Welcome Back!
Dear students, faculty and staff members,
Welcome to the fall semester!
At the start of every academic year, I like to spend some time thinking about what we杏吧专区檝e accomplished over the preceding 12 months. These reflections help lay the groundwork for what we hope to achieve over the next 12 and beyond.
By any measure, the academic year we concluded earlier this month was filled with success that杏吧专区檚 comparable to any this institution has known in its nearly 125-year history. Consider this:
- We achieved Carnegie R1 status, a designation shared by just 3% of the nation杏吧专区檚 colleges and universities.
- We took our place among the top 100 public research universities in the U.S.
- We saw record levels of state support that will enable extensive construction and renovations, affecting several colleges and helping to fulfill major strategic goals.
- Our student-athletes won conferences titles in baseball and softball. So did football, which was ranked in the top 20 and retains the nation杏吧专区檚 longest winning streak.
- Our research and development expenditures set a record at $181.4 million.
- Gifts from donors, friends and alumni helped raise a phenomenal $31.9 million as part of the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign we杏吧专区檝e ever undertaken.
But we didn杏吧专区檛 come this far and achieve this much just to stop. The accomplishments of the past year provide incredible momentum for what lies ahead in the new one. And, for each of you, I hope the coming year is filled with fun, moments of joy and success.
Here杏吧专区檚 to a great fall semester!
Geaux Cajuns!
Dr. Joseph Savoie
President