Bill Text: IL HR0447 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizes and honors the many ways in which Fr. Dennis Holtschneider's leadership and strategic vision transformed DePaul University and will continue to contribute to the academic and career success of students for years to come.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2017-05-30 - Resolution Adopted [HR0447 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HR0447-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives wishes to
honor the Reverend Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., Ed.D. for his
leadership and many achievements at DePaul University and
congratulate him on his outstanding service to the University
and the State of Illinois on the occasion of his retirement as
President of University; and
WHEREAS, On July 15, 2004, Father Dennis H. Holtschneider
became the 11th President of DePaul University, the nation's
largest Catholic university and the largest private university
in the Midwest; and
WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider is a professor of education at
DePaul and a faculty member in the Harvard Graduate School of
Education's Management Development Program where he teaches
strategy, and where, during the fall 2014 semester, he served
as Visiting Scholar and President-in-Residence; he also is a
faculty member at Boston College's Institute for
Administrators in Catholic Higher Education; and
WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider led two national studies
examining trends in governance and leadership in American
Catholic colleges and universities; he is the author of one
book and numerous articles on U.S. higher education and

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Catholic higher education, as well as a frequent consultant and
speaker on these topics; and
WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider has been honored widely for his
work on a variety of issues, including being listed as one of
Diversity MBA Magazine's Top 100 under 50 Diverse Executive
Leaders; he received the ACE Council of Fellows Mentor Award in
2015, recognizing his guidance in preparing the next generation
of academic leaders in higher education; and
WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider holds honorary doctoral degrees
from Adamson University, Manila; College of St. Elizabeth, New
Jersey; Marywood University, Pennsylvania; Niagara University,
New York; Soka University, Tokyo; St. Thomas Aquinas College,
New York; and received the Vincentian Charism Award from All
Hallows College in Dublin, Ireland; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, Fr. Holtschneider was honored by the
Archdiocese of Chicago with its "Strangers No Longer Award" for
his leadership on comprehensive immigration reform; and
WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider was appointed to the P-20
Council of the State of Illinois in 2009 and served as a
council member under Governor Patrick Quinn and Governor Bruce
Rauner; and

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WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider led DePaul through two
successful strategic plans that saw the broadening of DePaul's
national applications, the rise in its graduation and retention
rates, and the development of 178 new programs including the
creation of new colleges and schools of Science and Health,
Communication, Cinematic Arts, Hospitality Leadership, and
Digital Design; and
WHEREAS, Fr. Holtschneider presided over the physical
transformation of DePaul University, opening new facilities
including the McGowan South Chemistry Building, Arts & Letters
Hall, the new College of Education building, an Art Museum, the
Theatre School and the acquisition of the Richard M. and Maggie
C. Daley Building; construction is also underway on a new home
for the School of Music and, in partnership with the
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the Wintrust Arena
will open in November of 2017, and will become the new home of
DePaul Blue Demon basketball; and
WHEREAS, To sustain the university's founding commitment
to first-generation students, approximately $460 million in
philanthropic support has been raised during Father
Holtschneider's tenure; this includes completion of the "Many
Dreams, One Mission" capital campaign, which raised $333
million, the largest portion of which was allocated for student
scholarships to ensure access to high quality education for

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future generations of DePaul students; and
WHEREAS, U.S. News and World report noticed DePaul's
strategic redesign in 2015-16, naming DePaul as among the
nation's "Most Innovative Universities"; The Princeton Review
ranked DePaul University students as among the happiest
students in the country according to a 2014 survey and DePaul
has been recognized by a variety of national groups for its
diversity, its record of welcoming transfer students, its
technology, arts, and communications; and
WHEREAS, On January 12, 2017, Ascension Healthcare, a $22
billion health care organization based in St. Louis, Missouri,
announced that Fr. Holtschneider will step down as its board
chairman to become its executive vice president and chief
operating officer; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
recognize and honor the many ways in which Fr. Holtschneider's
leadership and strategic vision transformed DePaul University
and will continue to contribute to the academic and career
success of students for years to come; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we thank Fr. Holtschneider for his
dedication to education and service to his community and wish

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him the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Fr. Holtschneider as a symbol of our esteem and
respect.