The Rev. Daniel Hendrickson, S.J., Ph.D., the university president, addressed the Creighton Students Union House of Delegates and Cabinet to announce updates to the university’s campus plan.
Monday evening, student representatives heard Hendrickson give a summation of university announcements; some of them had already been released individually in previous months. Associate Vice President for Integrated Wellness Michele Bogard, Ph.D., said this meeting was called to get this information out to students in one motion, because some of these updates may have been missed when they were released individually.
Topics discussed Monday evening included enrollment numbers, donation and funding updates, and changes to Creighton’s Omaha campus.
Hendrickson began by briefing the House on points of pride for university leadership. He mentioned that last year’s freshman class reached a retention high of 94%, while the graduation rate sits at 83%. Both numbers are well above the national average.
Enrollment for next year looks to be above average as well, which is a positive step for the university, considering an expected drop in national enrollment beginning in 2026 due to a decreased birth rate beginning in 2007 during the Great Recession.
To combat this issue, Creighton University has begun investing in Faculty Endowed Chairs, premier-level club sports and adult learning programs.
Hendrickson hopes that the addition of the Premier Sports league will be a draw for prospective students who are looking to be involved in athletics at a lower level than Division 1 sports. The league features hired coaches and inter-university competition, which gives students a Division III athletic experience at a Division I school like Creighton.
“Students in high school that aren’t quite D1 athletes—they still have [the] experience to use our athletic facilities, wear a Creighton Jersey, do team building and have those…big experiences. … Some of those students are actually choosing other schools to have that opportunity. We want to create that opportunity [here],” Hendrickson said.
Another update Hendrickson discussed is the increased scholarship money available to Creighton students. Forward Blue is a scholarship campaign that has raised $220 million from donors since it was launched in 2021. So far, 468 different scholarship programs have been created in the campaign with the goal of making Creighton more accessible to prospective students.
Hendrickson reflected on Creighton’s growth over the last decade.
“The last 10 years have been really important with all the new buildings and new kinds of opportunities, [i.e.] joining the Big East [and] building a new campus in Phoenix, Arizona. So, we also get so much more national visibility. … Many more people know what we’re doing,” Hendrickson said.
These last 10 years have seen half a billion dollars of construction done on Creighton’s campus, including the renovation of the Atlas Apartments and pedestrian bridge, the building of the Dental School, Werner Health Sciences Building, Graves Hall, Jesuit Residence Hall and the Ruth, a women’s athletics practice facility, as well as the creation of scholarship and athletic programs.
Other topics discussed included the acquisition of new land and the anticipation of a new “global classroom” at Creighton’s campus in the Dominican Republic. Hendrickson also addressed new funding from both private and public relationships, which is helping to pay for campus updates.
“The local community and the state of Nebraska is just a-buzz with excitement about Creighton’s growth and expansion,” Hendrickson said.
In particular, a $30 million state grant is funding a new softball field bordering Florence Blvd. and 20th St. The project is expected to be completed this summer.
On the next block, a new baseball practice field will be completed in 2026. Hendrickson said the goal of these projects is to improve Creighton’s relationship with the College World Series, which takes place in Omaha every summer and has a $120 million impact on the city.
On the west side of the Harper Center, a new 5.5-acre Quad is expected to be constructed where the softball and baseball fields currently sit, made possible by a $20 million donation. The green space, complete with a grand stage, will fit about 8,000 chairs for graduations and concerts.
Currently, a new sophomore residence hall is under construction at Burt and 21st St. and expected to be welcome students in the Fall 2026 semester. The dorm has yet to be named but is styled similarly to Graves Hall and will include solar panels and 183 geothermal wells. The wells are expected to reduce 2.3% of greenhouse gas emissions, solidifying the university’s commitment to sustainable energy.
Recently, Creighton garnered ownership of Burt Street from 17th to 20th Street, which will be turned into a greenway with a bike path integrated with North Omaha and downtown Omaha.
Hendrickson reassured students that although some parking spots will disappear in the near future, more will be added. Administration expects to have the same number of spaces or slightly more throughout the next few years, with the addition of a lot next to Morrison stadium and one at the new sophomore residence hall.
“The campus continues to evolve to meet the needs of students, you know, in their Creighton experience,” Hendrickson said.
He is excited about these upcoming changes and hopes that students are as well.
“I hope you see that Creighton is investing in the students’ dreams, the infrastructure of campus, your faculty [and] scholarship dollars. There’s a lot of work as Creighton continues to evolve. … One of the reasons for me coming in tonight is because there [were] some…misconceptions. … You’re seeing construction happen everywhere,” Hendrickson said.
Hendrickson said that students can also look forward to a new library on campus and new development in downtown Omaha, called Civic Square, bordering Chicago Street. He said the development is trying to include a Trader Joe’s or similar grocery store.
“We’re fighting for Trader Joe’s,” Hendrickson said.
The university president is proud of Creighton’s continued growth.
“All of these, you know, collectively are helping…Creighton continue to grow and evolve,” he said.