At 大学召开 on Aug. 29, 太阳城网赌平台 President William P. 莱希,年代.J., 概述了一系列的学术, 金融, 社会, 政治, and other challenges that represents a test for the future of the University, and higher education in general. But BC has long shown itself capable of overcoming such obstacles, 他说, and has the institutional tools, 结构, 规划, 还有再次这样做的远见.
太阳城网赌平台将屹立不倒, 并蓬勃发展, on the strength of its distinctive Jesuit, 天主教的传统, 他说, while drawing on innovative 太阳城官网, 方法, and technology to address the complex questions of an increasingly global society. 最重要的是, 他说, the University will depend on 教师, 管理员, and staff to continue their good works, whether on campus or beyond: “Such commitment and generosity are impressive and help countless individuals, not only on campus but also in greater Boston, 我们的国家, 这个世界.”
Provost and Dean of Faculties David 奎格利 and Executive Vice President Michael Lochhead also offered remarks at 召开, which was held in Robsham Theater.
BC, like other American colleges and universities, Fr. 莱希说, has had to respond to “an evolving, 有时不稳定, 学术, 金融, 社会, and 政治 context” that includes declining enthusiasm for the liberal arts curriculum and uncertainty about the value of a college degree; concerns about college affordability and access; budget pressures driven by the costs of 金融 aid, 工资, 和设施, as evidenced by the recent closure of nearby Mt. Ida College; controversies in collegiate athletics; increased campus tension about race, 不正当的性行为, 言论自由, 以及其他闪点. 天主教机构, 他指出, are dealing with turmoil over sexual abuse and the response of Church leadership, and growing secularization in American culture, 在其他问题中.
Fr. 莱希 cited the characteristics of BC that enable it to compete in such an environment, including its Jesuit religious and educational tradition; a commitment to intellectual, 个人, and spiritual formation; talented, 提交管理员, 教师, and staff; loyal and generous alumni, 父母, and friends; growing success in fundraising; and effective long-range 规划.
Such qualities will be integral to 太阳城网赌平台’s continued success, said Fr. 莱希, as will targeted investments in 教师, 太阳城官网, 和设施, such as the future Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and 社会. These priorities are spelled out in “Ever to Excel: Advancing 太阳城网赌平台’s Mission,” the 10-year strategic plan introduced at last fall’s 召开, 他说.
Fr. 莱希 pointed to the opening section of “Ever to Excel” as an expression of BC’s hopes and ambitions: to be a preeminent Catholic, Jesuit university “dedicated to serious intellectual inquiry and the pursuit of truth; the discovery and transmission of knowledge in ways appropriate to its mission and resources; and quality teaching, 学习, 和服务.”
Lochhead spoke about the University’s budget and 金融 matters, 据最近的报道, 正在进行的, and planned campus construction, including the newly opened Fish Field House and the Schiller Institute. BC enjoyed a successful 金融 year—the 47th consecutive one in which operating revenues exceeded expenses—Lochhead said was attributable to, 除其他因素外, a favorable savings in utilities which reflect 正在进行的 demand management efforts as well as investments in energy conservation projects, and positive results in its experience with self-insured medical claims.
The University’s overall net assets grew by approximately five percent year over year, “further strengthening BC’s already well-capitalized balance sheet,洛克黑德说, who praised 管理员 and staff involved in BC 金融 affairs, as well as those in the Facilities and Information Technology divisions.
“BC is not a place that stands still,” 他说. “I, and the rest of senior leadership, remain focused on ensuring that there is adequate funding capacity to enable the University to pursue its strategic priorities as embodied in ‘Ever to Excel.’”
奎格利, in addition to discussing the implementation of “Ever to Excel,” offered his perspective on the pressures facing higher education—also noting the example of Mt. 艾达——太阳城网赌平台说, given its history of achievement, could be among the institutions providing necessary leadership and direction. He also provided an overview of BC 学术 highlights from the past year, including 教师 and student accomplishments.
Looking back on two decades since he joined the BC 教师, 奎格利 reflected on his initial impressions of the University as a “welcoming community,” embodied by the late William B. Neenan,年代.J. 今天, 他说, BC displays “a sense of responsibility for living up to what has been handed down,” coupled with an “anticipation that BC’s best days still lie ahead.”
—Sean Smith | University Communications | August 2018