ARCHIVES
2000 Annual Report
1999 Annual Report
1998 Annual Report
1997 Annual Report
1996 Annual Report

Record-Setting Enrollment

A record-breaking incoming class selected from the largest applicant pool in Susquehanna's history pushed the University's total enrollment to an all-time high of 1,821 students in the fall of 2001. Susquehanna welcomed 574 new first-year students in the class of 2005 plus 30 transfers and four exchange students. The new students hail from 19 states and six countries. More than half the first-year students ranked in the top fifth of their high school classes, and almost 90 percent were ranked in the top two-fifths. The average of their SAT scores sits more than 130 points above the national average. Fifty-three students were accepted into the University's Honors Program. The total enrollment has surpassed the 1,800 goal in the University's strategic plan two years ahead of schedule. To accommodate the larger student body and continue to provide high quality programs and services, Susquehanna has added new faculty and staff positions. The University also constructed three new residence halls in the Sassafras complex and purchased a small block of apartments on Liberty Alley just off University Avenue.

We're in Good Company

U.S. News & World Report's 2002 "America's Best Colleges" guide lists Susquehanna among the Best National Liberal Arts Colleges, which include the best 218 institutions for undergraduate learning in the country. Susquehanna has been included in the national list for the first time following the recent reclassification of American colleges and universities by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Susquehanna had been ranked by U.S. News as number one in a top ten list of best regional liberal arts colleges in the northeast for seven straight years prior to 2001. Susquehanna is also consistently listed in other guides to selective colleges including Peterson's Competitive Colleges, Yale's Insider's Guide to the Colleges, The Fiske Guide to Colleges, The Princeton Review's Student Advantage Guide to the Best 331 Colleges, Barron's Best Buys in College Education and Compact Guide to Colleges.

Arlin M. Adams Center for Law and Society

A new interdisciplinary Center for Law and Society has been established at Susquehanna University in honor of prominent jurist Arlin M. Adams H'85. The center will provide a major additional learning and experiential resource for students, faculty, visiting lecturers and members of the community. The program will strengthen the university's legal studies, pre-law and interdisciplinary programs. A key component will be a lectureship designed to attract prominent leaders and scholars to speak on topics such as ethics, technology, privacy issues, taxation, constitutional law, and death and dying. Judge Adams will deliver the inaugural lecture on March 18, 2002. The center will also support opportunities for Susquehanna students through internship programs, field experiences, and independent study research projects in social and criminal justice. The family of Sigfried and Janet Weis, the Degenstein Foundation of Sunbury, Pa., and the Annenberg Foundation have provided funding to establish the center.

Internship and Career Success

Ninety-six percent of the Class of 2000 reported employment or entry into graduate or professional school within six months of graduation. Seventeen percent of the class - including 28 percent of the graduates from the School of Natural and Social Sciences - entered graduate or professional school. The University's Center for Career Services reported a 100 percent increase in face-to-face on-campus opportunities for students to speak with employers about jobs and internships - either through on-campus interviews or a new Employer Fair. The center also added new workshops in job search basics, salary negotiation and international job search and staged a second Science Career Fair. During the past 12 months, Susquehanna students completed 64 externships and 130 internships registered through the center. A new Susquehanna Alumni Career Team (ACT) database has been launched to connect alumni and undergraduates and facilitate sharing of information on jobs, internships, externships, advice, and/or networking and introductions.

Volunteer Spirit Thrives

The long-standing campus tradition of volunteer service continues to thrive at the University, providing service to the campus and surrounding community and enhanced leadership and learning opportunities for Susquehanna students. More than 1,100 students contributed more than 51,060 hours - the equivalent of approximately 25 years of work - during 2000-2001. The year marked the 25th anniversary of the University's award-winning Project House volunteer system, which saw 324 students in 15 Project Houses contribute 22,680 hours. Nearly 400 students in eight fraternity and sorority chapters working together as Greeks in Service contributed 19,152 hours. Another 476 students volunteered at least ten hours each in 11 service learning courses in accounting, marketing, education and psychology.

International Study Around the Globe

Once again, study abroad opportunities in 2000-2001 took Susquehanna students to every continent but Antarctica. One hundred students - the equivalent of 26 percent of the junior class -- studied abroad. Seventy-five students participated in semester or year-long programs, including the London semester sponsored by the University's Sigmund Weis School of Business. Fifteen students and six Susquehanna faculty traveled to China on a two-week travel/study tour in June to explore possible future academic exchanges. Two faculty and ten students spent two and a half weeks in Australia in the latest in a series of University Focus programs combining interdisciplinary coursework among the sciences, humanities, business and the arts with short-term travel/study abroad. Five Susquehanna voice majors participated in a five-week opera and Italian-language immersion program in Italy this summer.

Strong Year for School of Business

Fall of 2001 marks the fourth straight year of growth for the University's Sigmund Weis School of Business, one of the few undergraduate-only schools of business to be accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Enrollment has grown steadily from 311 in fall of 1997 to the current 518.

Twenty-nine students studied abroad in the school's semester in London program in the fall of 2000. The popular option has been expanded to include both fall and spring semesters in 2001-2002. Thanks to ongoing support of alumni and friends, the school's internship program this summer placed a record 100 students or 93 percent of rising seniors. J.P. Morgan's Wilmington, Del., office and Prudential Investments have designated the Sigmund Weis School as a "premium recruiting destination."

Honorary Degrees and Honored Guests

John C. Bogle, founder of the Vanguard Group, one of the nation's largest mutual fund companies, addressed graduates and families at Susquehanna University's 143rd commencement ceremonies. Susquehanna conferred honorary degrees upon Bogle, former Susquehanna chaplain and newly named St. Olaf College President Christopher M. Thomforde, and Sean Matthew Deibler '69, founder of The Music Group of Philadelphia.

Fidelity Investments Executive Vice President David L. Liebrock '78 discussed the impact of technology on retail and wholesale investing and investment management as the featured speaker at the University's Annual Sigmund Weis Memorial Lecture. Gregory Fulkerson, professor of violin at Oberlin Conservatory, performed with the Susquehanna University Chamber Orchestra and also presented a masterclass. Visiting Writers included Cuban-American novelist Cristina Garcia, Pulitzer Prize nominee Ha Jin, Election author Tom Perrotta, African-American author and poet Toi Derricotte, Nigerian-born novelist and playwright Biyi Bandele, and C. Michael Curtis, senior fiction editor at The Atlantic Monthly. The sixth annual Shakespeare conference drew more than 50 college students and professors from many states in the U.S. and Canada, including California, Oregon, Indiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Massachusetts, and New York.

Performing and Visual Arts Enrich Campus

Enthusiastic performances of the Zéphyros wind quintet, The Nutcracker, the Marcus Roberts Trio, The Diary of Anne Frank and the Latin jazz band Salsamba symbolized a new integration of Artist Series events with other arts events on campus during the 2000-2001 year. Students honed their theatrical talents in the annual musical, Guys and Dolls, Macbeth and the third annual student-directed, one-act play festival. More than 60 student and faculty recitals and numerous performances by student groups including a new gospel choir and the Susquehanna University New Music Ensemble, enriched the campus cultural life. The Lore Degenstein Gallery included an eclectic season including "Magnum Cinema: Photography from Fifty Years of Movie-Making"; "Letter From A Land of Sinners," an exhibition featuring the reductive paintings of artist Dwayne Franklin; "Let Children Be Children: Lewis Wickes Hine's Crusade Against Child Labor"; "Bead International 2000" featuring 70 pieces of contemporary beadwork by 57 artists; and "Hans Möller, Purveyor of Color: The Essence of a Vision 1943-1995."

World Premiere Caps Jewish-Christian Dialogue

A Susquehanna world premiere of a musical dramatic work by well-known American composer, conductor and teacher Simon Sargon concluded a day-long campus conference aimed at enhancing understanding between Christians and Jews in the fall of 2000. Eminent Jewish and Christian scholars from across the country spoke at the November 8 event, "The Search Unending: Jewish-Christian Dialogue and the Binding of Isaac." The Susquehanna University chorale and orchestra performed the University-commissioned musical work in Degenstein Center Theater. Sargon is director of music at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, Texas, and professor of composition at Southern Methodist University.

Programming Support for Diversity

Members of the campus community expressed ongoing commitment to supporting and increasing diversity in the sixth annual editions of both the Latino Symposium, Una Celebracion de las Artes Latinas, and a Race Relations Forum sponsored by the student organization the Brotherhood. Additional programming included a fall symposium on "African-American Women and the Creative Life," an April symposium on diversity awareness, and a presentation of "Violence," a performance-based choreopoem by James Chapmyn. The University's Holocaust-Genocide Program, the history department and diversity studies program collaborated to sponsor a colloquium on "Race, Police, and Coercion - Nazi Germany and Beyond" featuring Robert Gellately, professor of Holocaust history at Clark University. Susquehanna also completed construction of the new Presser International House, named in honor of the late Professor Emeritus of Biology Bruce D. Presser.

Recognizing Generous Donors

Generous donors expressed their confidence in the University with total gift contributions of $9,603,042 during 2000-2001. Alumni giving increased nearly ten percent and added $771,968 to the Susquehanna University Fund (SUF) during the year. The University officially closed the Susquehanna 2000: The Next Challenge campaign with gifts totaling $60,201,510 - nearly double the original $35 million goal. Highlights of the year included the opening and dedication of the Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium, the Clyde H. Jacobs Fitness Center, and Alumni Weekend dedication of a Reunion Plaza adjacent to the new Susquehanna field house in honor of Stephen Shilling '80. The plaza incorporates more than 1,100 engraved bricks recognizing gifts from donors who helped the University meet the terms of a $1 million challenge grant from The Kresge Foundation in support of the sports and fitness complex.

Athletic Success

The opening of the new facilities topped off another successful year of athletics at Susquehanna. Golf captured its seventh-consecutive Middle Atlantic Conference team championship and softball and women's lacrosse both earned Commonwealth Conference championships. Senior Dave Wonderlick was named the Verizon Academic All-American of the Year in College Division III football and was one of 16 recipients of a National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award after maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade-point average through his college career. Sophomore Matt Deamer earned All-American honors with a third-place finish in the men's javelin at the 2001 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Susquehanna women had a strong showing at the Middle Atlantic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Senior Emily Dugan broke school and conference records in the 400-meter hurdles, sophomore sprinter Megan Patrono won two gold medals, and the 400 and 1,600-meter relay teams also set school records at the meet.

Construction Enhances Facilities

A steady stream of construction enhanced University facilities during 2000-2001.

Varsity and recreational athletes have access to a major new sports facility with the summer 2001 completion of the Susquehanna University field house, the final project in a $14 million sports and fitness complex funded in part through the Susquehanna 2000 capital campaign. The 51,000 square-foot field house includes a six-lane, 200-meter indoor track and four multi-purpose playing courts for basketball, tennis and volleyball.

In October of 2001, the complex was named for James W. Garrett, Susquehanna football coach from 1960-65, who later went on to be head football coach at Columbia University and a long-time assistant coach with the National Football League. A second phase of the Sassafras Housing complex providing additional townhouse and suite-style housing for 87 students. Bookstore renovations and a mailroom expansion also helped prepare for a growing student body. Significant renovations and two additions to Pine Lawn, the president's home, have created more functional living space and an additional venue for University entertaining. The University broke ground in May 2001 for major renovations and additions to Heilman Hall to create a new Center for Music and Art opening in 2002. Funded by a generous grant from the Degenstein Foundation of Sunbury, Pa., the center will offer contemporary teaching facilities and more flexible practice and performance space including a new 320-seat concert hall.

Students Express Satisfaction

Results of the 2001 spring term student satisfaction survey reflect a continuing high positive student opinion of the University. More than 900 students rated quality and satisfaction in 35 areas. Administered every other year, the survey provides information to identify successes and also areas in need of improvement. Nearly 90 percent of students rated the academic program and faculty as very good to excellent. Faculty concern for students, academic advising and academic abilities of student colleagues also received high ratings. Student satisfaction with computer facilities and the athletic program increased significantly since the previous edition of the survey. Satisfaction with library facilities also improved. Students gave the highest satisfaction ratings to the level of challenge in courses, condition of buildings and grounds, the attitude of housekeeping and physical plant toward students, and personal safety and security of property.

Library Collections and Online Services Grow

The University's Blough-Weis Library focused on adding online services and collections to enhance capabilities for student and faculty research in 2000-2001. Improvements include a new system for electronic course reserves, and new software that will reduce the amount of time required for interlibrary loans. The library's collections grew from 265,655 to 267,266 volumes, including print, microform, media and electronic databases. Students and faculty now have access to 221 databases through web subscriptions, CD-ROM and computer software. The library also substantially increased its online periodical collection to include subscriptions to 3,731 periodicals including 2,560 available in electronic full-text format. New compact shelving recently installed in the library's lower level is expected to provide space for projected collection growth until 2006.

Information Technology Supports Academic Goals

Support for the academic goals of the University has been the main thrust of the Center for Information Technology. During 2000-2001, the center has installed a checkpoint firewall network security system and implemented a web-based electronic bulletin board and newsletter that has helped to eliminate disruptions caused by mass e-mail. The SU Internet connection bandwidth has recently been expanded to three T-1 lines and preparations are underway to test wireless access to the Internet. Other recent improvements include upgrades to computer classrooms, the installation of a smart classroom in Seibert Hall, and installation and faculty training to implement web-based course management software. During the past year, more than 406,000 off-campus visitors have logged on to the University's www.susqu.edu Web site, which was redesigned in the summer of 2000. They have viewed more than 4 million web pages, generating a total of 10.8 million hits to the web server.