Loyola's Board of Trustees has authorized its Executive Committee to move forward with a designation change from "College" to "University" this summer, once final research findings on this issue have been reviewed. The Board voted to accept this timetable after extensive discussion of the matter at its Wednesday, April 16 meeting.

This authorization, granted by an official Board of Trustees resolution, follows the full Board's positive evaluation of the proposed change, and grants its Executive Committee the power to enact the change if current ongoing research supports the move. If the Executive Committee, in consultation with College President Brian F. Linnane, S.J., decides to make the change, additional information will be made available at that time on how the change will proceed, including its timeframe.

Loyola last considered a change to "University" approximately 10 years ago during the development of its previous strategic plan. The College is engaged currently in a similar strategic planning process and has reconsidered the issue in light of the institution's significant growth and evolution over the past 10 years. College leaders have stressed that, if made, the name change will not signify a change in direction, but rather a better reflection of the institution that exists today.

The College, in collaboration with higher education marketing firm SimpsonScarborough, has embarked on an extensive integrated marketing research project that involves asking the opinions and impressions of current students, faculty, administrators, parents and alumni, as well as prospective students, members of the secondary education community and regional business leaders. The potential impact and perceptions of a name change will be included in this research.

Loyola College in Maryland is a Jesuit comprehensive university comprising a College of Arts and Sciences and The Sellinger School of Business and Management. Established in 1852, Loyola enrolls 3,500 undergraduate and 2,630 graduate students from across the country.

For more information on this matter, please contact the Office of Public Relations at 410-617-5025.