Spring 2003

A New Year's update on progress at Gonzaga

(Originally published in the Spring 2003 edition of GONZAGA, the alumni publication.)

Since there is so much happening at Gonzaga, I will interrupt my miniseries on Jesuit education to give you a brief update.

Our academic programs have accomplished much in the last five months. The varsity debate team was ranked No. 1 in the nation, surpassing University of Texas, USC, and Northwestern. Gonzaga also was ranked by the Princeton Review among the top 10 percent of undergraduate universities in the nation. U.S. News & World Report ranked Gonzaga as the fourth best university in the West in its "Universities' Master's" classification. The School of Engineering has ranked among the top 30 of all engineering programs without Ph.D. programs for the past five years (U.S. News & World Report). The School of Business Administration's undergraduate business program is ranked in the top 10 percent of all undergraduate business schools in the nation, confirmed Dean Clarence "Bud" Barnes. The School of Law ranks in the third tier nationally. What can I say? Our faculty, staff and students have performed marvelously.

The University reached its all-time high enrollment of 5,589 during Fall 2002 (3,811 undergraduates, 570 law, 1,144 graduate students, and 64 enrolled in noncredit programs). The average entering undergraduate GPA for freshmen in Fall 2002 was 3.63 and the average SAT was 1,166. The law and graduate student qualifications were higher than ever. We had a significant wait-list for undergraduate admission last year. The wait-list is likely to increase as application rates have increased by 11 percent from last year.

Gonzaga will continue to promote the children of our alumni in our admission process, for they, through you, carry on the great spirit of care, co-responsibility, faith, service, and fun that we all experienced and loved as GU students.

Most universities with enrollment growth also experience retention decreases. This has not been the case here. Our retention rates have steadily increased by more than 1.5 percent per year the last four years. Our graduation rates also have increased. The only way of interpreting this statistic is that our students are happy. Needless to say, this is a tribute to our faculty, staff, Student Life personnel, as well as our remarkable students.

Gonzaga is in the midst of a major building campaign. In addition to the Corkery apartments, we completed two new residence halls -- Dillon Hall and Goller Hall -- for freshmen and sophomores. These halls have twice as many bathrooms as the older dorms, and modular living with space for every six students. We had nothing like this when I was a freshman here!

The University Chapel has been beautifully renovated. The students love it and daily Mass attendance has increased dramatically (see article Fall 2002 GONZAGA). Also, we completed a renovation of the first floor of the Herak Engineering Building and added 12,000 square feet of instructional space.

We are completing our new 45,000-square-foot science building. The superstructure is now complete and the construction team is building the walls and interior. It will be ready for classes in August. We will then completely renovate the Hughes science building and build a greenhouse on its south side.

A new student fitness center also is under construction and will be completed on March 1. This 12,000-square-foot facility (featuring various modern instruments of self-inflicted torture) was the students' first priority. It will be fully staffed, and open 107 hours per week.

Plans are being finished for a new 20,000-square-foot wing of the Jepson Center for the School of Business Administration. Construction could begin in June.

Also, we are completing plans for a new 6,000-seat arena which will not only be beautiful and comfortable, but, we hope, intimidating to opponents. The Kennel Club will be 5 feet from the floor and the angle of decline will be sharp enough to amplify the cheers. Thanks to all the Trustees, Regents, benefactors, athletic staff, basketball coaching staff, and our boosters who have worked so hard to make this possible.

The five mission areas continue to grow. In the faith area, the renovated Chapel has provided a base for several new programs. More than 700 students participate in the 10 p.m. Sunday Mass (at St. Aloysius Church), more than 400 attend the 7:30 p.m. Sunday Mass (at St. Al's), and more than 200 attend the 8:30 p.m. Sunday Mass (at University Chapel). The Search and Agape retreat programs are expanding and the Ignatian Retreat Program (the crown jewel) has been an incredibly deep and moving experience. Our service programs have moved from 15,000 volunteer student hours per year to 35,000 hours during the last four years. The student and staff leadership in these programs and University Ministry has been overwhelming.

Educating People the World Needs Most: The Campaign for Gonzaga University is going well and providing funds for the aforementioned facilities and for endowments for scholarships. I will update you on our endowments and scholarships in another issue of GONZAGA. Thank you very much for your incredible generosity to our students and the University. The students express their thanks in so many different ways from a simple grin to the exclamation "I love it here!," to hours of generous service in the community. I join them in profound thanks.