As the semester comes to an end, activities die down and thoughts turn to graduation and partings, I want to share a few thoughts with the University community.

Gratitude and appreciation, success and new horizons are themes that glow through these brief remarks.

I begin by thanking all of you for your contributions to making the academic year 2005-06 one of Creighton University's finest years.  Thanks to the students for coming and investing in Creighton and allowing the University to be the setting for their values formation, the honing of their competence and confidence.  For those graduating, congratulations, I will see you on May 13.  For those returning, have a safe and productive summer.  You will be returning to yet more changes. 

To the faculty and staff, thank you for your professional presence in classrooms, laboratories and offices, for your service and wise counsel.  Thank you for keeping the students at the "center" of the Creighton enterprise.  With every graduation, departure or retirement, the dynamics of the campus change only to be "regreened" and refocused with a new class, a new year and new colleagues.

As the poet wrote:

"I am a part of all that I have met.
Yet all experience is an arch where-thro'
Gleams that untravell'd world, whose margin fades
Forever and forever when I move. ..."

(Tennyson, "Ulysses")

 
Some updates of significance follows:

ADMISSIONS AND ENROLLMENT:  As of May 1, the projected undergraduate freshmen and transfer targets are on schedule.  We are planning for 950 first-time freshmen and 110 transfer students in our undergraduate schools/colleges.  All of the professional programs have met their projected targets, several with a higher deposited pool than anticipated. 

Congratulations and thank you to all of our colleagues in Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, Undergraduate Admissions and the Admissions Offices of the professional schools/colleges.  The 2006-07 year looks promising. 

CONSTRUCTION:  One walk across campus and you realize how much progress has been made in advancing the Campus Master Plan.  The construction of Opus Square, Phase II of junior-senior town homes, is on schedule for an August opening.  Site preparation is under way for the construction of the living-learning building.  I anticipate a late fall groundbreaking for this project, which will be the signature building of the east campus.

Road work continues along Cuming, Burt and the freeway access points.  This will continue well into the fall, although some progress will be noted incrementally.  The utilities infrastructure work on the east side of 24th Street should be finished within the next few weeks. 

Finally, work will begin in mid-May on the exterior of St. John's Church.  Tuck-pointing, glass repair and landscaping represent the initial stage of a thorough renovation of this venerable structure.  The interior infrastructure - heating, lighting and air conditioning - will be upgraded later this year.  The interior enhancements will take place over the next few years.  Some of the financing is yet to be determined.

TRANSITIONS:   I want to publicly thank Dr. Barbara Braden for her service to Creighton in her capacity as Dean of the Graduate School.  Barb is leaving that position this summer; she will, however, remain Dean of University College and Summer Sessions.  She has done a great job and has been a wise counsel to me along the way.  We are presently interviewing the final candidates for the Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Vice President for Faculty Development position.

CONGRATULATIONS:  Congratulations to our recent chairholders (2005-06) - M. Dennis Hamm, S.J. (Graff Chair), Mr. Ed Morse (McGrath North Mullin & Kratz Chair) and Dr. John Mordeson (Mordeson Chair in Mathematics).

Congratulations to all faculty who were vested with tenure and/or gained promotion in the 2005-06 year. 

Congratulations to our Athletic Department - coaches, staff and players for representing Creighton so professionally on the fields and courts; congratulations to all student-athletes for their academic success as well.  Creighton ranked #15 of all NCAA-I programs for progress toward graduation (PGR).  We ranked #1 in the MVC for academic accomplishments.

Congratulations to all student organizations and clubs for your success this past year.  Your imagination, creativity and generosity of spirit give vibrancy and bounce to the Creighton campus. 

Congratulations to University Ministry for their generous outpouring of community service and for the services of your On-line Ministry.  Creighton's Daily Reflections received over 15 million hits in 2005.  The six weeks of Lent in 2006 recorded over 4 million hits.  What a great way to show the world that we remain committed to our Catholic identity and mission.

Finally, as you know, we launched our capital campaign "Willing to Lead" in December.  Progress toward our $350 million goal is gratifying.  We have momentum on our side because of you and the many loyal friends of Creighton.  The campaign focus is four-fold:

* endowment and program support;
* science education and technology infrastructure;
* east campus expansion; and,
* the Annual Fund

I am happy to say we are making progress and are more than 70% toward our target.  With the support of the greater Creighton family, this will be a most successful campaign.

In closing, as the year comes to an end, again, thank you for all you do.  Best wishes to the graduates and others leaving Creighton and best wishes to those returning to do what we do best:  educate our students to be women and men of competence, compassion and commitment.  Enjoy the summer!

John P. Schlegel, S.J.
President