ResU's ribbon cutting in Wicker Park makes their new home official

Though the new home of Resurrection University has been open and functioning for 480 students in this new year, it was all made "official" at the ribbon cutting ceremony on the 6th floor of St. Elizabeth's Hospital, 1431 N. Claremont Ave.

Sister Sandra Marie Sosnowski, Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth, opened the ceremonies. Most Rev. Alberto Rojas performed the dedication and blessing. Following the ribbon cutting, three key people spoke. They were Sandra Bruce, Presence Health's President and CEO; Beth Brooks, Resurrection University's President; and Mary Anne Kelly, Resurrection University's Board Chair. 

Bruce thanked the many people and organizations who were instrumental in accomplishing the development of the ResU site including Margaret McDermott, CEO and Executive Vice President of Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center. 

"As we were looking at possible locations for ResU, it made logical sense to put our roots here in the Wicker Park neighborhood.  The resurgence of the community combined with the diverse culture was really important to us, as we try to have a diverse workforce that reflects the people we serve." 

The excitement of the school's graduates is something that Bruce experienced recently when her daughter-in-law graduated from the school. "We also know that the model of healthcare today is shifting and we are moving away from the model of taking care of only sick people. Now we must also train people to help people stay well." 

Commenting on how this health care change takes innovation, Bruce pointed out that ResU is poised to be a leader of change. A leadership program, nurse practitioner program and a Health Informatics and Information Management, newly accredited, are examples of that forward looking approach. 

In introducing ResU's head, Beth Brook, Bruce pointed out Brook's 2012 honor of being nationally named 1 of 20 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Fellows. With that, Brook has a three-year opportunity to participate in a world-class leadership development program enhancing nurse leaders effectiveness in improving the nations health system. 

Brook thanked faculty, staff and students for their flexibility and help in the transition to the new location. Giving stats she pointed out that enrollment is at about 480 diverse students with 12% being men, "which is incredibly unusual across the country. There were 45 of our undergraduate students on the Dean's list in December 2012. The Admissions Team out did themselves this spring, admitting a class with the a grade point average (GPA) of 3.26 and a science GPA of 3.34. 

"One of the predictors of success in health care is having a high science GPA. So, this newly admitted class is particularly bright and doing incredibly well which is a result of our faculty's work. Our end class average pass rate in 2012 was 97%." 

Brook went on to say how wonderful the new facility is and how excited all people in all parts of the University are to be in the new environment and the community, which is very welcoming. She gave special thanks to the team at Perkins and Will, the global multidisciplinary architecture and design firm, and their construction partner, Bear Construction. 

Mary Anne Kelly expressed her thanks, on behalf of the Board, to everyone involved in making the new location a reality. She then encouraged everyone to take a tour of the multi-floor facility.