A hope that has been realized

Photo: Peter Morenus

President Philip E. Austin

Those of us who talk about UCONN 2000 often describe it as a “visionary program.” That may be an understatement. UCONN 2000 has been instrumental in reshaping the University of Connecticut into one of the most dynamic institutions of public higher education in the United States. The commitment of state government, the support of Connecticut’s citizens, and the dedication of our own alumni, students, faculty and staff combined at a special moment to give a very good university the possibility of a limitless future.

This edition of Traditions observes the tenth anniversary of UCONN 2000. Our 160,000 alumni, along with the entire University community, can take great pride in what has stemmed from the plan once known, appropriately, as “Project Hope.”

Since 1995 more than 35 new buildings have opened. Another 50 have been extensively renovated. An outstanding faculty has added to its ranks some of the nation’s foremost senior scholars and most promising young professors. We have worked to offer students a living experience whose quality equals that of our academic program. Private financial support to the University has reached record levels. Not surprisingly, UConn is now a school of choice for thousands of Connecticut’s most academically talented students and for an increasing number of students from across the United States.

Three years ago our elected leaders expanded and extended our building program through 2015 with the 21st Century UConn initiative. This reflected their appreciation of the essential role of public investment in higher education and of the impact a strong, growing UConn is making on Connecticut’s economy. The “brain drain” of the early 1990s has been stemmed. The investment has paid off: a recent Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis report notes that for each state dollar spent on UConn, gross state product has increased by $6.18 due, among other things, to the economic contributions made by our graduates as they remain in Connecticut to pursue their goals.

A great public university must not only be rigorous; it must also be financially accessible. We accept our responsibility in this regard as we work to assure that UConn is an affordable option for qualified students of all backgrounds. This year alone the University is devoting $208 million to student financial aid. Our neediest students receive full support, and adequate financial aid is available to middle-income students as well. Approximately 75 percent of UConn students receive some form of financial support.

This spring, we are once again busy presenting UConn’s story to Connecticut’s elected leaders, and we are hearing an encouraging response. Ten years ago, the first billion dollars of UCONN 2000 represented a hope that has now been realized. The hope in 2005 is simply that we receive the resources we need to continue on the path that began a decade ago, as we seek to attain ever greater levels of academic excellence.