Building upon a successful program

Photo: Peter Morenus

President Philip E. Austin

The past months have been especially active for the University. As the pages of this issue of Traditions demonstate, we continued to move ahead as a center of excellence in teaching, research and service. We also addressed problems that emerged in the UCONN 2000 construction program, rectifying difficulties that came to light as we sought to build a 21st century university at an extraordinarily rapid pace.

No one can dispute the achievement of UCONN 2000 in creating a statewide campus that students, faculty, alumni and the citizens of our state can point to with pride. But deficiencies in some important projects pointed to the need for an enhanced management structure and strengthened processes of inspection and reporting. We have put these in place and, working with the Governor and General Assembly, are exploring every possible means of assuring that UCONN 2000 and, now 21st Century UConn, fulfills the expectations we all share.

We continue to be reminded of how far we have all come in a relatively short time. The most important accomplishment of UCONN 2000 is the fulfillment of its original intent — to rebuild the University’s infrastructure, strengthen teaching and scholarship, stop the flow of high achieving students to colleges outside of Connecticut and cultivate a culture of private giving among alumni and friends of UConn.                  

That has, in fact, been the result. Recent verification that UCONN 2000 has helped stop Connecticut’s “brain drain” is contained in a fall report to the state Board of Governors of Higher Education, which shows that 58 percent of Connecticut high school graduates who go directly on to college now remain in the state, compared with 48 percent in 1992. The report says that among all colleges in the state, UConn enrolled the largest number of Connecticut high school graduates. Just as significant, UConn attracts high achieving out-of-state students who in large number later choose to remain in Connecticut. Our latest class of freshman reflects the increasing quality of our student body.

Several stories in this edition of Traditions provide more personalized evidence that UCONN 2000 continues to be a foundation for success. Outstanding students such as Jessica Kukielka and Eric Oligino recently received highly selective scholarships and fellowships. Various members of our faculty were recently honored for their teaching and scholarship. Prof. William C. Stwalley in physics won the Connecticut Medal of Science and Prof. David Miller in psychology and Prof. Karen Bullock in social work also earned recognition.

UConn’s doctoral program in kinesiology in the Neag School of Education has recently been ranked first in the nation. Prof. Michael J. Pikal in pharmacy has been named the first Pfizer Distingished Endowed Chair in Pharmaceutical Technology.

These are just a few shining examples of the high level of achievement that we expect to continue over the next 10 years with the support of the University community, including alumni across the nation, and the citizens of Connecticut, whom we serve each day.