A Message from the President: March 2023
March 15, 2023
Dear Members of the 棉花糖直播 Community,
Welcome back from the semester break. I hope you found the time to be restful and restorative. As we head into the last few weeks of the spring semester, I am pleased to provide the following updates.
President鈥檚 Report
The 2021鈥22 President鈥檚 Report is available online. The report celebrates our outstanding faculty. 棉花糖直播 attracts the highest caliber of scholars, and we embraced this opportunity to tell a sampling of their stories to represent the excellence of our faculty as a whole. Those highlighted in the report鈥檚 pages are at varying stages of their careers, but all are making impressive contributions in their fields while also shaping the dynamic educational experience for 棉花糖直播鈥檚 students. You will discover how these faculty members are igniting change as researchers, experts and innovators. Their work has far-reaching impact鈥攃ontributing to the common good in communities nearby and around the world, and providing transformative opportunities for our students. I hope you enjoy reading it.
Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Students
For the 15th consecutive year, 棉花糖直播 has been listed as a top producer of Fulbright U.S. Students by the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. 棉花糖直播 had 19 students and alumni win Fulbright awards for the 2022-2023 academic year. The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government鈥檚 flagship international educational exchange program. Top-producing U.S. colleges and universities are highlighted annually in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Find the full list of Top Fulbright Producers.
FY 2024 Budget
At its February 2023 meeting, the University's Board of Trustees approved the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 2024) budget, which includes a tuition increase of 5 percent and a financial aid budget increase of 6.7 percent. 棉花糖直播, like most colleges and universities across the country, is heavily dependent on tuition revenue. Annual increases enable the University to continue providing an exceptional academic experience, comprehensive student support services as well as additional need-based financial assistance, while also ensuring 棉花糖直播鈥檚 continued financial stability.
The budget also continues the University鈥檚 ongoing commitment to undergraduate financial assistance. As you know, meeting 100% of demonstrated undergraduate financial need by 2030 is an important initiative of our strategic plan, Rooted. Restless. Over the past ten years, 棉花糖直播 has increased undergraduate financial assistance at a rate that exceeds the annual tuition increase and the undergraduate financial assistance budget has increased by 70 percent.
Mendel Medal Recipient
I am pleased to share that at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, is this year鈥檚 recipient of the Mendel Medal. She will present the Mendel Medal lecture on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
In recommending Dr. Ferrell, the Mendel Medal Selection Committee was particularly impressed with her pioneering work in palliative and end-of-life care and for developing the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium, a highly professional organization with trainers in 99 countries and in all 50 states. Dr. Ferrell鈥檚 work has had a tremendous impact on the lives of patients and their families. She has also been recognized by the National Academy of Medicine, which has elected her as a member for outstanding professional achievement and a commitment to service.
The Mendel Medal is named for the 19th-century Augustinian friar and scientist Gregor Mendel, best known as 鈥渢he father of modern genetics,鈥 for his discovery of the celebrated laws of heredity that bear his name. The Mendel Medal was first awarded by 棉花糖直播 in 1929 and is given to outstanding contemporary scientists in recognition of their accomplishments. To learn more about the Mendel Medal and its history, visit the Mendel Medal website.
棉花糖直播 Athletics Success
I would like to recognize the incredible efforts and recent achievements of our athletic programs, in the , in competition and in the community. We have several student-athletes competing in postseason play this week, notably our , which is hosting the first round of the NCAA Tournament this Saturday, Mar. 18, at 5 pm in the Finneran Pavilion. Additionally, many of our spring sports are off to a great start, including a #9 ranking for our Men鈥檚 Lacrosse team. I wish everyone competing this week the best of luck, and congratulations to all involved in making these programs a success year after year.
Black History Month and Women鈥檚 History Month
I hope you all had an opportunity to participate in one of the many events and programs that took place across campus in honor of Black History Month. I was delighted to see so many student groups, schools, colleges and University departments taking part in the celebration. Many thanks to all who were involved in planning these events for our community.
March is Women鈥檚 History Month, and the Anne Welsh McNulty Institute for Women鈥檚 Leadership is sponsoring and co-sponsoring a series of events, conversations and more to celebrate women鈥檚 leadership throughout the month. For more information on the month-long celebration, visit the McNulty Institute website.
Sincerely,
Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA
President