Message from the President

Dr. Daniel O'Brien As I write this message we are thankfully now well into the fall semester. Line ups around the campus have disappeared, students are no longer "shopping" for courses and classes are now in full swing. It is an exciting and energizing time and I never tire of the excitement and energy associated with the start up of a new academic year. It is uplifting to see the bright smiles and hear the sounds of excited student voices as hundreds of students mill about between classes in the courtyard of George Martin Hall.

This year we have once again enrolled a record number of new and returning students – 2800 full-time and 270 part-time. We are pleased to see a strong student interest in our programmes, and we continue to focus our attention and resources to ensure that all of our students have a high-quality educational experience.

As you will see in this issue of Transitions, this past summer has been particularly busy with many one-of-a-kind, special events. Our first major event was Summer Convocation on the evening of July 24th. Once again this year we were blessed with lovely weather – and a total of 130 degrees and certificates were confirmed in our outdoor ceremony before an audience of more than 1000 relatives and friends.

In July, we also held the very successful launch of the Dalton Camp Endowment Campaign. The University received very good coverage of the launch in the local and national media and much positive feedback from the public.

The final special event of the summer was the recent building-naming ceremony in honour of the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, a St. Thomas alumnus and 18th Prime Minister of Canada. Virtually all of the feedback received from the participants and the media was positive. I am also pleased to report that the fund-raising component of the naming is already exceeding expectations with more than one half the targeted goal confirmed and the remaining half committed by the "Friends" committee. The committee is co-chaired by our own Senator Noel Kinsella.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you – faculty and staff – for helping to make St. Thomas University a nationally recognized leader among Canada's undergraduate universities. May you have a healthy, productive, and fulfilling year.

Daniel O'Brien
President and Vice-Chancellor