quinas A C s o a l Thomas Aquinas College Newsletter m l e o g h e T Spring 2011 C 1 al 7 if 19 Volume 39, Issue 2 ornia - Exceeding Expectations College Ranked “Most Popular” Among Applicants and “Most-Loved” by Alumni or several years, Thomas Aquinas College has ranked The College’s ability to attract and admit students near the top of U.S. News & World Report’s annual who are a good fit for its program is borne out by its re- measureF of “yield” — the percentage of applicants who, tention and graduation rates. Some 82 percent of Thomas upon being admitted to a college, choose to enroll there. Aquinas College freshmen return as sophomores (com- Although heartening, these findings have told only half of pared to 75 percent nationwide), and roughly that same the story. While it is good to know that prospective stu- percentage completes the program within six years (as op- dents want to attend the College, what about students posed to 60 percent nationally). who actually do so? What becomes of their initial enthu- siasm in the years after graduation? Grateful Graduates This year the College has an answer to that question. iven these trends it stands to reason that the College In addition to ranking, once again, among the nation’s would also score well in terms of alumni satisfaction, best for yield, the College has also earned a “Top 10” rank- whichG U.S. News measures by the percentage of graduates ing for alumni satisfaction. Thomas Aquinas is the only Catholic college in the United who support their alma maters financially. “Alumni school spirit can manifest itself in States to make this top tier of both categories. many ways — from sideline support at athletic events to networking with current stu- “What these surveys indicate is very positive,” says President Michael F. McLean. dents,” says US News’ Katy Hopkins. But a more objective measure, she adds, “is the “They suggest, first, that we are communicating the mission and unique nature of the percent of graduates who give money back to their school.” College well to prospective students — they like what they see and they want to en- In its survey of alumni at more than 1,700 institutions nationwide, the magazine roll. Moreover, their admiration for the College endures. They arrive with very high ranked Thomas Aquinas College as number 10 in terms of alumni-giving percentage. expectations, and they leave with those expectations fulfilled, and in many cases even The College was the only Catholic institution to make the “Top 20” list. exceeded.” “I often say that outside of the normal course of the Catholic life, and besides mar- rying my wife, the best decision I ever made was to attend Thomas Aquinas College,” High Yield Admissions says Jonathan Monnereau (’05), president of the Alumni Association. “The deepening n its 2011 survey US News ranks Thomas Aquinas College as the fifth “most popular” of my faith, the unique education I received, the friendships established — all of these among all national liberal arts schools for yield, which the magazine calls “one of the are invaluable gifts. These sentiments are shared by many other graduates. Recognizing bestI indicators of a school’s popularity among students.” This high rate, says Thomas the privilege and benefits of receiving such a unique and valuable formation, we alumni Aquinas College Director of Admissions Jon Daly, is evidence of the desirability of the of the College are especially grateful to our beloved alma mater.” College’s program of Catholic liberal education. The College is likewise grateful for the support of its alumni. “We think there is no “The decision about where to spend the next four years of their lives is one that better testament to the value of this program than the good works and holy lives of our most students do not make lightly,” Mr. Daly notes. “That those of our applicants who graduates,” says Dr. McLean. “And we take it as high praise that our alumni are so loyal are admitted overwhelmingly choose to come here shows a real commitment on their to the College. That so many would choose to contribute financially speaks to what a part to classical education taught under the light of faith.” worthwhile investment they consider a Thomas Aquinas College education to be.” Have Great Books, Will Travel Connelly Family Hosts Off-Campus College Seminars in Tacoma, Wash. here have been so many times in the last For the reading Dr. McLean and Mrs. Connelly se- 25 years that I have wished I could take some of lected “The Enduring Chill,” a short story by Catholic my“T friends, or people I know who would have a kinship novelist Flannery O’Connor that all Thomas Aquinas for this education, and bring them down to campus,” College students read as part of their Senior Seminar. “It says Member of the Board of Governors Angela (An- is a great introduction to Flannery O’Connor’s fiction for dersen ’87) Connelly. But living more than 1,000 miles Catholics and non-Catholics alike,” says Dr. McLean. “It away in Tacoma, Wash., “that has been impossible.” points to her preoccupation with Catholic themes and So Mrs. Connelly decided to do the next best thing: to the activities of the Holy Spirit in the world,” he ex- If she could not bring her friends and acquaintances to plains, noting that Miss O’Connor once wrote that “All the College, she would bring the College to them. On of reality is the potential kingdom of Christ, and the face March 31, she and her husband, Jack, hosted a reception of the earth is waiting to be renewed by His Spirit.” for Thomas Aquinas College — complete with three After the seminars, Dr. McLean, Matthew Zepeda simultaneous seminars led by members of the faculty (’85), and Mrs. Connelly’s mother, Yvonne Andersen, — at their lovely Puget Sound home. Some 70 educa- spoke to the group about the College, its Catholic iden- Member of the Board of Governors Angela (Andersen tors, priests, doctors, business leaders, and others from tity, and its unique academic program. “It was a very ef- ’87) Connelly confers with a guest at a reception for throughout the Pacific Northwest attended. fective way to spread the word about what we do here,” Thomas Aquinas College that she and her husband, Jack, “It was just this incredible experience of bringing says Dr. McLean, who over the course of his visit to the recently hosted at their home in Tacoma, Wash. what’s happening at the College to this community, and area also met with families of prospective students and there was such a wonderfully positive response,” says arranged to record an interview with a Washington- book club. “It was a real gift to our community.” Mrs. Connelly. Adds President Michael F. McLean, “We based national radio broadcast, Sound Insight Radio. At present, the College hosts two seminar weekends could not be more pleased with how the event turned Several attendees who had previously been unfamiliar each summer which are open exclusively to members of out. We intend to offer more like it throughout the coun- with the College expressed interest in encouraging their the President’s Council. In addition, Founding President try in the future.” high school age children to apply, and others inquired Ronald P. McArthur puts on an annual seminar confer- about contributing to the College financially. ence about the social teachings of the Church. (See ad, Sampling the Socratic Method page 5.) But given the success of the Tacoma seminars, n a cool Thursday evening, the event began with Ripple Effect College officials seek to arrange more such events “on an hour for introductions and hors d’oeuvres, fol- eyond its benefits to the College, Mrs. Connelly sees the road” for faraway friends, both old and new. Olowed by the seminars, at which attendees got a small the prospect of holding more such seminars off- “There is no better way to show people what we do taste of Thomas Aquinas College’s unique curriculum campusB as having a profound “ripple effect” on the com- here than to let them experience it for themselves,” says and pedagogy. Dr. McLean and fellow faculty members munities that host them. “The educational experience President McLean. “We are grateful to the Connellys for Dr. Paul O’Reilly and Mr. Tom Susanka led the discus- offered at Thomas Aquinas College is a great gift even on their great generosity in putting on this event, as well as sions, modeled after the Socratic dialogues of the Col- a small scale,” she says, noting that some of the Tacoma for their ingenuity in coming up with the idea. We look lege’s classrooms. attendees are considering forming a Flannery O’Connor forward to doing it again — soon!” From the Desk of the President Dr. Michael F. McLean Looks Back on 40 Years of Thomas Aquinas College Note: The following essay is Catholic philosophy and theology, an education which helps students see the harmony adapted from remarks made between faith and reason and which deepens their knowledge and love of God. at a reception for Thomas 40 years … in which there certainly has been testing and trial, but during which the Aquinas College in Oakland, College has established a national reputation for academic excellence and has attained Calif., on March 10, 2011. a position of leadership among colleges and universities. During this time Thomas Aquinas College has also prepared itself for a strong and successful future, committed he number 40 holds to its mission and confident in God’s goodness and in His providence.