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Susquehanna University Annual Report 2000 | |||||||||||||
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President's Letter
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University Highlights
A Fond Farewell
Joel Cunningham's 21 years of distinguished service at Susquehanna University included five years as vice president for academic affairs, followed by 16 years as president. In July 2000, he became vice chancellor and president of the University of the South, a college and seminary of the Episcopal Church in Sewanee, Tenn.. The Executive Committee of Susquehanna's board of directors appointed as acting president Sara Kirkland, vice president of university relations since 1985. As Susquehanna's 13th president, Cunningham built an enduring legacy. Under his leadership the university's endowment increased from $4 million to more than $92 million; the percentage of faculty holding doctorates grew from 65 percent in 1985 to 92 percent today. Nearly 10 percent of the faculty are members of minority groups and 38 percent are women. The size, quality and diversity of the student body have also grown. In 1985, there were 1,400 students; today there are 1,682, and strategic plans call for gradual growth to 1,800 students by 2004. Cunningham also helped raise the quality of academic programs, library and information technology services, and the physical plant. All major academic and residence halls underwent renovation or major expansion during his tenure. Thanks in part to his leadership, Susquehanna University is recognized in many guidebooks to selective colleges as one of the best small universities in the Northeast. A Hearty Welcome
At a special meeting held on October 1, 2000, Susquehanna University's board of directors voted to elect as the University's 14th president L. Jay Lemons, chancellor since 1992 of the University of Virginia's College at Wise. He is expected to begin his tenure at SU during the spring 2001 semester. His leadership at Wise resulted in a redefinition of the institution's mission, the implementation of a policy of selective admissions, improved faculty salaries, and the creation of a comprehensive student life program. The college successfully conducted its first fundraising campaign, surpassing its $13 million goal 18 months ahead of its scheduled December 2000 close. Major capital improvements have totaled $40 million and in the coming months, ground will be broken for a new science building and student center. In 1999 and again this year, U.S. News & World Report ranked U.Va.-Wise as the number-two public liberal arts college in the South. Lemons earned a B.A. in philosophy and a B.S. in physical education and health education, both with teacher certification, from Nebraska Wesleyan University. He earned his M.Ed. in educational psychology and college student development from the University of Nebraska in 1985 and the Ph.D. in higher education administration in 1991 from the University of Virginia. Prior to becoming chancellor of the College at Wise, he served as chief of staff to University of Virginia President John Casteen. Lemons and his wife, Marsha, are the parents of four children, Olivia, age 7; Maggie, age 5; Thomas, age 3; and Meredith, age 1. Susquehanna's Presidential Search Committee selected Lemons as its top candidate from more than 100 applicants following an intensive, national search that began last January. He and his wife visited campus September 17-20 to meet with students, faculty, staff, alumni and board and community members. The search committee subsequently recommended him to the Executive Committee of the board prior to the October 1 vote. Enrollment Growth On Track Susquehanna University opened its 143rd academic year in August 2000, with 1,682 full-time students, topping last year's record total of 1,639. This marks the university's largest enrollment for the sixth year in a row as Susquehanna moves toward its strategic goal of enrolling a student body of 1,800 by the year 2004. The Class of 2004 comprises 532 new students, including 492 first-year, 30 transfer and 10 international exchange students. The new class was chosen from the largest applicant pool on record. One-half ranked in the top fifth of their high school class and nearly 90 percent ranked in the top two-fifths. Forty new students enrolled as members of Susquehanna's Honors Program and 43 students, or eight percent of the incoming class, are members of minority groups. The new class represents 21 states and eight countries. International Experiences Abound Seventy-two students took advantage of semester-long study abroad opportunities in 1999-2000, including a record 29 business majors who participated in the fifth annual London Program during fall semester. In addition, 11 elementary education majors traveled to Puerto Rico in August 1999 for research and field work, and 10 students traveled to Ireland over spring break visiting the homes of poet William Yeats and writer James Joyce, as well as other literary sites. Thirty-eight members of the University Choir toured Europe in May and June 2000, presenting 12 concerts in cathedrals and chapels and visiting historic sites. Also in June, Assistant Professor of History George Wei led 10 students, the dean and four faculty in the Sigmund Weis School of Business on a 19-day trip to China. Part of a new two-credit course designed to acquaint students with Chinese history, culture and economics, the trip also resulted in a memo of understanding for broad student-faculty collaboration with Nanjing Normal University. Generous Gifts Boost Fundraising Results
Ongoing generosity of Susquehanna alumni and friends pushed the Susquehanna 2000: The Next Challenge capital campaign to a near-final total on June 30, 2000, of more than $58.5 million, or $16.5 million beyond the $42 million goal. The campaign met the terms of a $1 million challenge grant from The Kresge Foundation and a $350,000 challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Susquehanna University Fund in 1999-2000 raised $1,636,713, a 19 percent increase over the previous year's results. The Degenstein Foundation of Sunbury, Pa., made several significant commitments in 1999-2000 including: funding for a new $7.5 million music and arts center; a summer theatre program; equipment for a mobile environmental laboratory; and a scholarship program, SU4U, which will help needy students from the Susquehanna Valley pursue a college education. Other major corporate gifts included a $95,000 grant from the Merck Company Foundation to underwrite the purchase of equipment for scientific research of the Centralia, Pa. underground mine fire. Insights Shared and Discussed The campus community welcomed a number of distinguished guest lecturers in 1999-2000, including Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow John Wallach, founder and president of the conflict resolution program Seeds of Peace. Other noteworthy visitors included Director of UCLA's Center for Jewish Studies David N. Myers; Dr. Katya Gibel Azoulay, chair of the Africana studies program at Grinnell College; and Dr. Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, director of the Center for Israeli and Jewish Studies at Columbia University. The Visiting Writers Series featured poet Tony Hoagland, and writers Dagoberto Gilb, Richard Bausch, and Dinty Moore. The Sigmund Weis Memorial Lecture was delivered by William G. Shipman, principal at State Street Global Advisors and a recognized authority on social security privatization. The Alice Pope Shade Lecture featured world-renowned theologian and ecumenist Dr. Gunther Gassman. Last May's commencement ceremonies recognized with honorary degrees outgoing President Joel Cunningham who delivered the main address; Trudy Cunningham, former associate dean of engineering at Bucknell University, who was baccalaureate speaker; retired Federated Department Stores executive Lawrence M. Isaacs '43; community leader Louise Kresge '45 Isaacs; and retired ophthalmologist Dr. Clyde H. Jacobs. Experience Counts Employers consider experiential education a primary criterion for hiring entry-level college graduates. The Center for Career Services reports that each year more Susquehanna students are returning from summer internships with employment opportunities already offered following graduation. During the 1999-2000 academic year, students completed 210 internships and 83 short-term externships, representing a 13 percent increase over last year. Ninety-seven percent of the Class of 1999 reported being employed or enrolled in graduate or professional school within six months of commencement. AACSB Reaffirms Quality of Business School
The Sigmund Weis School of Business received the welcome news last spring that its accreditation by the AACSB - The International Association for Management Education - had been reaffirmed. Strengths cited by the visiting review team included the new Apfelbaum Hall; the faculty's commitment to students; leadership from the dean; support from the business community and from alumni; the internship program, and the London Program. Business school enrollment leapt forward, with a fall 2000 enrollment of 482 compared to 346 in the fall of 1998. Susquehanna Recognized in College Guides The quality and value of a Susquehanna University education continue to receive recognition in a number of guides to selective colleges. While campus visits remain the best way to choose a college, students and parents often consult guides to help narrow the search. They provide information in such areas as academic reputation, student retention, faculty, student selectivity and alumni giving. Susquehanna is cited in Yale's Insider's Guide to the Colleges, The Fiske Guide to Colleges, The Princeton Review's Student Advantage Guide to the Best 311 Colleges, Barron's Best Buys in College Education and Compact Guide to Colleges and U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges." In addition, Yahoo! Internet Life's online magazine ranked Susquehanna #2 among 100 "most wired" Baccalaureate II Colleges. Evolution of Technology An information technology plan was completed that addresses short- and long-term technology strategies for the learning and teaching environment of the University and supporting administrative systems. A major redesign of the University's Web site (www.susqu.edu) was implemented successfully over the summer of 2000. The new site offers improved navigation and content, better use of color and photographs, a new interactive campus tour, and online forms to help alumni stay in touch with the University. The Blough-Weis library staff completed the smooth implementation of the new SIRSI online catalog, which brings with it a Web interface and links local and distant electronic and print information resources. In addition, the library collection grew from 259,750 to more than 265,600 volumes. Usage patterns last year show that most students now prefer to use the more efficient electronic databases rather than paper format indexes, and will search more extensively with access to electronic tools. The library also reported significant use of databases by students in their residence halls well after midnight when the library is closed. Service with a Smile
There is much to celebrate as the Susquehanna community recognizes the 25th anniversary of the student volunteer Project House System in 2000-2001. In the past year alone, more than 1,030 students, or nearly two-thirds of the student body, were involved in a variety of community service activities including service learning courses, Greeks in Service, and many other organized group and individual efforts. Students spent more than 48,580 hours volunteering their time in the community, including 20,290 hours by members of the award-winning Project House System. About 550 students volunteered at least 10 hours each week in the community through 14 service-learning courses and practicum field experiences. For the second year, Susquehanna students traveled to Costa Rica and Nicaragua for 12 days over winter break to serve mission sites and medical clinics, led by University Chaplain Mark Wm. Radecke. Art, Music, and Theatre Showcased Many Talents Kicking off the Lore Degenstein Gallery schedule last fall was an eye-catching exhibition of Christopher Ries' glass sculpture, followed by "Buggies for America: Development of the Horse-Drawn Light Carriage in Central Pennsylvania." Spring semester exhibitions featured electronic paintings by John Fischer, selections from the gallery's collection, and historic quilts and folk art from the Mahantongo Valley. The campus and surrounding community were treated to an exhilarating performance by pianist Claude Frank and violinist Pamela Frank, the internationally renown father-daughter duo whose concert was made possible by the Stella Freeman Weis Cultural Endowment. Notable events in the Artist Series included the Tamburitzans of Duquesne University, The String Trio of New York, A Christmas Carol, the Martha Graham Dance Ensemble, The Pittsburgh Camerata, The River City Brass Band, and fiddler-mandolinist Peter Ostroushko and guitarist Dean Magraw. Susquehanna students and faculty also presented their talents in numerous choral and instrumental groups and in such theatre productions as What the Butler Saw; Kiss Me, Kate; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; A Country Wife; and Romeo and Juliet. New Curricular Options
Two new programs approved last year are being offered for the first time in the fall 2000 semester. A health care studies minor provides a new option for traditional premed students and those interested in other aspects of health care such as allied health, public health, clinical psychology and counseling. Students study basic biological and medical principles related to human health and disease, explore ethical issues associated with working in the health care system and learn about the role of health care providers in the business of health care. The program includes two internship experiences. Another new program offers Susquehanna students the opportunity to pursue a joint degree program with Temple University School of Dental Medicine. Campus Master Facilities Plans In 1999-2000, significant progress was made on several new construction and renovation projects. A new baseball field was constructed at the southwest part of campus and the new 3,500-seat Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium was completed in time for the Crusaders' 2000 season. Construction of the Clyde H. Jacobs Fitness Center and renovation of O.W. Houts and Alumni gymnasiums began, with the fitness center scheduled for completion at the end of October 2000. Construction of a new field house will continue through summer 2001. Plans for a new music and art center were also developed with construction anticipated to begin within two to three years, and possibly as early as spring 2001. Renovations to Pine Lawn, the President's home, began this past summer. With the completion of these projects, the university will have essentially carried out its campus master plan. To prepare for future long-range facilities needs, an ad hoc subcommittee of Susquehanna's board of directors reviewed and approved in spring 2000 a proposal to launch a new study of campus facilities needs. A draft master plan, anticipating needs for the next decade and beyond, was developed over the summer and fall with input from the campus community. It will be presented to the board for action at its February 2001 meeting. Athletics Success Varsity, club and intramural athletics continued to play an important role in the quality of student life at Susquehanna. Despite some disruptions due to construction, athletic teams fared well in the 1999-2000 season. The football team had its 14th straight non-losing season and won its second straight Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League title. Field hockey advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament and had its first All-American in freshman Leah Bailor. Men's swimming finished fifth at the MAC Championships, which Susquehanna hosted for the first time in the program's 21-year history. The team also had its first two individual MAC champions, senior Steve Fischer and freshman Luke Peterson. The women's team equaled its best finish at the MAC Championships, placing third out of 11 teams. Adam Ressler won the national championship in the javelin, which was SU's second javelin championship in three years. The Crusader golf team won its fifth-straight MAC team championship and advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
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