History: Highlights 2011-Present

​​​​​​​​​​​​​2011:

• ​Development/Implementation of PC’s five-year strategic plan.
• The CEA/PC Rome program is established.
• PC awards honorary bachelor’s degrees to members of Unit #1188 of the U.S. Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP), who were enrolled as undergraduate students at the College in 1943, but who were called to service and never returned to complete their education.
• PC Named to National Community Service Honor Roll.
• Freshman Common Reading Program is launched.
• SCE and the Community College of Rhode Island enter into a Transfer Agreement.
• PC is dubbed the “Smartest School in New England” by the New England Sports Network (NESN) by virtue of a three-student team from the College winning NESN’s “Schooled” event, an academic and problem-solving competition.
• Dave Gavitt ’89Hon., Big East founder/former commissioner, former PC athletic director, passes away.
• Edward Cooley named new head coach of men’s basketball.

2012:

• ​New Core Curriculum commences.
• Classics minor is established.
• Last Junior Ring Weekend.
• New Dean of the School of Business is named – Dr. Sylvia Maxfield.
• The AACSB awards accreditation to the School of Business.
• PC’s First Chief Diversity Officer is named – Rafael Zapata.
• SCE and Bristol Community College enter into a Transfer Agreement.
• Groundbreaking for The Ruane Center for the Humanities.
• Friar Food Rescue program is started by 2 PC students – transports food that normally would be discarded from campus dining halls to people who need it.
• Art garden and outdoor classrooms created behind Hunt-Cavanagh Hall.
• Outside seating area is created behind Aquinas Hall.
• Dunkin Donuts opens in Slavin Center.
• PC and its departments of art and art history, and athletics host a two-month showcase of exhibits, lectures, and programs focusing on sport and art entitled SPORT:ART, from. The project explores the significance and relationship of art and sport through media and fine arts, while examining gender, race, and cultural identities. SPORT:ART is an unprecedented collaboration among departments across campus promoting student involvement and diversity, combined with bringing new audiences to the world of art.
• PC is selected as one of three national winners of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) 2012 Innovation Award. PC earned this prestigious honor for its TecHub & TecStation, located in the College’s Phillips Memorial Library.
• A team from PCSB captures first place in the (2011) national accounting competition known as eXTREME Accounting (xAct) sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
• PC is selected as a recipient of the Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award. PC earned this prestigious honor for its Global Studies Program, an innovative educational experience that focuses on internationalization.
• Dedication of Providence Police Sub-station District 7 in memory of Providence Police Sgt. Maxwell Dorley.
• School of Professional Studies unveils a Master’s in Urban Teaching program for early-career teachers. (Teach For America as an initial partner), the master’s program is the first in Rhode Island to focus solely on urban teaching.
• Grand opening of the PC/ Smith Hill Annex – The space is one of the storefronts in the Smith Hill Community Development Corporation’s Capitol Square Development project.  It is available for use by campus and community groups as well as by persons interested in conversation, dialogue and collaboration between community and campus.
• PC signs agreement to purchase portions of three streets from the city of Providence for a total of $3.842 million. The streets are: Huxley Ave. from Ventura St. to Eaton St., Wardlaw Ave. from Lucille St. to Cumberland St., and Cumberland St. from Wardlaw Ave. to the property line at 30 Cumberland St.
• Ceremony for Dave Gavitt Way, Providence Service Road renamed in his honor.
• Renovations to Alumni Hall/Mullaney Gymnasium

2013:

• ​Grand opening of The Ruane Center for the Humanities – American historian/author David McCullough is the keynote speaker.
• The Ruane Center for Business Education Innovation is founded.
• PC is the new home for Rhode Island Campus Compact offices.
• The New Arts Theatre classroom in Guzman Hall is created – 105 seat classroom.
• Appointment of Dr. M. Cary Collins as the first distinguished Michael A. Ruane Endowed Chair for Innovation in Business Education.
• Board of Trustees elects John F. Killian ’77 as the new Chairman of the Board.
• Dr. William P. Hogan, associate professor of English, is named the inaugural director of PC’s new Center for Engaged Learning.
• PC selected as recipient of the 2013 Environmental Achievement Award from Save the Bay, the non-profit environmental advocacy and educational organization that protects, preserves and improves Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay.
• Brother Bruno Cadoré, O.P., Master of the Order of Preachers, visits PC.
• PC, Sovereign Bank/Santander sign extension of (2010) agreement for International Grants for students to study abroad (service trips).
• PC women’s cross country team win National Championship title
• Catholic Schools in Big East announce separation – form the New Big East Conference – enter into television partnership with FOX Sports 1.
• Grand Re-opening of Schneider Arena.
• Grand opening of the Ray Treacy Track and Field Complex. ​

2014:

• ​First Senior Ring Weekend.
• Grand opening of the Common Grounds Café – PC and a group of its students in partnership with the Smith Hill Community Development Corporation (CDC).
• PC becomes an official participant in the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Bill Education Enhancement Program, also known as the Yellow Ribbon Program.
• PC presents a $750,000 grant to the Smith Hill Community Development Corporation (CDC) to support the CDC’s core mission of providing safe, affordable housing in the Smith Hill community.  The CDC will use the grant, $250,000/yr. for three years, to help improve the housing stock along Douglas Ave. and Admiral Street, both of which are gateways to the PC campus.
• President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. is re-elected to a new five-year term, beginning July 1, 2015.
• SCE and CCRI announce new Guaranteed Admission Agreement.
• Official launch of Our Moment: The Next Century Campaign for Providence College, with a campus kick-off celebration that included trustees, students, faculty, administrators, staff, alumni, and friends – Rock-n-roll Hall of Fame member Darlene Love performs in concert. The campaign is the most ambitious fundraising endeavor in the College’s nearly 100-year history, as PC seeks to raise $140 million.
• 20th Anniversary Celebration for its Feinstein Institute for Public Service (“the Institute”).
• 20th Anniversary Celebration of Women’s Studies program.
• Outdoor classroom created along Eaton Street.
• Outdoor classroom created behind Harkins Hall.
• Men’s basketball captures its second-ever Big East Championship, as the Friars defeat Creighton, 65-56.
• Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Ray Treacy Track and Field Complex.
• Men’s soccer wins its first Big East title and advances to the NCAA Final Four.​

2015:

• ​Announcement of $5 million dollar pledge by Arthur F. Ryan ’63 and wife, Patricia, for PCSB. The gift will be used to help create the Arthur and Patricia Ryan Center for Business Studies, which will house the PCSB program.
• PC’s 5-year strategic plan is updated.​
• PC’s men’s ice hockey team defeats Boston University, 4-3, to win the NCAA Division I Championship, the first NCAA men’s team championship in the College’s history.​​