University of Mary Campaign Will Reshape Campus and Enrich our Students

As students began their walk to early morning class and the sun’s rays filtered through the fog casting an orange hue over campus from the eastern horizon on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, a thunderous pounding by a backhoe could be heard, putting an exclamation mark on the start of what will be a $272 million capital campaign at the University of Mary.

Mary President Monsignor James Shea publicly announced the new and historic strategic plan at a press conference today, Monday, October 19, 2015. He stated the new Vision 2030 Campaign, the largest in the school’s history, spans the next 15 years over three phases and will not only markedly transform the look of campus, but just as importantly bring “distinction, service and relationships to our students and graduates, so they can live fully and live well with the insights necessary to be leaders in their workplace and community.”

Shea added that as Bismarck-Mandan and the surrounding areas in North Dakota continue to grow, so does the University of Mary as it welcomes more and more students from the region and around the world.

“After two years of consulting and engaging our founding Sisters, alumni, faculty, administration, community members, students, parents, donors and trustees, we feel this is a collective vision for our future that is robust. Our plan and the energies we invest in this effort will uniquely shape graduates to be exceptionally prepared for life, work and leadership; advance the highest quality educational curricula and degree programs; and more deeply activate our guiding Christian values to benefit the citizens of North Dakota, the region and beyond.

“Just as our pioneering founders, the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, believed nearly 60 years ago when they answered the call to found a college on these prairies, we too are confident this plan will not only carry on their legacy, but build upon our historic and existing strengths and ensure that a University of Mary education is an education for the whole of life. We are ready for this challenge. This is our time.”