Alvernia University to acquire Marian University

Pennsylvaniaʼs Alvernia University to acquire Wisconsinʼs Marian University, the University of Notre Dame opens a bioengineering department, and more in this weekʼs Catholic education roundup.

Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, will acquire Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, the schools announced this week.

Pending institutional, canonical, and accrediting approvals from Church authorities and the U.S. Department of Education, the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, which owns Marian University, said it plans to “gift” the school to Alverniaʼs founders, the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters.

Marian will be renamed Alvernia University Marian Campus and will retain its mascot and most of its branding.

According to Alvernia president Glynis Fitzgerald, “the future of Catholic higher education will be shaped by institutions willing to work together, and steward their resources wisely.”

Notre Dame adds bioengineering department

The College of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame announced the opening of a bioengineering department on the heels of the recent establishment of the Bioengineering & Life Sciences Initiative and a $275 million investment into biomedical research at the university.

Research priorities will center on using tissue engineering and engineered disease models to lessen reliance on animal testing; the development of new medical devices and diagnostic tools to expand access to better healthcare; and biocomputing and research conducted in the microgravity environment of space.

“This new department is an exciting step in advancing Notre Dame as the leading global Catholic research university,” provost John McGreevy said. “It will enable us to do even more and better research and to train students in an area where many of the most important questions facing both engineering and science are going to be addressed.”

Catholic school students in 3 NYC boroughs outpace public school counterparts on 2026 state tests

Students in Catholic schools across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island scored higher than their New York City public school counterparts on 2026 state assessments, according to the Archdiocese of New York’s 2025-26 Impact Report, “Renewed for Growth,” released Nov. 10.

Compared with 48% of public school students, 66% of Catholic school students reached proficiency in English. In math, the Catholic school proficiency rate stood at 69%, compared with the 53% public school rate, the report states.

The findings, based on an Oct. 1, 2025, census, included 46,958 students enrolled in 146 schools across the three boroughs and seven surrounding counties.

Across the archdiocese, 65.3% of students in grades three through eight were proficient in English language arts and 67.4% were proficient in math on tests administered by the New York State Education Department.

The Catholic University of America one of 5 schools in nation awarded federal grant

The Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Services (CEVSS) has awarded a three-year, $627,000 grant to The Catholic University of America.

The university will use the award to develop a model program that serves the academic, financial, and social needs of military affiliated students and veterans, promoting their retention, enrollment, and graduation rates, and preparing them for life post-graduation. The CEVSS is a U.S. Department of Education program administered by the Labor Department.

Diocese of Pittsburgh reports growth, perfect graduation rate

In 2026, 100% of high school seniors graduated at the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s 10 high schools, according to a new report. In addition, 100 new families enrolled in diocesan schools last year.

Of the 2026 graduates, 94.5% went on to college, and 5.5% went straight into the workforce, joined the military, or entered trades. The graduates received more than $100 million in scholarships, the diocese said.

“Our schools provide students with a strong academic foundation while helping them develop a relationship with Jesus Christ and discover how their faith can guide them throughout their lives,” Bishop Mark Eckman said.