Welcome From the President

WELCOME TO ALL NEW AND RETURNING STUDENTS
FOR THE 2005-2006 ACADEMIC YEARWe all have reason to feel proud and excited as we watch the University continue to grow and make improvements. Our enrollment is climbing, between six and nine percent a year, depending on the program, which makes us Connecticut’s fastest-growing four-year educational institution. Our plan is to continue to grow until we reach 4,000 students, but we also recognize that such growth will need to be supported by additional resources for faculty and students. We need to work together to balance our growth in numbers with our commitment to pursuing academic excellence and improved facilities.
The changes you see in some of the classrooms, residence halls, on the Ped Mall, and in the gym are just the first stages of a process that will continue over the next several years. The other day, the Mayor of Bridgeport came down to help dedicate the renovated plaza at the Arnold Bernhard Center, which will now be available for outdoor events and activities. Soon, the weight training rooms in the Wheeler Recreation Center and in the Hubbell Gym will have new, state-of-the-art equipment. Our most exciting project will be building our own on-campus athletic field, initially for men’s and women’s soccer, with other field sports to follow.
This year we begin our new five-year strategic plan, which focuses on three strategic priorities: increasing academic excellence, improving institutional service, and building strength for the future. We all want to make the University work better for every member of the faculty and student body. To do that, we need your constructive involvement, feedback, and support. I look forward to working with you and getting to know you better.