Campers enjoyed learning from our DNP students as part of the Wellness Camp last month.

Campus News 

Building community is at the heart of Clarke’s mission, and that effort doesn’t take a summer break! Throughout June, learners of all ages visited campus through Clarke University Summer Camps, the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra Camp, and a special Raku Fire event in Ceramics. These efforts will continue well into July with our Clarke University Summer Scholarly Projects focused on writing, virtual reality, and dissection.

Clarke is also collaborating with area colleges to host Dubuque College Visit Week July 28–August 1. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to tour five area schools and see all Dubuque has to offer. If you know any high school juniors or seniors who are considering college, encourage them to take advantage of this one-of-a-kind event.

Campus has also seen some significant facilities updates over the summer, such as new carpeting in the Nicholas J. Schrup library and security additions to our academic buildings.

Strategic Plan Update   

One of the goals of our strategic plan is to “Empower Student Success.” This comes in many forms and takes the efforts of everyone at our university. Summers are often spent laying the groundwork for this success.

For example, our library staff is passionate about Open Educational Resources (OER). These materials are available at no cost to the student and supplement or replace traditional textbooks. In the 2024-2025 academic year, OER materials saved students roughly $160,000 on textbooks.

In turn, OER allow for greater customization of class work, allowing faculty to guide discussions in a meaningful way while covering a wide array of topics. The library has even funded mini-grants to promote the adoption of OER, increasing access for students and faculty alike.

Living our Legacy Spotlight

Brad Kruse, Chair and Professor of Physical Therapy, is in this volume’s spotlight.

Living our legacy stems from our mission:  

Clarke University is a Catholic academic community that believes learning is lifelong and life changing. We inspire intellectual curiosity, cultural engagement, professional preparedness, spiritual exploration, and a commitment to contributing to the common good in a global society.   

Clarke’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program has earned national recognition, and with Brad Kruse as Chair and Professor, it’s not hard to see why.

Brad, along with all the dedicated faculty in the department, have developed Clarke’s unique practicum program which offers free physical therapy services to clients in the Dubuque community. Brad was recently featured in the Telegraph Herald for receiving a $2,000 award from the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Dubuque Eagles Club to advance the program with the addition of a LiteGait body weight support system.

Opportunities like this prepare students for success beyond the classroom, as evidenced by Clarke DPT’s 100 percent first-time pass rate on the national licensure exam in 2023 and 2024. According to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, only four of the 271 participating schools achieve this status. Graduates also enjoy a 100% job placement rate within six months of completing their degree.

Thank you, Brad, for your contributions to the health and wellness of our community, and to the success of our students!

Go Pride! 

Fletch

Visit our Newsroom webpage to learn more about all the great things happening on campus and in the wider community!

Clarke University

www.clarke.edu