In my message in the last issue of UConn Traditions, I addressed the positive economic impact of the University and its increasing role as a magnet for bright and ambitious college-bound young people. The outstanding quality of the class that joined us in the intervening months provides even more compelling evidence of our strong standing in higher education and demonstrates once again that the University is a prudent choice for sustained, targeted investment by the state of Connecticut.

The first days of the new semester were a time of special celebration, as we welcomed Governor John G. Rowland and Connecticut's bipartisan legislative leadership--and many of their colleagues--to South Campus at Storrs for the formal signing of the 21^st Century UConn initiative, which extends UCONN 2000 through 2015 and adds $1.3 billion to the state's initial $1 billion investment. The overwhelming, bipartisan legislative support for 21^st Century UConn represents both a commitment to the University's future and, we believe, an endorsement of our implementation and the impact of UCONN 2000.

With less fanfare but equal focus on the University's ongoing transformation, over the summer we adopted a tough but responsible operating budget. Like many other states, Connecticut is experiencing a serious revenue shortfall that has led to a reduction in the level of funding the University was to receive. State support represents the largest single element of our resource base. A decade ago, state support represented 50 percent of our budget. Today, that figure is approximately 40 percent. We have instituted an operating budget that calls for sacrifice but allows us to continue our progress, enhance key academic and research programs, and hold tuition increases to an affordable rate.

The sense of a University making fundamental progress on multiple dimensions continued this summer as we opened new or extensively renovated buildings and continued work on other major construction projects at Storrs, the Law School, and several regional campuses. As in each of the last several years, we welcomed outstanding new members to complement our impressive faculty. Our research program continued to grow in external support and in terms of its contribution to the quality of life and the economic strength of our state and nation. In a turbulent economic climate, we nevertheless remained on target to meet, if not exceed, Campaign UConn's $300-million fundraising goal.

As this issue of UConn magazine attests, in a time of challenge and opportunity the University of Connecticut continues to make significant progress in key areas of focus. We have every reason to expect that, with the support of our alumni and all other key components of the University community, that will continue to be the case in the year to come.