Message From the PresidentDr. Daniel O'Brien |
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One of the most frequently asked questions that I am faced with is “Has STU changed?” I am often tempted to respond “Completely. You would not recognize it.” This is not the case, however. While the physical plant has expanded and been modernized, the focus of our mission has not changed. The principles and values of liberal arts education still stand at our core and continue to be our main focus. It is this focus that makes us unique among Canadian universities. We continue to take pride in our Roman Catholic heritage, our concern with social issues, our interaction with the larger community, and our sensitivity to the needs and concerns of the individual. We are nationally recognized as a leader among Canada’s undergraduate universities. In fact, we are ranked as one of the best undergraduate universities in the nation. We offer one of the best scholarship programmes in the Country and are among the top universities with respect to student services, and quality of students and faculty. We are proud of our past and present and look to the future with optimism. You, as alumni, can help demonstrate this pride in many ways. One such way is by contributing to the annual fund. The monies raised through this endeavour help support our bursary programme, purchase new equipment and teaching aids, assist with programme development and the construction of new facilities. Each and every donation, regardless of size, helps us realize our goal. More importantly, your participation in the annual fund appeal signals your continued commitment to and pride in St. Thomas University. What you may not realize is that alumni support (as measured by financial donations) is one of the “bench marks” used by Maclean’s Magazine when it compiles its annual ranking of Canadian universities. Last year, we were ranked 10th (out of 20 primarily undergraduate universities) in alumni support. I know this does not accurately reflect how you feel about St. Thomas but this is the only measure of support used in deriving the rank—thus, the importance of each and every donation. Of our 11,000 alumni, some 1000 contribute to the annual fund. We would like to double the number of donors within the next year and gradually increase the number yearly. I encourage you to show your pride in St. Thomas by becoming a contributor to the annual fund. As I mentioned earlier, the size of the donation is less important than your support.
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