Dear Alfred University Campus Community,
Welcome to this inaugural issue of the e-newsletter, "From Z to AU." We will publish this a few times each year with highlights of campus activity and news about alumni and friends of our University.
Over the past several weeks, we were pleased to celebrate the members of our Class of 2023 earning their Alfred University degrees. Their commitment to education and to pursuing lives of great purpose is commendable. Their joy also was palpable—especially on account of finally being able to enjoy the full benefits of an Alfred University education this academic year and after navigating the challenges associated with COVID in prior years.
In August, we will welcome one of our largest Main Campus classes, now totaling 518 deposits for new undergraduate students – more than 25 percent larger than we have averaged for entering classes during the past three years. This milestone is a testament to the strength of our University’s community, as so many of you helped recruit the members of the incoming class through events on campus as well as at different off-campus locations.
If you’re on campus, you have no doubt seen the buzz of activity in terms of some significant renovations to our residence halls, educational spaces, common areas, athletic facilities, and dining areas. These will all be completed by the time our students move in and start their classes. As always, philanthropic support is playing an integral role in making the improvements possible. We are deeply grateful for that support.
Also, during this summer, many of our staff will be involved in strategic planning activities that lay the groundwork for future successes with respect to helping our students realize their purpose. We are on an exciting path to seize new opportunities in education, research, and service, as well as greater visibility in New York State and across the globe for our positive impacts.
We are expanding our University footprint, while maintaining what is distinctly special about Alfred University. We are seeing the benefits of promoting our core value of Inclusivity and our commitment to enhancing our University’s two key points of distinction: Intersections across our wide-ranging curricular and co-curricular offerings; and Mentoring/Student Engagement.
Please accept my gratitude for all that you have done to advance our University’s mission. The successes of the 2022-2023 year would not have been possible without your involvement and support.
Lastly, this note is to ask you to consider helping in four specific ways:
- Let Jonathan Kent, our vice president for Enrollment Management (kentj@4000803308.com) know if you are connected with relevant high school key influencers (counselors, teachers, coaches) who can help us keep our enrollment momentum going.
- Contact Jessica Doner, director of the Career Development Center (doner@4000803308.com) if you are aware of hiring opportunities for our students or graduates.
- Provide Alfred Fund support that allows us to focus on the greatest needs when it comes to enhancing the Student Experience at our University.
- Establish a need-based scholarship through our Saxon Circle that will be matched by our University dollar-for-dollar for a promising student, thereby promoting inclusivity on our campus and paying it forward to the next generation of Alfredians.
Happy Summer and Fiat Lux!
Mark
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