President's Letter

Fall 2008

Dear Loyolans,

I hope you have already heard about the launch of Partner: The Campaign for the Future of Loyola. On September 20, we welcomed alumni, students, faculty, and friends to campus to announce a $500 million campaign for the University and Health System. This is our most ambitious enterprise to date, and while it's ambitious, our goal is attainable--especially with the help of all those who share our mission to educate men and women for service to our city and our world. We've already raised $346 million toward our goal and are on track to move the University and Health System to even greater prominence in learning, research, and healing.

In August, the Class of 2012 arrived on campus. This year's freshman class of just under 2,200 students includes representatives from all 50 states and 17 countries. Loyola's enrollment now stands at 15,670, and our focus going forward will be on maintaining this enrollment while further shaping our class. A key goal for us in the enrollment arena is to continually strive to reflect the diversity of our dynamic city within our student body, and we are implementing strategies to do just that.

Loyola's inaugural dean of the new School of Communication, Donald Heider, has been busy welcoming the school's 700-plus undergraduate students. In January, Dean Heider will open the doors to the school at its permanent home in the new building on the Water Tower Campus.

Among the nearly 50 new faculty members we welcomed this fall are current Cook County State's Attorney Richard A. Devine and longtime Chicago Tribune editor Don Wycliff. Mr. Devine will join the School of Law as a distinguished adjunct professor of law in the spring, when he will teach a course in criminal law. Mr. Wycliff, who joined our new School of Communication this fall, is serving a one-year faculty appointment teaching reporting and editing.

The School of Law and Stritch School of Medicine are both celebrating 100-year anniversaries in 2009. The law school will celebrate with its Law Centennial Gala at the Chicago Field Museum on February 28, and Stritch will celebrate 100 years of medicine at Loyola during its 2009 reunion weekend, September 25-27.

The Loyola University Health System recently adopted a new strategic plan that will serve as a roadmap for LUHS for the next several years. The plan emphasizes patient- and family-centered clinical care, ambitious growth of its research enterprise, and active collaboration between the School of Nursing and medical school. The Health System also was recognized for excellence in patient care in U.S. News & World Report, ranking among the nation's top 50 hospitals in geriatrics, heart and heart surgery, and urology. Dr. Paul Whelton, vice president for health sciences and president and CEO of LUHS, and his colleagues deserve to be congratulated on this most recent recognition of their excellent contributions to medicine and patient care.

The lakeside campuses are starting work on a new strategic plan for 2009-2014 to build on the successes of the plan that will end this year. As part of this effort, a team of faculty, staff, and administrators are looking at student services, facilities, campus life, faculty development, graduate and professional programs, and community relations, among other priorities. A new strategic plan for the University will be shared with the board of trustees at their March 2009 meeting.

Last summer, faculty and staff members participated in the University's immersion trips to Uganda, Peru, and Vietnam. The trips offered an opportunity for Loyolans to meet people living in vastly different circumstances as well as contributed to the participants' personal development and understanding of the work of Jesuits who serve outside of the United States.

This fall, a custom-designed new pipe organ was installed in Madonna della Strada Chapel, further beautifying our renovated chapel and contributing to the aesthetic (and acoustic) experience of all who pray there.

Athletics is off to a fast start as the men's soccer team achieved its first-ever national ranking. The Ramblers opened the season with a thrilling 2-1 victory over then-No. 5 Santa Clara at Loyola Soccer Park in August. Look for our men's basketball team November 17-28 in arguably one of the most prestigious of tournaments when they play in the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Our first Family Weekend, held September 26-28, was a resounding success. Loyola alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends enjoyed myriad activities on the Lake Shore and Water Tower campuses. Everyone had a good time, and it was a great way to enjoy Loyola with students and families. Participants also heard from Chicago historian Ellen Skerrett about some of the little-known University stories she uncovered while writing Born in Chicago: A History of Chicago's Jesuit University. The book is the first complete history of Loyola and is available at our University bookstores or through Loyola Press.

These are just a few of the things going on at Loyola University Chicago. Thank you for your continued interest in Loyola and for your partnership in helping us prepare men and women to lead extraordinary lives.

Michael J. Garanzini, S.J.
President