Dear Friends,
Writing on another of the beautiful, sunny days that have blessed us this fall, I am struck by the exceptional energy across the Fairfield University community.
Our campuses have been buzzing with dynamic activity and interactions among our students, faculty, and staff. One particular highlight of this semester was our annual Alumni and Family Weekend in late October, during which more than 2,500 family members and alumni joined us for two days marked by academic ceremonies, community gatherings, athletic competitions, and a memorable afternoon StagFest celebration.
Fairfield has incredible momentum. Our Class of 2028, with just over 1,460 students, is our largest class in history. With an acceptance rate of 33 percent, it is also our most competitive class, aligning us with a whole new group of national peers and placing us among the top six most selective Catholic universities nationwide. We are appropriately recognized as one of the best investments in higher education as we continue our efforts to be the model for Jesuit, Catholic education in the 21st century.
While focusing on the current moment is essential, it is equally important to understand how we arrived here, the current context for higher education, and Fairfield’s way forward.
Our University is grounded in a 500- year Jesuit, Catholic tradition, inspired by St. Ignatius’s then unique practice of serving God and the Church not by retreating to a monastery but rather by getting amongst the world and educating individuals for the greater good. This tradition was brought to southern New England by the Jesuits in 1942 at a time of massive upheaval. Our founding on March 17 was only a few months removed from the attacks on Pearl Harbor, but was animated by a long-term vision and a faith in the dignifying power of higher education.
The audacity of Fairfield’s founding is emblematic of not only our Jesuit, Catholic mission, but also the exceptionalism which characterizes American higher education. For as I share with my students in the first-year seminar I co-teach on the societal role of higher education, the diverse collection of American universities has been an integral factor in making our republic resilient and vibrant.
Higher education in the United States, though, is at a pivotal juncture. Our world has entered into a new period of unprecedented technological innovation and social disruption, and the benefits of a college education are under increased scrutiny. Despite this, the demand for a Fairfield education has never been higher: applicants are increasingly talented and employers are in need of our Jesuiteducated graduates more than ever.
Even with this success in mind, we cannot take our position for granted. We are called to elevate the quality of every element of our student-centric, valuesbased, and outcomes-focused work, to ensure that our graduates are ready and able to shape the future for the betterment of our communities, our country, and our world.
