Marywood University Program development is an important part of any academic institution’s progression. When introducing a new concentration or degree program, there are two key factors that need to be taken into consideration: quality and relevance. Most are aware of how crucial quality is but underestimate the weight of relevance. The bottom line, however, is that if a particular program lacks relevance, there will be no demand for it.
Marywood University, a Scranton, Pa.-based institution, has the formula down to a science. The university was founded in 1915, and throughout the last 95 years, one of its greatest strengths has been its capacity to identify and respond to the needs present in the regional community and beyond. Sister Anne Munley, president, said her foremost goal is to continue this tradition.
“I entered my presidency with a strong sense that Marywood was well on its way to becoming a premier Catholic institution in the region. From the start, my main objectives were to identify and respond to any unmet needs and ensure that the university’s existing programs were continually strengthened,” said Munley, who became president in 2007.
Jumping right in
Munley and her team identified an opportunity early on in her presidency—the absence of an architecture program in the region—and immediately moved forward with an initiative to address the gap. Planning began in 2007, and less than two years later, Marywood opened a school of architecture, which remains the sole program in the region. 
The school enrolled its first architecture class last fall, which was triple the size originally predicted. Munley said she fully expects the next incoming class to be a similar size and believes the immediate success of the school is an indication it successfully addressed an unmet need.
In addition to a trio of bachelor’s degree programs, Marywood School of Architecture offers two master’s degree programs. The institution has long been dedicated to providing education opportunities at the graduate level. Of the 3,500 students enrolled at Marywood today, 1,300, or roughly 40%, are graduate students. The ratio is higher than most universities of its size, but it’s part of the school’s identity, Munley said.
“We were established with a universal charter that committed us, from the very beginning, to being responsive to emergent needs. As we approach our centennial in 2015, it is apparent that there is a growing demand for graduate-level programs,” she explained, noting the university already offers 96 degree programs, 36 of which are at the graduate-level. “We anticipate expanding further in graduate programs. We established the region’s first PhD program, and we offer the only doctoral degree in clinical psychology in Northeast Pennsylvania.”
According to Munley, graduate degree programs in the health-sciences concentration, including a physician’s assistant program, speech-language pathology, biotechnology, and nursing, have been particularly well received. In addition to its 36 graduate degree programs, Marywood offers 33 certificate programs for professionals.
Building a better future
One of the hallmarks of the Marywood School of Architecture is its commitment to sustainability initiatives. The program was developed with a very specific objective in mind: to prepare the next generation of architects to be LEED-certified environmental stewards.
In an effort to practice what it preaches, Marywood took a green architecture approach to renovating its facility, using an approach based on the principals of US Green Building Council, of which the university is a member. “We took a previously existing structure and repurposed it. We removed all of the materials inside and reprocessed 83% of them. A local farmer used the glass for a greenhouse, drywall was ground up and used for fertilizer, and the steel was repurposed,” Munley explained.
The environmentally friendly process continues a century-long tradition of environmental stewardship at Marywood. The university’s campus was recognized as a national arboretum in the 1990s and is home to more than 100 species of trees and shrubs. Munley said the plant life adds an element of beauty to the campus and is an everyday reminder of the importance of sustainability and conservation.
In summer 2008, Marywood reclaimed 45 acres of mine-scarred land in the northeast section of its campus. “This project is another manifestation of our commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Munley. Using grant money from Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the institution’s team transformed the land into a beautiful, useful plot and constructed a $4 million multi-purpose athletics field.
“Every university needs to have a deep sense of its identity, and new programs must spring from the integrity of the institution,” Munley said. “Our decisions are heavily influenced by our history and our mission. We are a learning-teaching community deeply connected to the needs that surround us, and we develop programs from the integrity of who we are and what we have to offer.” =
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