DePaul University’s Board of Trustees has announced a six-year contract extension for DePaul’s president, the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., citing strong support for his extraordinary leadership as the university’s 11th president.

"The Board of Trustees and I are delighted to announce the extension of Father Holtschneider’s contract and look forward to his continued leadership of DePaul University," said Mary Dempsey, president of DePaul’s Board of Trustees and commissioner of the Chicago Public Library system. "We are confident that with the help of the committed faculty and staff, Holtschneider will continue to build on DePaul’s rich tradition of providing a quality education to a diverse student population."

A native of Detroit, Holtschneider was appointed president of DePaul, the nation’s largest Catholic and eighth-largest private, nonprofit university, in 2004. Since his inauguration, he has overseen the expansion of the university’s enrollment to more than 25,000, the establishment of numerous new academic programs—including the creation of the growing College of Communication and the transformation of DePaul’s computer science school into the innovative College of Computing and Digital Media—as well as the rapid and significant growth of online learning offerings.

With the support and approval of Lincoln Park community groups and Chicago’s City Council, Holtschneider led the drafting of DePaul’s 10-year master plan for the redevelopment of DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus. Important facility improvements began with the 2009 completion of the Gold LEED-certified Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan Science Building. For student athletes, construction was recently completed on Cacciatore Stadium and Wish Field. Construction also is currently under way for a new classroom building and art museum. On DePaul’s Loop Campus, Holtschneider oversaw the acquisition of the 18-story 14 E. Jackson Building, which currently houses 10 floors of classroom, lab and academic office space, and the recent renovation of the College of Law facilities.

During his tenure, endowed scholarship funds have grown exponentially. Over the last four years, more than $47 million has been raised establishing more than 200 new scholarship funds to assist aspiring DePaul students. In the past year, the university publicly launched its "Many Dreams, One Mission" campaign with a goal to raise $250 million, of which more than $180 million has already been raised.

"I am grateful for DePaul’s exceptional administrators, faculty, staff and students, who have made possible the university’s accomplishments during the past six years," Holtschneider said. "As we finish the work of our current strategic plan and prepare to launch the next one, I continue to be excited about leading an institution that is strengthening its founding promise to provide access to talented students seeking an excellent education."

Holtschneider, a national expert on governance and leadership in American Catholic colleges and universities, is a frequent visitor to Springfield, Ill. and Washington, D.C., championing financial aid for students and lending his expertise and counsel on issues in higher education. In January 2010, he was elected to chair the Board of Directors of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, based in Washington, D.C.

About DePaul

DePaul University is the largest Catholic university and the eighth-largest private university in the United States. The university offers approximately 275 graduate and undergraduate programs of study on two Chicago campuses, four suburban campuses and several international locations. Founded in 1898 on the Vincentian principle of access to education, DePaul remains committed to providing a quality education through personal attention to students from a wide range of backgrounds. For more information, visit www.depaul.edu.