Felician Educational Opportunity Program students to celebrate the completion of their four-week summer bridge program.

Educational Opportunity Program students complete summer bridge program and are ready to succeed in college.

Felician University Educational Opportunity Program students celebrated the completion of their four week summer bridge program, each receiving a certificate at a luncheon held in their honor.

Dr. Edward Ogle, vice president of Academic Affairs, addressed the students, congratulating them on their accomplishment and officially welcoming them to the Felician family. Dinelia Garland, Educational Opportunity Program Director at Felician, reminded the students that “this certificate is not just a piece of paper. It is a result of your hard work and dedication and it signifies your commitment to your future.”

This New Jersey state-funded program provides financial assistance and support services to students from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. All incoming Educational Opportunity Program freshmen must attend this summer program prior to their first year at college, which is designed to strengthen the student’s preparation for university level work and ensure academic success. During the Summer Program, students review math, English and critical thinking skills and become acclimated to college life.

For more stories about Felician, scroll down:

Felician Signs Memorandum Of Understanding With Princess Nisreen El-Hashemite
Felician Celebrates The First Commencement As A University
Felician And Middlesex County College Sign Business Program Agreement

Dr. Mary Norton; HRH Princess Nisreen El-Hashemite; Dr. Anne Prisco; Dr. Edward Ogle, VP Academic Affairs, Felician University; and Rola Dahlan, Secretary General, RASIT.

Felician Signs Memorandum Of Understanding With Princess Nisreen El-Hashemite

Strengthening Felician University’s presence on the international scene, an agreement was signed with Her Royal Highness Princess Nisreen El-Hashemite, PhD, MD, MS, executive director of the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) at the University’s Rutherford campus.

This agreement provides RASIT with a home base on Felician’s Rutherford campus and affords the opportunity for the Princess to conduct seminars and lectures on topics of global significance here.

Dr. Anne Prisco, Felician president, emphasized Felician’s commitment to heighten the University’s overarching mission to make a difference in the international community and bring even more diversity to its campuses in Rutherford and Lodi by attracting international students from around the world.

“Part of our vision is to provide more international and global perspectives for our students,” Dr. Prisco said at the signing. “That vision is a definitive, critical component of Felician’s Strategic Plan.”

Felician University is one of only 30 universities in the world to be granted Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status at the United Nations. Dr. Mary Norton is the Global Academic Initiatives/Felician University NGO Representative to the United Nations and played an integral role in bringing Princess El-Hashemite to the University.
Among other initiatives, the Princess will promote sustainable development, global health and gender equality in the United States, particularly within the scientific sector including the healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

Princess El-Hashemite is the granddaughter of King Faisal (I) Bin El-Sharif Hussein, the first King of Iraq and founder of the Modern State of Iraq. RASIT is an independent, international, non-governmental organization affiliated with the United Nations Department of Public Information, and has the Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council.

Felician graduates show their excitement as they prepare to process in to Pomp and Circumstance at the 2016 Felician University Commencement exercise.

Felician Celebrates The First Commencement As A University

Felician’s 52nd Annual Commencement—the first as a University—was a resounding success and an inspiring day for graduates and their families, faculty and staff alike.

Following the academic procession, invocation by salutatorian, Vanessa DeLuca, and national anthem led by Dr. Barbara Gordon, honorary degrees were presented to keynote speakers, John Sexton and Philip Murphy during the morning and afternoon sessions for the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Education, Nursing and Business.

The spirit of love was palpable as the words of valedictorian Julia Sheridan echoed through Breslin Auditorium in Obal Hall on the University’s Lodi campus. “Being here today proves we don’t have to be the product of past circumstances but rather be the product of our aspirations.” These were heartfelt words, so reflective of the nurturing, caring environment ever present at Felician University.

As reported in the Bergen Record the following day in a sectional page-one story, Julia’s message “was anything but mundane.” The Record reported: “…Sheridan who has phonological dyslexia, said she didn’t even learn to read until she was 12 while attending Community High School in Teaneck. But on Saturday the Hasbrouck Heights native graduated, not only as Felician’s top student, but also as its reigning female Student-Athlete of the Year for her exploits on the soccer field and a beloved member of the student body.”

Julia’s words were inspiring as were the words of keynote speakers, John Sexton and Philip Murphy, who encouraged Felician’s Class of 2016 to take a proactive role in bringing positive change to the world.
Sexton, former NYU president and dean of NYU’s School of Law, spoke of “sins of omission” in telling the heartening story of his mentor, Charles Francis Winans, known affectionately as “Charlie.” Charlie was Sexton’s English teacher at Brooklyn Preparatory High School, an all-boy Jesuit school. Encouraging graduates to embrace Charlie’s “emancipation gene,” Sexton shared his mentor’s mantra: “Play another octave on the piano. If there are notes you haven’t touched, reach out and touch them.”
Murphy, former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, executive at Goldman Sachs and renowned business and community leader, told graduates that what haunted him most was not his failures but his failure to act. “Don’t be haunted,” he advised Felician’s graduates. Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., Murphy said: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” He advised graduates to follow the arc.

Felician University President Dr. Anne Prisco charged the class of 2016 to focus on embracing diversity and respect for human dignity. “You have learned from experience that once you get to know someone he or she is no longer the other – but rather a fellow student…perhaps even a new friend,” she said. “Lead lives that reflect the values so dear to the mission of our Felician Franciscan heritage, which calls on you to have a commitment to peace, justice, and solidarity with the poor. In all you do, act with competence, character, and compassion.”

Middlesex County College and Felician University come together to sign agreement for business program. Left to right: Dr. Mark McCormick, vice president for academic and student affairs, Middlesex County College; Joanna La Perla Morales, president, Middlesex County College; Dr. Anne Prisco, president, Felician University; and Dr. Dave Turi, associate dean, Felician University School of Business

Felician And Middlesex County College Sign Business Program Agreement

Middlesex students will be able to complete their undergraduate business degree and even earn an MBA, both from Felician, on the MCC Edison campus.

Middlesex County College and Felician University signed an agreement that will allow MCC Business students to complete their Bachelor of Science degree in Business, and, if they choose, a Master of Business Administration from Felician.

The Bachelor’s-level and graduate classes will be held on the Middlesex County College campus in Edison.

“We are excited to partner with Middlesex County College to create this clear and convenient pathway for MCC students to earn their undergraduate degree in business and even go on for an MBA,” said Robert Evans, dean of the Felician University School of Business. “This agreement will allow students to continue their education at Felician without distance as an obstacle,” he added.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for MCC business students,” said Jeffrey Herron, dean of professional studies. “They can transfer the 64 credits required for our Business Administration Transfer degree directly to Felician’s Business program, which means that they will not need to repeat courses completed at Middlesex. We have a very good relationship with the Business Department at Felician, and we believe the opportunity to expand our existing agreement to include the ability to pursue an MBA degree is an exciting development for our students, something we hope they will explore.”

Dr. Herron noted the two schools already have an agreement linking the Nursing programs.
“I’ve been able to observe our Nursing graduates participating in Felician’s program,” he said. “The way Felician has supported our students is very impressive and demonstrates its commitment to our partnership. I feel that this opportunity to grow the already strong relationship between our institutions will be very beneficial to MCC students looking to pursue Bachelor’s degrees.”