Dear friends:
Every spring, I smile as I gaze out over our lovely campus and observe the students hurrying between courses or perhaps just relaxing outside. It serves as a reminder of how fortunate we are to be able to support them as they pursue their education.
There is much to celebrate as my sixth year as dean comes to a close. The University and College are at their strongest ever. Here at CAS, we are thriving when many other colleges of arts and sciences across the country are having trouble. Our reputation has grown along with our student body and the number of full-time faculty members. Since I started working at the college, we've hired over 70 new professors. As we recover from the pandemic, the faculty has a newfound vigor. They have raised the bar for research and active learning on campus, demonstrating why we deserve to be ranked so highly. Through internships, undergraduate research, and community-based learning, we have also extended the chances for CAS students to apply their knowledge outside the classroom. We developed and then introduced the Magis Core Curriculum at the University, ensuring that every Fairfield student would have a solid foundation in the liberal arts. Additionally, we are more devoted than ever to our Jesuit mission and principles.
As President Nemec says, we are an “outcomes focused” institution. Here at the College, we are justly proud of our outcomes as 94.6% of our recent CAS graduating class (six months after graduation) are either working or enrolled in graduate school. This would place CAS, if it were an independent college, in the top 1% of institutions of higher learning. We aim to build on this strength to ensure that every student launches effectively. It is impressive to hear of the opportunities offered to our graduates, opportunities they hadn't yet dreamed of when they first arrived on campus.
But, where these figures are headed is even more impressive. Now is a fantastic moment to be a Stag. And without your help, none of this would have been possible. Your pride in CAS is the envy of most colleges. As graduation approaches, I hope you take a moment to reflect on your time spent here — whether you are about to participate in commencement exercises this year or not. I am reminded of the poet Walt Whitman, who once said, "Keep your face continually toward the brightness, and shadows will fall behind you."
Kindest regards,
Richard A. Greenwald, PhD
Dean and Professor
