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Sept. 8, 2006 • Volume 15 Number 1

Fr. Leahy: Future of BC a 'Shared Responsibility'

At Convocation, he outlines Master Plan proposals

By Sean Smith
Chronicle Editor

Rev. William P. Leahy, SJ, marked his 10th anniversary year as Boston College president by presenting an update at Wednesday's Convocation on the new University Master Plan - a detailed and, by his own admission, ambitious potential blueprint for the University over the next decade, and beyond.

Fr. Leahy then called upon faculty and administrators to help bring that plan to fruition, and by doing so enable BC to continue striving for institutional excellence while maintaining its Jesuit, Catholic identity and an ethos that stresses care of the individual.

"All of us share responsibility for the future of Boston College, and for ensuring that it is not only an outstanding university but also a place of faith, community and compassion," Fr. Leahy told the audience in Robsham Theater.

Much of Fr. Leahy's presentation described the University's new Master Plan, which will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees at their Sept. 29 meeting and also must be approved by the Boston Redevelopment Authority, and some aspects of a more broad-based strategic plan now under development for BC's academic and student formation missions.

Both undertakings, he noted, have involved considerable discussion and consultation with members of the University community.

Provost and Dean of Faculties Bert Garza, who became the University's top academic officer last year, also gave his first-ever Convocation address.

Garza said his first several months on the job had more than validated his decision to come to BC. He spoke of the "idealism, creativity and intelligence" he has encountered at the University and a "genuine commitment to service" among its faculty, staff and students.

"There is an earnestness about Boston College," said Garza, "in its striving for academic excellence, building a community of scholarship and a dedication to the development of the whole person, intellectually, socially and spiritually.

"I understand these are not new behaviors to BC, but are engrained in the Catholic tradition that led to the world's first great universities, and the unique Jesuit ideals that identified education as the lever with the power to transform the world."

Garza touched on some of the hallmark achievements of Boston College during the past 10 years, such as: the increase in undergraduate applications from 16,501 to 26,584 and financial aid from $35.1 million to $71.7 million; the rise in full-time faculty (586 to 662) and the growth of the endowment from $590 million to $1.4 billion.

"These numbers," he quipped, "are why some of us are able to sleep pretty well at night." Garza said that while finances are hardly irrelevant to the University's future, the presence of outstanding faculty and academic staff will be a major factor. Fortunately, BC continues to attract ever more distinguished scholars, researchers and teachers, he added, and identified several new faces on the faculty: Mary Ann Glynn (CSOM), James Morken (Chemistry), James Morris (Theology), Dr. Anderson Franklin, Sing-Chen Lydia Chiang (Slavic and Eastern Languages), Willie Padilla (Physics) and Stephanie Berzin (GSSW).

He also cited returning BC faculty members who earned outstanding honors in the past year, including Moakley Professor Kay Schlozman and Guggenheim Fellowship winner Prof. Carlo Rotella (English). "BC has a remarkable history, and is experiencing an exciting present," said Garza. "I am glad to be working with you to make a bold future for BC."

Fr. Leahy described the seven strategic directions that have been identified in planning sessions as reflecting areas of potential strength for BC: establish BC as a leader in liberal arts education among US universities; develop a model student formation program; address urgent social issues; emphasize teaching and research in the natural sciences; build on the BC professional schools' reputations and performances; serve as an intellectual and cultural crossroads; and strive to be the leading Catholic university and theological center.

Already, said Fr. Leahy, steps have been taken to realize these goals. He noted such examples as the Academic Advising Center, the Institute on Aging in the 21st Century, the Center for Catholic Education, the Intersections Program, the addition of five new faculty in integrated sciences, the proposed reaffiliation with the Weston Jesuit School of Theology and the new joint degree program in church management.

One major component in these and other aspects of BC's future will be the development and improvement of facilities and other campus resources, Fr. Leahy said. He outlined some potential projects - all proposed in the yet-to-be-approved Master Plan - that, if and when completed, would bring about a significantly different campus.

Among the proposals he noted were: a new humanities building and dining facility in the vicinity of the Campus Green; a new student center on Lower Campus; a connecting bridge between the Lower and Brighton campuses; and graduate housing on Brighton Campus.

However, Fr. Leahy warned, whatever the final draft of such plans might look like, there can be no significant change to BC without a major investment in resources. Hailing the University's progress in fundraising during the past 10-20 years, he sounded the call for more outreach and development efforts. Fr. Leahy added that faculty - who he said are so central to BC's success - must play a role in such initiatives, urging them to "share your vision, work and commitment with alumni and with potential donors. They respond to people who are dedicated to their field and have clear ideas."

Fr. Leahy reflected on what he said were four key tenets of BC's character as it continues its emergence as a major national, and international, university. Institutional excellence "must be our goal in all we do," he said, and a willingness to build partnerships - with individuals or with organizations - that help BC to pursue its academic and spiritual objectives. He also cited attention to Catholic and Jesuit mission and heritage as another critical area - representing "a commitment to a truly liberating education" - as well as the importance of maintaining a campus culture in which ambition and care for another can co-exist.

"These past 10 years have been a privilege for me," concluded Fr. Leahy. "And as we embark upon our new academic year, I ask that you commit your talents, your creativity and your energy to the task of building an even greater university, one faithful to its roots and confident about its future." •