A National Catholic Leader: Reflections of the President
Fall 2007
Dear alumni and friends,
The University of Dayton, quietly and with characteristic humility, has
turned into one of this nation's premier, private Catholic universities.
As I reflect on my first five years as president, I am inspired by all
that we — faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends — have been able to
accomplish together. With your support, the University of Dayton has
become nationally recognized as a top-tier national university that
remains true to its Catholic, Marianist mission of putting students
first. We have recruited prominent faculty, doubled our sponsored
research volume and built a learning-living environment unmatched in the
country.
Yet we are challenged by increased competition for students, faculty and
philanthropic dollars. We need your help in telling our story and
strengthening the University of Dayton's national reputation. You may
not realize all the strides we've made in recent years. This is a
university on the move with a deep commitment to the Marianist mission
of educating students to learn, lead and serve. We're making a real
difference in the world.Here are just a few highlights
from the past five years:
National Leadership
The University of Dayton entered the ranks of top-tier national
universities. Curricular innovations, such as the entrepreneurship
program and an accelerated law degree, earned national acclaim. The
nation's next wave of entrepreneurs is studying in the fifth-best
program in the nation. As a result of its innovative curriculum, the
School of Law is among an elite group of law schools invited to
participate in the next phase of the Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement of Teaching project on legal education. The annual RISE
forum has blossomed into the world's largest student investment forum
and draws the biggest names from Wall Street.
Students First
UD also gained recognition for the way it educates students to think
with a critical mind and a compassionate heart. We are one of 10
religiously affiliated colleges nationally that excels at helping
students "find purpose and meaning in life," according to the 2005 book,
Putting Students First: How Colleges Develop Students Purposefully.
"Faculty members at these schools try to stretch students in a community
of support and challenge. We found that at (the University of) Dayton.
These schools are not boot camps. They honor the dignity of the
individual student,'' said co-author Larry Braskamp, professor emeritus
of education at Loyola University Chicago.
Faculty Preeminence
Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, we've increased endowed
faculty positions by 40 percent, with two dozen leading scholars filling
these chairs. In the last year alone, we've added 10 new tenure-line
faculty positions in the College of Arts and Sciences. Faculty are
writing more books and journal articles, making more national
presentations and showing up more frequently in the national press —
from The New York Times to CNN.
An Engaged Community Partner
The University of Dayton is leading an effort to beef up the region's
math and science education at every level, from pre-school to college.
All 32 students in the first graduating class at the Dayton Early
College Academy, a partnership between UD and the Dayton Public Schools,
are headed to college. We've teamed with private developers to build
Courtyard by the Marriott across from UD Arena and the newly opened
University Place, with retail outlets and graduate student apartments,
at the corner of Brown and Stewart streets. We'll begin transforming an
urban brownfield — 50 acres of former NCR land — into an academic and
mixed-use development that will change the face of this part of the
city. A 2006 national survey ranked UD first among Catholic universities
and third overall for our community revitalization initiatives behind
the University of Southern California and the University of
Pennsylvania.
Outstanding Research Track Record
Our sponsored research volume nearly doubled, reaching $74 million this
year. The University of Dayton Research Institute continues to rank
second among all universities in the amount of materials research it
performs annually. With the launching of new centers of excellence, we
positioned UD for leadership in nanotechnology, bioengineering,
bioscience, ladar and optical communications. In January, the School of
Engineering opened the Innovation Center. Here, students and local
industries are working on a number of projects, including developing a
low-risk alternative to gastric bypass surgery and a pill dispenser for
cardiologists and patients to better track medicine dosages and
frequency.
Unmatched Learning-Living Environment
The University of Dayton invested more than $100 million in student
residential facilities and amenities -- from Marianist Hall and
ArtStreet to RecPlex and the newly opened University Place. We will
finish a multi-year, nearly $40 million renovation of our older
residence halls, Marycrest and Stuart, by 2010. This summer, we
showcased a $2.5 million project in the student neighborhood -- five new
townhouses and four renovated homes as part of Citirama, a free home
show by the Home Builders Association of Dayton. The project signaled
our commitment to maintaining the front-porch character of the
neighborhoods and provided a venue for sharing the Marianist philosophy
of learning and living in community.
Responsible Stewardship
The endowment now stands at an estimated $420 million, a 65 percent
increase over the nearly $255 million mark of 2002. Some of our best
money managers are studying finance in the School of Business
Administration. Students invest nearly $7 million of UD's endowment,
with returns that rival the pros.
These examples offer a snapshot of the University of Dayton's growth in
prestige and reach over the past five years. They are your talking
points as you help us spread the word about the power of a University of
Dayton education.
We are charting a new path for the future, using our strategic plan and
a soon-to-be-released master plan as a map. We also are guided by the
timeless Catholic, Marianist philosophy of educating students for lives
of leadership and service. I will ask you to help us shape that future.
These are transformational times for the University of Dayton, yet we
face our future together with faith. I wish you all of God's blessings.
Sincerely,
Daniel J. Curran, Ph.D.
President
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