I trust you are all enjoying the splendid weather of late September. By now you have settled into the pattern that will be routine for the semester. You may notice the mall is the place to be; it is also a bit more crowded. Yes, we have broken another enrollment record. With 970 first-time freshmen and 104 transfer students, we recorded our second-largest new class ever. The freshman enrollment increased by 5 percent. I am happy to note that students from minority groups constitute 17 percent of the first-year class - a gain of 22 percent in this area. All other programs across the University are well subscribed and retention appears to be strong, thus resulting in the largest enrollment in the history of the University. This reflects a 2.8 percent overall enrollment increase. As of Sept. 21, there were 6,723 students enrolled. We owe a special word of thanks to our Admissions, Financial Aid and Retention team. They had a great year and we all appreciate their efforts on Creighton’s behalf.
Kudos, too, to all who helped make the first weeks flow seamlessly: from Welcome Week, to new student orientation, to the Davis Square dedication, to the Mass of the Holy Spirit, the Omaha Symphony performing at the soccer stadium, and the Centennial Gala for the Law School. Many folks worked well together to provide these impressive events. Thanks to all of you.
You may have seen in the local media that the University has been the recipient of several important gifts in the past weeks. We added two new endowed chairs, one in Business Law and the other in Cancer Research. The Law School also has been gifted a $1 million scholarship endowment and a $4 million gift for the establishment of the Werner Institute for Alternative Dispute Resolution. On Sept. 17, at the Medical School Alumni Dinner, the reunion classes gifted nearly $400,000 for scholarships. As the semester advances, I will be sharing additional information about our "pending" comprehensive campaign.
Ever the busy campus, there are several important events to get on your calendars:
OCT. 7 - 8
The Very Rev. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., superior general of the Society of Jesus, will be our guest on campus. On Oct. 7, Father General will bless the new St. Ignatius statue that graces the mall. He will do this at 4:15 p.m. amidst a University-wide reception. That evening (at 7 p.m.), he will deliver a very important and focused talk entitled, "JESUITS AND LAY PARTNERS: COOPERATING WITH EACH OTHER IN MISSION." His talk will celebrate 125 years of lay-Jesuit partnership in Omaha. It will undoubtedly become a significant statement guiding lay-Jesuit collaboration across this country and beyond. On the next day, Friday, Oct. 8, Fr. Kolvenbach will preside and preach at a public Mass, open to all, in St. John’s at 4 p.m. Please try to join in these wonderful events that mark the official close to Creighton’s 125th anniversary celebrations. On a personal note, I think you will enjoy Fr. Kolvenbach’s intelligence, dry humor and wonderful communication skills.
OCT. 13
The University will sponsor a school-wide "Oktoberfest" on the mall during the lunch hour. Be alert for details.
OCT. 15
Oct.15 is the date for the dedication of the soccer stadium. The dedication will occur between the women’s and men’s games that night. The brief dedication ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. followed by the men’s game at 7:30 p.m. We will try to fill the stadium that night and honor a very special guest. So pencil it on your schedule and await more specific information.
STATUS OF DEAN SEARCHES
As you know there are two vacancies in the decanal ranks. The search committee for the Dean of Dentistry is presently interviewing both internal and external candidates. Dr. Ellee Howell is chair of that committee. At the same time, Dr. Barb Braden is chairing the committee seeking the next dean for the College of Business. A consultant has been engaged and the posting of the position is imminent.
ELECTION YEAR REQUEST
I want to use my office as bully pulpit and encourage you to encourage your students and colleagues to participate in the 2004 presidential election by registering, getting informed and voting. The University offers a host of resources that can assist in this effort. Campus Compact, an organization focused on service-learning (among other foci), has a variety of tools for continuing the dialogue about student civic engagement.
HEALTH BENEFITS UPDATE
Details are being finalized for the 2005 employee health plan. As you have undoubtedly seen and heard in the media, the cost of health insurance coverage is a significant challenge across the country. Increases in the double-digit range continue to be the norm, with no end in sight. Affordability is one of our biggest concerns. While Creighton is not insulated from this situation, we have been able to craft a plan design for 2005 that compares very favorably to other area plans, in a way that keeps the premium increase below double-digits. Look for specific details on the plan design in the upcoming Health Fair and benefits enrollment process.
PARKING
With the beginning of the fall semester comes the inevitable parking challenges. The parking situation on and around campus continues to be monitored very closely. On-campus and nearby construction projects, activity at surrounding schools and businesses, and increases in enrollment and employment all impact the campus parking situation. The one certainty about parking is that changes made to improve the situation for one group come at the expense of another. Some relief is due in the near term however, as the construction workers leave the Criss buildings and the soccer stadium at the end of October. Plans are also moving ahead for a new lot west of the hospital next spring.
All best wishes.
John P. Schlegel, S.J.
President