By Kiara Catanzaro
News Editor
President Sister Margaret Carney, O.S.F., hosted several campus briefings regarding the strategic alliance between St. Bonaventure and Hilbert College.
Sister Margaret held the talks on Wednesday, April 9, at the University Club, Tuesday, April 15, and Tuesday, April 22. She will host one final briefing on Wednesday, April 30, at 4 p.m. in the University Club located in the Magnano Centre.
Last fall, St. Bonaventure and Hilbert announced they would research creating a strategic alliance. The strategic alliance was developed by St. Bonaventure and Hilbert College to determine whether there are significant opportunities to build upon their 20-year partnership. After the announcement, both institutions conducted a dual feasibility study from October to December 2013.
The purpose of the feasibility study was to understand the economic and academic status of St. Bonaventure and Hilbert College. Issues including finances, property and academics were outlined in the study.
“We searched through key structures of both institutions to determine if we wanted to more forward with this plan or if we didn’t want to move forward,” Sister Margaret said. “Finance and academics are the two areas in the feasibility that both institutions are looking into to build on during the process of bringing together Hilbert College and St. Bonaventure University.”
Both boards from St. Bonaventure and Hilbert College met and concluded they want to continue discussing plans between the institutions. However, both boards aren’t ready to take the legal step to integrate the two schools.
“Neither board has given an official authorization to begin a formal process of joining St. Bonaventure and Hilbert College,” Sister Margaret said.
Sister Margaret said she believes it’s necessary to have a letter of intent that declares this plan is helpful for both institutions and have both boards to officially vote yes that St. Bonaventure and Hilbert College will integrate.
“We don’t have permission to take the next step in moving forward with this process of joining both schools, so we have to continue focusing on the financial and academic questions in the feasibility study,” Sister Margaret said.
Other topics that will be discussed between St. Bonaventure and Hilbert College include the legal ramifications to create a new entity with both institutions.
“It is agreed by the level of the two presidents (at St. Bonaventure and Hilbert) that the end result of coming together is St. Bonaventure University with a new constituent, school college campus, whose name will be retained in some way to keep the legacy of that entity,” Sister Margaret said. “But, the corporate entity will be St. Bonaventure. The St. Bonaventure board will incorporate members of the board from Hilbert College.”
catanzka12@bonaventure.edu
