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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives wishes to
3honor the Reverend Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., Ed.D. for his
4leadership and many achievements at DePaul University and
5congratulate him on his outstanding service to the University
6and the State of Illinois on the occasion of his retirement as
7President of University; and
 
8    WHEREAS, On July 15, 2004, Father Dennis H. Holtschneider
9became the 11th President of DePaul University, the nation's
10largest Catholic university and the largest private university
11in the Midwest; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider is a professor of education at
13DePaul and a faculty member in the Harvard Graduate School of
14Education's Management Development Program where he teaches
15strategy, and where, during the fall 2014 semester, he served
16as Visiting Scholar and President-in-Residence; he also is a
17faculty member at Boston College's Institute for
18Administrators in Catholic Higher Education; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider led two national studies
20examining trends in governance and leadership in American
21Catholic colleges and universities; he is the author of one
22book and numerous articles on U.S. higher education and

 

 

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1Catholic higher education, as well as a frequent consultant and
2speaker on these topics; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider has been honored widely for his
4work on a variety of issues, including being listed as one of
5Diversity MBA Magazine's Top 100 under 50 Diverse Executive
6Leaders; he received the ACE Council of Fellows Mentor Award in
72015, recognizing his guidance in preparing the next generation
8of academic leaders in higher education; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider holds honorary doctoral degrees
10from Adamson University, Manila; College of St. Elizabeth, New
11Jersey; Marywood University, Pennsylvania; Niagara University,
12New York; Soka University, Tokyo; St. Thomas Aquinas College,
13New York; and received the Vincentian Charism Award from All
14Hallows College in Dublin, Ireland; and
 
15    WHEREAS, In 2011, Fr. Holtschneider was honored by the
16Archdiocese of Chicago with its "Strangers No Longer Award" for
17his leadership on comprehensive immigration reform; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider was appointed to the P-20
19Council of the State of Illinois in 2009 and served as a
20council member under Governor Patrick Quinn and Governor Bruce
21Rauner; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider led DePaul through two
2successful strategic plans that saw the broadening of DePaul's
3national applications, the rise in its graduation and retention
4rates, and the development of 178 new programs including the
5creation of new colleges and schools of Science and Health,
6Communication, Cinematic Arts, Hospitality Leadership, and
7Digital Design; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider presided over the physical
9transformation of DePaul University, opening new facilities
10including the McGowan South Chemistry Building, Arts & Letters
11Hall, the new College of Education building, an Art Museum, the
12Theatre School and the acquisition of the Richard M. and Maggie
13C. Daley Building; construction is also underway on a new home
14for the School of Music and, in partnership with the
15Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the Wintrust Arena
16will open in November of 2017, and will become the new home of
17DePaul Blue Demon basketball; and
 
18    WHEREAS, To sustain the university's founding commitment
19to first-generation students, approximately $460 million in
20philanthropic support has been raised during Father
21Holtschneider's tenure; this includes completion of the "Many
22Dreams, One Mission" capital campaign, which raised $333
23million, the largest portion of which was allocated for student
24scholarships to ensure access to high quality education for

 

 

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1future generations of DePaul students; and
 
2    WHEREAS, U.S. News and World report noticed DePaul's
3strategic redesign in 2015-16, naming DePaul as among the
4nation's "Most Innovative Universities"; The Princeton Review
5ranked DePaul University students as among the happiest
6students in the country according to a 2014 survey and DePaul
7has been recognized by a variety of national groups for its
8diversity, its record of welcoming transfer students, its
9technology, arts, and communications; and
 
10    WHEREAS, On January 12, 2017, Ascension Healthcare, a $22
11billion health care organization based in St. Louis, Missouri,
12announced that Fr. Holtschneider will step down as its board
13chairman to become its executive vice president and chief
14operating officer; therefore, be it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
16HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
17recognize and honor the many ways in which Fr. Holtschneider's
18leadership and strategic vision transformed DePaul University
19and will continue to contribute to the academic and career
20success of students for years to come; and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That we thank Fr. Holtschneider for his
22dedication to education and service to his community and wish

 

 

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1him the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3presented to Fr. Holtschneider as a symbol of our esteem and
4respect.