our students.

Mission Statement

The University of Holy Cross, a Catholic institution of higher learning, is an inclusive student- centered learning community focused on academic excellence and innovative teaching. Rooted in the traditions of the Marianites of Holy Cross, the University of Holy Cross is committed to educating the minds and hearts of its students through freedom of inquiry, the pursuit of truth, and compassionate care for all.

The Catholic Intellectual Tradition at University of Holy Cross

The Mission of University of Holy Cross is that of the Marianite Sisters: to serve God and the community. University of Holy Cross serves God and the community as a beacon of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. This tradition is catholic, encompassing all peoples seeking Truth. Because it is a tradition, persons communicate, interact, and share experiences over time and through cultures. Finally, this catholic tradition strives for intellectual excellence—knowing what can be known through desire, honesty, and integrity. This tradition has included great theologians, scientists, artists, writers, teachers, and philosophers. It also arises in everyday teaching and learning from person to person, parent to child, and educator to student. University of Holy Cross embraces this excellence, which flows from the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.

Admission to the University of Holy Cross

University of Holy Cross accepts applications for admission from students of accredited secondary schools, students holding or pursuing the General Education Development diploma (GED), and students transferring from accredited colleges and universities without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, handicap, national origin, marital status, or veteran’s status.

All materials for admission should be received at least three weeks before the first day of registration. Under no circumstances will a student remain eligible for admission if complete records have not been received within 30 days of the first day of class. After 30 days, applicants who have not completed the admission process will be ineligible to attend classes.

The admission requirements listed in this section of the Catalog are considered the general admission requirements of the University. Academic departments and specific programs, in many cases, have additional requirements. Please refer to the appropriate section of the Catalog to obtain applicable information.

Priority deadlines for applying are June 1^st for the fall semester, November 1^st for the spring semester, and May 1^st for the summer sessions.

Students who have not attended another college or university and are graduates of a state-approved high school and transfer students who do not have college credit in College Algebra and English Composition may be asked to take the University of Holy Cross Placement Examination prior to registering for classes. The examination scores are used for placement of students in the correct English, reading, and mathematics courses. Placement examinations are offered by appointment by calling the Center for Teaching and Learning at (504) 398-2123.

Admissions and Student Affairs

The most important challenges of one’s career are academic success and intellectual growth. Whether a student thrives or perishes in college is dependent on a variety of factors, many of which extend beyond the classroom.

Working in concert with academics, the Offices of Admissions and Student Affairs seek to improve the overall quality of student life and, in turn, to increase the likelihood of individual success and growth.

The University recognizes its responsibility and renews its commitment to holistic personal development—social, physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual—through the program services of the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Campus Ministry.

These offices maintain an open-door policy and welcome suggestions for the improvement of student life.

Academic Policies

Students must meet all the requirements for a degree outlined in the current version of the University Catalog upon admission to the University. Students whose residence is interrupted for two regular semesters and those students changing majors or changing from undecided status to a major must abide by the current Catalog at the time of re-entry or change. Under no circumstances may a Catalog more than eight years old be used.

University Offerings

With the intention of enabling its students to gain insight into human existence and into the natural world, University of Holy Cross seeks to develop their intellectual, psychological, and spiritual potential and their talents to the fullest. To this end, the tradition of liberal arts education through the General Education curriculum is required for all degree programs.

University of Holy Cross Assessment Program