August 2024
Dear A&S faculty and staff,
I’m excited to kick off the 2024-2025 academic year, which I feel confident will bring new innovations and discoveries as we continue to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our world. I’m also looking forward to celebrating the University’s 100th anniversary in April. Please stay tuned for more information about centennial events.
This fall, the College is welcoming the most competitive class of incoming students in our history. We received 27 applications for every spot, which is a testament to our growing reputation for academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and groundbreaking creative endeavors.
The College has also continued to attract outstanding faculty. I’m pleased to welcome more than 20 new tenure-track professors, visiting professors, and lecturers in fields ranging from biology to theatre arts. We look forward to seeing faculty on August 27 at our Faculty Connect event, which will provide us with an opportunity to engage with each other and welcome our new colleagues.
The University’s recent invitation to join the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) is not only a recognition of our scholarship, but also an opportunity to continue enhancing the scope and impact of our research. Last year was a record year for research funding and expenditures in the College, and I would like to applaud everyone who participated in this momentous accomplishment. I look forward to working with you to ensure that the College continues to play a key role in further elevating the University’s reputation within the AAU and beyond.
As we prepare our students to become tomorrow’s innovators and creators, we have increased our initiatives in data science and artificial intelligence programs. This investment has placed us at the forefront of AI innovation at the University. With the new hires this year, we now have more than two dozen faculty members who are conducting research using AI tools, and we are launching interdisciplinary research collaborations that leverage the power of AI with other entities at the University and in our community. Our new undergraduate majors in data science and AI are among the fastest growing in the College. This fall, we are also launching a co-major in innovation and society focused on design-thinking approaches that foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
The University has made a significant investment in centralizing academic support services for students and recently announced the launch of the Center for Academic Navigation and Success. The College looks forward to working with the new center—which brings together undergraduate advising, transitional advising, and ’Cane Success Center initiatives—to help our students achieve their academic goals.
Last year, I shared that the College had surpassed its $85 million Ever Brighter fundraising campaign goal two years ahead of schedule. I’m pleased to report that we have now succeeded in raising more than $100 million, including additional funding for strategic priorities such as endowed faculty positions, research studies, and student scholarships. This success is a testament to not only the generosity of our community, but also the hard work of our faculty and staff, whose commitment to excellence has inspired donors to support the College.
I’m proud to work in a college where faculty, staff, and students value people from all backgrounds and walks of life, and I look forward to working together to make the 2024-2025 academic year a success.
Warm regards,
Leonidas Bachas
