[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 144 (Friday, October 2, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING ALBERTUS MAGNUS COLLEGE ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 90TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 2, 2015

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to join the New Haven community in extending my heartfelt 
congratulations to President Julia McNamara and the entire Albertus 
Magnus family as they mark the 90th Anniversary of Albertus Magnus 
College. What a remarkable milestone for this outstanding institution 
of learning!
  In 1924, the Dominican Sisters of Saint Mary of the Springs, who are 
now known as the Dominican Sisters of Peace, purchased an estate in New 
Haven, Connecticut, in an effort to found a women's college. A charter 
was signed on July 13, 1925 and the first classes were held on 
September 24th of that year. Named for St. Albert the Great--Albertus 
Magnus--the 13th century bishop, theologian and scholar described by a 
contemporary as a man ``so superior in every science that he can 
fittingly be called the wonder and miracle of our time,'' it was the 
first Catholic, liberal arts, residential college for women in New 
England and remained such for its first 60 years.
  Julia McNamara, the current President of Albertus, having served in 
that role since 1982, has guided the College through a myriad of 
transitions which have expanded the institution in countless ways. 
Albertus became coeducational in 1985 and today boasts an enrollment of 
1,550 students. Albertus offers its students a wide-range of programs 
and services. They currently have 550 students enrolled in the 
traditional undergraduate program; 720 in accelerated undergraduate 
programs for working adults; and 280 in graduate degree programs, 
including the only Master of Arts in Art Therapy degree in the state of 
Connecticut. At this past spring's commencement ceremony Albertus 
Magnus College conferred 537 degrees.
  Ahead of its time, in the 1970's Albertus Magnus recognized the need 
for continuing education for working adults. They created a program 
called ``Begin Again'' for women who had started college but never 
completed a degree. In 1985 ``Begin Again'' became the inspiration for 
a broader, accelerated evening program serving working adults; evening 
programs expanded again in 1994 with the addition of business-focused 
offerings. In 1992 Albertus offered its first graduate degree program: 
the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies; today there are 10 graduate 
programs, ranging from accounting to human services and criminal 
justice, from leadership to writing and education. The College has 
awarded 2,848 master's degrees. Albertus is also dedicated to assisting 
our community's veterans in their pursuit of higher education. A 
participant in the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill Yellow Ribbon Program, Albertus 
works closely with veterans to help them succeed in accelerated 
programs. There are Veterans Centers on the New Haven and East Hartford 
campuses and the Albertus Student Veterans Association is an approved 
chapter of Student Veterans of America.
  Among its 14,255 alumni, Albertus Magnus can claim the first woman 
named to the Federal bench in Connecticut; the first woman appointed to 
the trial court in Connecticut; an eight-term member of the United 
States House of Representatives, a Secretary of the United States 
Department of Health and Human Services and a United States Ambassador 
to Ireland; the first woman vice president at Merrill Lynch; and a 
pioneering pediatric cardiologist whose research has saved countless 
young lives. On a personal note, I have fond memories of the year I 
spent teaching International Politics at Albertus--it was a learning 
experience for me as well as the students!
  Over the course of the last 90 years, Albertus Magnus College has 
helped thousands of students realize their dreams through higher 
education. By providing both traditional and non-traditional programs 
and services, Albertus has opened the doors of opportunity to their 
students and enabled them to pursue their career goals. I am honored to 
have this opportunity to stand to extend my heartfelt congratulations 
to Albertus Magnus College, President Julia McNamara, students, 
alumnae, faculty and staff as they mark this very special occasion. 
Happy 90th Anniversary and best wishes for many more years of success!

                          ____________________