Closing of the school: American Islamic College
title:
Closing of the school: American Islamic College
publisher:
Women and Leadership Archives
creator:
Unidentified newspaper
date:
c. 1981
description:
An article about the American Islamic College's purchase of Immaculata High School property.
format:
8.5 x 11"
subject:
women's education; high schools; articles;
relation:
Immaculata High School
description:
Closing of the School, 1978-1981
type:
articles;
rights:
This image is issued by the Women and Leadership Archives. Use of the image requires written permission from the Director of the Women and Leadership Archives. It may not be sold or redistributed, copied or distributed as a photograph, electronic file, or any other media. The image should not be significantly altered through conventional or electronic means. Images altered beyond standard cropping and resizing require further negotiation with the Director. The user is responsible for all issues of copyright. Please Credit: Women and Leadership Archives, Loyola University Chicago.
coverage:
Chicago, Illinois; Immaculata High School
description:
Community news Islam college plans to keep open tradition By William Presecky WHEN Immaculata High School closed its doors in the summer of 1981, its principal cited ethnic diversity and "an atmosphere of understanding" as one of the greatest assets the Lake Shore landmark gave to the community. "We've established an atmosphere of understanding and appreciation for each other," said Sister Diane O'Donnell, BVM , the last principal of the all-girls Roman Catholic high school that operated for 60 years at 640 W. Irving Park Rd. ' Though it operated for most of its 60 years as a mostly white, I almost all-Catholic institution for much of its 60-year year history, when Immaculata closed, its 525 [students included girls from 27 I countries, and more than 100 non- Catholics. DIRECTORS of American Islamic College, Inc., which pur-1 I chased the former high school! March 2 from the Dubuque, Ia.-{ based Sisters of Charity for $3.11 | million, hope to re-establish that I same atmosphere when the non- \ profit group opens its doors to 250 J college students in September. "This will be an academic institution, not a religous school," said Ahmad Sakr, the school's vice president for academic affairs. The American Islamic College Inc. will open a four-year college if former Immaculata High School [above] in September. Day-to-day operations for converting what was Chicago's second oldest high school for girls to a four-year college are being handled by Sakr at Arab League offices, 919 N. Michigan Ave., until college offices are opened at the school next month. NOTING THAT the co-education- | al college will be open to anyone, j "and that includes Jews and Christians," Sakr said the mission of I the school, in part, would be to I foster better relations between all I religions and nationalities. In a gesture of commitment to that mission, Sakr said that the college had no plans to alter the fa?ade of the landmark school buildings and would leave intact various Christian and Catholic symbols, including a large statue of the Blessed Virgin. The four-year college will offer programs leading to bachelor of science degrees in elementary education and bi-lingual education Two nondegree programs, English for the foreign student and Arabic for the American business community, will also be offered when classes begin the week of Sept. 5, Sakr said Start-up funding for the college has come from various Islamic groups, Sakr said. The college projects an enrollment of possibly 1,000 students within four years, Sakr said. The tentative tutition rate is $85 per credit hour. The college was chartered in 1981 and permitted to operate by the Illinois Board of Higher Education last year, Sakr said. The authority to grant degrees is expected to be received within the first year of operation and application for accreditation by the North Central Association will be made soon thereafter, he said.
identifier:
38.jp2