President William P. Leahy, SJ
Fr. Leahy: BC 'Stronger, More Competitive' Despite Economic Crisis
At University Convocation Boston College President urges faculty and staff to “think anew and act anew”
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Speaking at Wednesday’s University Convocation, President William P. Leahy, SJ, said that despite the national economic downturn, Boston College had emerged from the past year as a “stronger, more competitive university.”During the previous 12 months, Fr. Leahy told the Robsham Theater audience, the University had moved forward on its master and strategic plans, launched its most ambitious capital campaign to date, enacted the lowest tuition rate increase in 35 years (2.8 percent) while increasing student financial aid by 7.4 percent, and had avoided laying off staff while continuing to hire more faculty.
But Fr. Leahy warned that last year’s financial crisis had created or exacerbated some “harsh realities” for institutions of higher education, and — invoking a phrase from Abraham Lincoln’s 1862 address to Congress — would require BC to “think anew and act anew.”
“We must take a close, hard look at all aspects of our operation — academic, administrative, fundraising, and facilities — and make them more efficient, effective and viable,” he said.
The event also included talks by Executive Vice President Patrick Keating, who offered an overview of the University’s administrative and infrastructural plans, and Provost and Dean of Faculties Cutberto Garza, who discussed the progress of BC’s academic efforts — including the recruitment of its strongest freshman class in history — and plans to hire 43 more faculty this year.
In addition, Convocation served as an introduction to Fr. Anthony Penna in his new role as director of campus ministry. Fr. Penna — who was appointed to the position this past summer after serving 17 years as a campus minister — offered the invocation prior to Fr. Leahy’s remarks.
Other notable academic and administrative changes announced at Convocation included the appointments of David Quigley as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Ruth McRoy to the Donahue/ DiFelice Endowed Professorship in the Graduate School of Social Work, Michael Naughton to the Ferris Professorship, James Bernauer, SJ, to the Kraft Professorship and Mary Crane to the Rattigan Professorship. The retirement of Vice President for Information Technology Marian Moore, effective at the end of the calendar year, also was announced.
Reviewing events and trends from the past year, Fr. Leahy noted that last fall BC was still involved in seeking approval for its Institutional Master Plan from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and other city agencies — a task that proved successful, he said, crediting Vice President for Governmental and Community Affairs Thomas Keady and others at BC who aided in the process.
Last October, only weeks after the financial crisis exploded, BC launched the public phase of its $1.5 billion “Light the World” campaign, Fr. Leahy recalled. Despite “obvious challenges,” he said, the campaign has resulted in commitments of nearly $600 million in cash and pledges. Alumni giving to BC increased this year by three points to nearly 28 percent from the previous year, he added and 42 percent of the fifth-year reunion class made a commitment, compared to 28 percent a year ago.
The University also continued to advance the academic and financial priorities in its Strategic Plan, Fr. Leahy said, and remains “one of a handful of private, national universities that are need-blind and that meet the full demonstrated need of accepted undergraduates.”
But the significant drop in the University’s endowment, 19.4 percent ($360 million), and the impact of the economic downturn on families of college students, as well as on alumni and other potential benefactors, will require a thoughtful assessment of, and improvements to, BC’s programs, policies and resources, he said.
“It is clear that we have opportunities and challenges before us, and it is also the case that we have a history of emerging stronger from difficulties. We are so fortunate to have generous and committed alumni and friends, a vibrant campus culture, and faculty and staff who are accomplished and dedicated to Boston College and its continued success. I am confident that we, the Boston College community, will deal sensitively and appropriately with the challenges that lie ahead.”
Keating and Garza elaborated on several aspects of the administrative, academic, financial and operational trends noted by Fr. Leahy.
Touching on capital projects as outlined in the master plan, Keating said the School of Theology and Ministry had recently moved to its new location at 9 Lake Street on the Brighton Campus, and that residences for 72 Jesuit faculty and students are planned for Foster Street by next fall. Design work will begin this fall on the Stokes Academic Building, the relocation of More Hall staff to Brighton Campus, and the construction of a new undergraduate residence hall on the former More Hall site.
Keating also noted that the University’s initiative on sustainability and conservation had resulted in an energy savings of $1.4 million — an accomplishment he said was due in no small part to the University community.
Garza said the University had demonstrated its commitment to its academic mission in hiring 49 new faculty during 2008-09 — the most in a single year — despite gloomy economic conditions. The dedication to scholarly and formational excellence, along with BC’s high national profile — as reflected in recent US News and Forbes magazine rankings — helped the University attract its strongest freshman class to date, he said: the mean SAT score of Class of 2013 was 11 points higher than the previous class, compared to the more common two to three-point increases seen in past years.
The coming year will see searches for an additional 43 new faculty, Garza said, and continuing efforts on the part of Admissions, Enrollment Management and Student Services to recruit and retain academically strong students, while sustaining “our steadily improving competitiveness in the areas of need-blind admission and meeting full demonstrated need.”
Sean Smith can be reached at sean.smith.1@bc.edu