Staying on course
to meet vital goals

In the last issue of UConn Traditions magazine I had the pleasure of writing about the approval of 21st Century UConn, the State of Connecticut's $1.3 billion infrastructure investment that continues our building program through 2015 and allows us to complete the work begun with UCONN 2000. I also pointed with great pride to our ongoing success in moving toward Campaign UConn's $300 million private fund-raising goal. With less pleasure, I outlined concerns about difficulties in the University's operating budget, which are largely due to downturns in the economy in Connecticut and across the nation.

For alumni who attended UConn in the early 1970s, the early 1980s, or the early 1990s, budget problems are a familiar story. We have faced them before, weathered them successfully, and emerged with the quality of our program still intact. We never abandoned our teaching, research and service mission; instead, we looked for more creative ways to implement it. We continue to do so today.

The stories in this issue describe some particularly exciting ventures and look back at the past to demonstrate the strength of our heritage. No less significant, though perhaps harder to convey in a publication like this one, is our ongoing effort to cope with fiscal realities. Through careful planning and the pursuit of efficiencies wherever they can be achieved, we are making optimal use of resources available to us. Building on the progress of recent years, we are attracting external support for research, partnering with the corporate community and with government in programs of public value that enhance our resource base, and continuously expanding our level of philanthropic support. We initiated these steps long before the current fiscal crisis, and our success in each area is helping alleviate the effects of budget reductions.

Across Connecticut and, increasingly, beyond our state's borders, UConn is rightly perceived as an institution with a great history that is building on its history by making sustained and

dramatic progress on multiple fronts. That continues to be the case today. Applications are up significantly at the same time our applicant pool continues to increase in academic strength and diversity. Our faculty's scholarship enhances the fund of human knowledge and attracts worldwide attention (as witness some of the stories in this issue). The quality of life on campus is enhanced not just with magnificent new buildings but also with new programs and student activities. Our athletic program succeeds not only in winning games but also in winning the respect and affection of the entire state. We continue to expand our outreach and community service, both at Storrs and the regional campuses. Even in a time of significant challenge, we are clearly on target in meeting vital goals.

The University of Connecticut has many assets, and the presence of a large, active and enthusiastic network of alumni and other friends is high on the list. We look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead, and we appreciate your active and enthusiastic support.