CONFIDENT. CURIOUS. CATALYSTS. President’s Report 2016-2017
Trinity University will celebrate 75 years in San Antonio
this fall. It was a bold decision to move here in 1942. The invitation by the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce to relocate from Waxahachie, Texas, paid off and put the University on a path of dramatic transformation. As the University built the Skyline Campus on the site of an abandoned rock quarry, the “Miracle on Trinity Hill” transpired. Renowned San Antonio architect O’Neil Ford had an early and lasting impact on the Trinity campus. This year we honor that architectural legacy by seeking designation on the National Register of Historic Places as called for in Trinity’s new Campus Master Plan. We are excited by the opportunities to recognize and celebrate our significant and coherent collection of buildings, while maintaining the flexibility needed to meet the needs of tomorrow’s students. I am pleased to share with you the 2016-17 President’s Report, which offers a glimpse at some of the many outstanding accomplishments by Trinity faculty, staff, and students, and shares our progress toward redefining the liberal arts and sciences for the 21st century. This has been a year of increased momentum for Trinity University, from completion of the University’s new Campus Master Plan, to admitting the second-largest first-year class in 35 years, to The Wall Street Journal’s recognition of our faculty (No. 6 in the nation). Trinity is among the relatively few universities with a liberal arts core that offer professional and pre-professional programs. Our diversity of academic programs has always been a point of distinction. This innovative
combination is essential for the transformative Trinity experience, for the ability to thrive in the 21st century, and for the drive to experience the life well-lived. We are committed to equipping our students with the problem solving, critical thinking, and leadership skills that prepare them not just for their first job, but for their last job. A Trinity education cultivates the confidence and curiosity that make Trinity graduates catalysts for the changes our world most needs. It has been two years since Kimberly and I arrived at Trinity. As I look back at the path we have traveled, I appreciate the warm welcome and words of encouragement that we have received each step of the way. The collaborative spirit at Trinity University positions us well to ensure that we provide our students with exceptional learning and developmental opportunities so that they can achieve their goals and dreams. Thank you for your continued support and engagement with this extraordinary university. Together we can ensure that Trinity remains a “university of the first order,” connected to San Antonio, thriving deep in the heart of Texas, and engaged with our nation and our world. Best regards,
Danny J. Anderson President, Trinity University
CONTENTS
4
Trinity Tomorrow
9
Academics and Campus Life
12
Faculty
14
Rankings and Accolades
15
Student Profile
16
Community
20
Alumni Engagement
22
Giving
25
Financials
26
University Boards
2016-17 President’s Report 3
TRINITY TOMORROW
CAMPUS MASTER PLAN Honoring the past, preparing for the future Trinity University is seeking placement on the
National Register of Historic Places to create a historic district designation for the Trinity campus. The initiative is part of the University’s recently completed Campus Master Plan, which pairs Trinity’s academic mission with its architectural legacy to create a vision that is inspiring, functional, and enduring. The Trinity campus is distinctive with its significant collection of regionalist and mid-century modern buildings by a single architect, O’Neil Ford. In the early 1950s, Trinity’s president James Laurie and Ford collaborated to build a campus on the site of an abandoned rock quarry. The result was the Skyline Campus, which came to be called the “Miracle on Trinity Hill.” Designation on the National Register of Historic Places is the most appropriate way to honor the campus’s architectural history and offers the flexibility to adapt campus facilities to serve a 21st century liberal arts and sciences education. The Campus Master Plan reinforces the historic nature of campus and establishes criteria that will guide decisions for renovations, enhancements, space usage, and new construction in the coming decades. Trinity’s Campus Master Plan is the result of a yearand-a-half-long collaborative planning process that has engaged faculty, staff, students, alumni, and external stakeholders. The process has also been informed by data from an interactive online survey that explored how the community navigates and experiences the campus; student focus groups; interviews with key stakeholders, including area architects; a dining study; a housing demand study; and feedback gathered at several campus forums.
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O’Neil Ford (left) and James Woodin Laurie look out over the Skyline Campus.
“We are heirs to a historic, mid-century modern masterpiece. Our Skyline Campus is a treasure for future generations.” - Danny Anderson
The Campus Master Plan goes beyond the decision to seek designation as a national historic district. A few of the signature strategies include: • E stablishing a northern gateway to provide an outward face to the University for visitors, prospective students, and to our connections with the city of San Antonio. • Enhancing the “corridor” through the core of campus that meanders from the north to the south parts of campus. The “corridor” will strengthen connections between north and south campus, enhance opportunities for connection, and improve pedestrian navigation without bifurcating the campus. • Developing a new wayfinding program to provide signage for better navigation of campus. • Redeveloping the Coates University Center as the central dining facility on campus and adding a 500-guest ballroom that can be reconfigured for use as a conference facility. • Replacing one of the existing parking lots on lower campus with intramural green space. • Improving existing student housing and adding independent living options for juniors and seniors. The plan identifies the need for more single rooms, kitchens, and common space in residence halls. 2016-17 President’s Report 5
The City Vista Apartments (above) are just north of Trinity’s main campus, while the “Oblate” property (right) lies to the west.
Trinity accelerates Master Plan with two purchases University acquires City Vista Apartments and “Oblate” property In January, Trinity announced the purchase of the City Vista Apartment complex at the corner of Hildebrand Ave. and Devine Rd. City Vista Apartments is a 141-unit complex with a 340-space parking garage. The purchase of the nearby apartment complex accelerates the University’s plan to add apartment-style living to its student residential housing options. “The property provides new living opportunities for juniors and seniors seeking greater independence and privacy, while maintaining the benefits of our residential campus experience,” Trinity President Danny Anderson said. With more than 75 percent of Trinity’s undergraduate students living on campus, a recent University housing study revealed that new housing options will be important to attract and retain students. Specifically, juniors and seniors seek options such as private rooms as well as apartment-style living. Trinity students began occupying the apartment complex on Aug. 1. While Trinity sees instant use in the purchase of City Vista Apartments, the University has no immediate plans for development of the “Oblate” property, purchased in March. The 9.2-acre tract of land adjacent to
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campus at the southwest corner of Shook Avenue and E. Kings Highway was previously owned by the Oblate Title Holding Company. The largely undeveloped property expanded Trinity’s campus to 125 acres. “This is a generational purchase for long-term strategic use,” Anderson said. “The value of the property lies in its adjacency to the Trinity campus and the possibilities it holds for future generations. Any future development Trinity University undertakes with the property will be done with the awareness of the environmental, historical, and residential context of the site.” The property has three karst features (small caves) which are possibly inhabited by an endangered species of spiders known as the Robber Baron Cave meshweaver. Trinity plans to continue to monitor the features as part of its stewardship of the property. In addition to environmental monitoring, the University initially will clean up brush piles and other debris, address safety issues related to the existing stone wall, secure the perimeter of the property, and explore the possible uses for an existing building on the site known as the Sexton House.
“Trinity Tomorrow embodies our values and highest ideals. The plan designs a path for our future that builds on our strengths.” – Danny Anderson
TRINITY TOMORROW
STRENGTHENING THE TRINITY JOURNEY Trinity University is four years into implementing Trinity Tomorrow, a 10-year strategic plan that provides a road map for the University’s future. Many components of this ambitious plan are already in motion. Trinity Tomorrow builds upon Trinity’s many strengths by improving student recruitment, strengthening connections for professional and liberal studies as well as interdisciplinary pursuits, enhancing students’ opportunities for international engagement, and sustaining a nationally recognized NCAA Division III athletic program.
For updates and more information, visit strategicplan.trinity.edu.
2016-17 President’s Report 7
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS YEAR’S INCOMING CLASS:
Admit rate
First-year applications for the Class of 2021
Compared to 41% and 48% in 2016 and 2015, respectively
Largest applicant pool in history
Strong academic quality for enrolled students:
3.59 H.S. GPA 29.6 ACT average
average
Emphasis on diversity:
Target: 620-660
39% students 7% international 12% first-generation of color students college students
211 / 32% out-of-state students
up from 165 / 24% last year, achieved through enhanced geotargeting efforts
▲ Strengthening market position and improving student recruitment
Through coordinated planning, the Offices of Admissions, Financial Aid, and University Marketing and Communications, along with the greater University community, have successfully reached Trinity’s enrollment goals. After enrolling one of the largest classes in recent memory, the class of 2020 (662 students), Trinity is on track to enhance its marketplace position and continues to attract the best and brightest students.
▲ Enhancing opportunities for international engagement
Trinity adopted a “home school” tuition policy this year, designed to increase students’ opportunities for study abroad experiences. Under the new policy, students continue to pay their regular Trinity tuition, room, and board. The University then bills the international program directly. This model allows students to use all Trinity scholarship funds and financial aid while studying abroad. While abroad, students still benefit from the expertise of the Center for International Engagement, international insurance coverage, transfer credit assistance, and other benefits. The policy also supports broad participation in short-term international experiences led by Trinity faculty.
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First-Year Students
This policy ensures that students from all backgrounds have opportunities for transformative study abroad experiences, especially student populations with historically low participation in international programs. ▼ Supporting a nationally recognized NCAA Div. III athletic program
Trinity University’s Bell Athletic Center will soon become a renewed hub of campus life. Athletes will compete and train in exceptional facilities, and Trinity students, faculty, and staff will enjoy a new, expanded fitness center. The $15.3 million renovation is made possible largely by the Chapman Trusts, with special direction by Board of Trustee member Sharon Bell and other Trustee donors. A new 4,000-square-foot Olympic strength training room was completed in time for the Fall 2017 semester. “The new Tiger strength room provides Trinity with a truly elite performance development center that benefits all that walk through the doors,” says Jerheme Urban ’03, Trinity’s head football coach. The most dramatic change to the Bell Center will be a new two-level, glass-enclosed fitness center with a weight training facility and cardio fitness area near the main entrance. This fitness center, to open spring 2018, will provide state-of-the-art equipment and recreation.
“A greater integration of the academic and student life areas has created momentum as we look holistically at the student experience.” – Danny Anderson
ACADEMICS AND CAMPUS LIFE
STRENGTHENING TRINITY CONNECTIONS The Trinity experience empowers a community of thinkers, creators, and doers and prepares them to make a tangible, positive difference wherever they go. The research is clear: students who are actively involved in both academic and out-of-class activities gain more from the college experience than those who are less involved. Trinity University promotes campus coherence so that we provide an education that is larger than the sum of its parts. A greater integration of the academic and student life areas has created momentum as we look holistically at the student experience. 2016-17 President’s Report 9
Undergraduate Research in the Arts and Humanities Supported by a $600,000 grant from the
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Trinity’s Mellon Initiative funds students and faculty in the arts and humanities who undertake sustained research projects. Since 2013, the Mellon Initiative has supported nearly 80 students who collaborate with faculty on a wide variety of research projects. This kind of experiential learning allows Trinity students to engage directly in the highest level of research, including cultural fieldwork, the digital humanities, the environmental humanities, archival research, the creation and historical work of graphic novels, and the impact of community work. The program has been highly successful in helping the University achieve its goals of integrating research into the arts and humanities curriculum, developing faculty expertise in experiential teaching and mentoring, and creating additional summer research opportunities for students to work with faculty. An external review of Trinity’s Mellon Initiative last year reported that the program had significantly impacted student learning and faculty teaching and mentoring. Most universities only offer these opportunities to graduate students. Trinity, by contrast, offers these funds and research experiences to undergraduate students in the arts and humanities. “The Mellon Initiative organizes a number of ‘development’ events over the summer to ensure our students receive the training and support they need to be successful,” said Heather Sullivan, German studies professor and co-director of the Mellon Initiative. Students who participate in the 10-week summer program receive a $4,200 stipend, campus housing for the summer research period, and a one-credit course annotation on their transcript. Students present their research at the end of the summer at the Trinity Summer Research Colloquium. Approximately a third of the participants have published their work or presented papers at regional or national conferences.
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Hanna Niner ’17 (left) and Iris Baughman ’17 work on a Trinity research project that examines San Antonio’s views on Islam.
Taking a Mellon Initiative Research Project to the Community One Mellon Initiative project, “The Criminalization of Muslims in San Antonio
During the 2016 Presidential Election,” has become the foundation for a provocative play that is designed to generate constructive dialogue around religion and politics. Three Trinity faculty and four undergraduates interviewed 170 San Antonians from all walks of life about what they had heard about Islam during last year’s presidential campaign. From these interviews, the team wrote a one-act play, To Be Honest. The play is based on the verbatim responses of the people interviewed and represents the diversity of thought in San Antonio. The team “workshopped” the play three times and is preparing for two more community performances this fall. The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive, with people encouraging them to present the play locally, statewide, and even nationally. Faculty mentors: Habiba Noor, Sarah Beth Kaufman, and William Christ Students: Iris Baughman, Hanna Niner, Matthew Long, and Savannah Wagner
Living-Learning Communities A Trinity education is anchored in touchstone experiences that sharply define a student’s identi-
ty, sense of self, and lasting relationship with the University. One of these touchstones is Trinity’s student-focused residential community. A network of 16 residence halls offers an environment for learning and community building. Trinity’s living-learning communities, or themed halls, serve as incubators for bold cultural experiences of how to live out democracy and educate leaders. One example of this type of residential community at Trinity is the Swashbucklers, comprised of approximately 50 students from different majors. Formed in the fall of 2005, the Swashbucklers, or “Swashies,” are a substance-free community who believe they do not need alcohol or drugs to have a good time. The diverse assortment of student founders pictured themselves as a reflection of the Trinity student body. They came from different social groups, yet felt a kinship with one another so strong it compelled them to found a living-learning community. Depending on the Swashbuckler, the organization’s substance-free status weighed differently in the decision to join the hall. For many, it was simply a desire to live unperturbed by the presence of alcohol or drugs. Members were not necessarily against substances—just in their residence hall. They wanted events where people were the focus. The organization has preserved its core roots even a decade after its founding. Their pirate theme in the residence hall, complete with maritime fashion and captain leaders, adds whimsy to their deep passion for a community that often helps students persist at Trinity.
Living-Learning Communities at Trinity • Entrepreneurial Hall • Health and Wellness Hall • Homelessness Outreach Pursuing Education (H.O.P.E.) Hall • HUMA (Humanities) Hall • Swashbucklers Hall 2016-17 President’s Report 11
“Trinity faculty’s commitment to students drives their teaching, and their commitment to knowledge drives their research. They link teaching and research in deep, meaningful ways.” - Danny Anderson
FACULTY
HIGHLIGHTS AND AWARDS Trinity’s faculty members work closely with students in and out of the classroom. Their diligence as scholars and dedication as teachers benefit our students and are true strengths for the University. As a result, our students become active, original thinkers. Mentorship by faculty scholars helps students develop the skills required to enter the market and succeed in jobs, internships, and graduate programs.
12 Trinity University
ZT Scott Award Diane Persellin Professor of Music Education Awarded in recognition of her innovative teaching and mentorship of students, Diane Persellin received the 2017 Z.T. Scott Faculty Fellowship, the University’s highest award for teaching and advising.
Piper Professorship Carolyn Becker Professor of Psychology One of only 10 Piper Professors chosen this year in Texas, Becker is nationally known for her work on body image interventions, eating disorders, and PTSD. The Piper Professorship recognizes her academic, scientific, and scholarly achievements and her dedication to the teaching profession.
Five professors honored for teaching, service, and scholarship Carlos Ardavín-Trabanco, professor of Spanish in the Department of Mod-
ern Languages and Literatures, was recognized for outstanding scholarship, research, and creative work. Andrew Hansen, associate professor of human communication and theatre, was
lauded for his commitment and dedication to student advising.
Rob Huesca, professor of communication, received an award for distinguished
professional, community, and University service.
Two early-career faculty members—assistant professors Keesha Middlemass, political science, and Alfred Montoya, sociology and anthropology—were cited for distinguished teaching and research.
VP for Enrollment Management Named Eric Maloof was promoted to vice president for enrollment management, providing strategic leadership for policies, communications initiatives, data management, and technology infrastructure that support the University’s enrollment efforts. Maloof has implemented enrollment strategies that have stabilized the size of the first-year class, increased the applicant pool and admissions selectivity, and strengthened academic profile and diversity.
Distinguished Service Awards John Korbell and Lissa Walls ’80 Trinity University Trustees John Korbell and Lissa Walls ’80 received the Distinguished Service Award, the University’s highest honor, during the 2017 spring commencement ceremonies on the Trinity campus. A Trustee since 1978, John Korbell served as chairman of the board from 201214. He, along with his wife Bonnie Korbell, have been generous supporters of the University for many years. Lissa Walls, a 1980 graduate of Trinity University, is CEO of Southern Newspapers Incorporated, a Houston-based publisher of 16 newspapers and seven commercial printing operations in Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee. Walls, who retired from the Board in May, had been a Trinity Trustee since 1992 and served as chairman of the Board from 2004-06. The Distinguished Service Award was established by Trinity’s Board of Trustees in 1973 to recognize and honor outstanding citizens who have contributed with meaning and distinction to the well-being of the San Antonio community and Trinity University.
Trinity Launches IMPACT Magazine In November 2016, Trinity released IMPACT: Scholarship, Creativity, and Community Engagement at Trinity University. Published annually, the magazine features scholarly and creative works in addition to updates on grants and awards, addressing the Trinity Tomorrow strategic plan’s call for showcasing active scholarship and research by Tiger faculty and staff.
2016-17 President’s Report 13
#1 in Texas | #6 in the Nation
Top Faculties
In this inaugural ranking, The Wall Street Journal ranked Trinity No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in Texas in the “Top Faculties” category, which examined faculty research productivity, student evaluations of how accessible professors were to them, and access to opportunities for collaborative learning. In the overall ranking of national universities, Trinity was ranked No. 72 out of 1,000 institutions of higher learning and No. 3 in Texas. Key factors for these evaluations were student outcomes, student engagement, resources, and learning environment.
RECOGNITION
RANKINGS AND ACCOLADES
Trinity’s academic and co-curricular environment is consistently ranked among the best in the nation by respected guidebooks and rankings each year.
For the 25th consecutive year, Trinity was ranked the “Best in the West” by U.S. News & World Report for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and research. Trinity was also ranked No. 2 in the Best Value category. The University’s School of Business and engineering science degree program were named as top undergraduate programs in the country. 14 Trinity University
Thanks to its summer research program, the Pathways curriculum, and a robust study abroad program, Trinity is one of only three Texas schools to be named to this Forbes list.
As noted in the Princeton Review’s 2017 Best 381 Colleges guide, Trinity “fosters a space for the easy transfer and creation of knowledge between faculty and students.”
Trinity was named one of the top schools in the nation that launch careers by going beyond the classroom, offering students distinctive research opportunities, internships, and handson learning programs that empower students to parlay their passions into successful post-college careers.
Trinity Students by the Numbers Undergraduates......................2,338 Graduate students..................168 Total Student Enrollment (Fall 2016)..............................2,506 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT BODY Female....................................53% Male........................................47% Students from Texas...............72.2% International students............7.0% Countries represented............66
STUDENT PROFILE
“POWERFUL AND BRILLIANT” Faith Deckard and Alexandra “Sasha” Faust were recognized with the Ed Whitacre Leadership Scholarship from the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. They are the first Trinity students to receive the $10,000 scholarship, named in honor of the longtime chairman and CEO of Southwestern Bell/ AT&T and General Motors. Deckard ’18 is a biology major and Spanish minor from Nacogdoches, Texas. She is a McNair Scholar, a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership society, and a peer tutor and researcher in biology professor Michele Johnson’s evolutionary lab. “Words cannot fully express what winning this award means to me,” Deckard said. “Education has been and continues to be my avenue to a better life and a larger platform to serve others.” She credited several programs and individuals for helping her excel and said she likes to “take advantage of every opportunity to pay it forward and help someone else.” After graduating, Deckard plans to pursue a doctorate in sociology with a concen-
tration on the relationship between mental health, drug abuse, and imprisonment. Faust ’18 is a human communication major from Santa Fe, N.M. She is president of the Trinity Forensics Society, a tour guide and Trinity Distinguished Representative for the Office of Admissions, vice president of the Philosophy Club, and vice chair of the Board of Campus Publications. As part of the Mellon Initiative, she also conducted research on the color blue and its connection to a painful family history. “This scholarship represents an investment in my future and provides the financial support for me to take risks and get even more involved in my interests,” Faust said. She noted that receiving the scholarship alongside Deckard was particularly special because they were in a first-year seminar together during their first semester on campus. “Faith and I occupy and excel in very different spheres at Trinity, so I think the committee granting us both this award powerfully recognizes that leadership comes in many shapes and forms.”
Students of color....................37% Average SAT...........................1267 Average ACT...........................29.0 Students who studied abroad (2015-16)....................237 UNDERGRADUATE CLASS OF 2017 Awarded bachelors of arts.................................174 of science...........................192 of music..............................9 Latin honors...........................64 Phi Beta Kappa.......................43 Graduated without debt..........55% Average financial aid package per undergraduate student...................................$27,680 Institutional financial aid awarded by Trinity.................................$51.9 mil GRADUATE CLASS OF 2017 Awarded MAT/MS degrees......39 Job placement rate.................100% (for those seeking employment upon graduation) 2016-17 President’s Report 15
COMMUNITY
ENGAGED WITH THE WORLD
University Lecture Series Trinity hosts a variety of lectures and events that enrich campus culture and the broader San Antonio community. Noted speakers in 2016-17 included: Distinguished Lecture Series
Capt. Scott Kelly
retired NASA astronaut Flora Cameron Lecture on Politics and Public Affairs
David Cameron
former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Policy Maker Breakfast Series
Gloria Borger Joe Theismann Austan Goolsbee Bret Baier Maverick Lecture
Sebastian Junger Reading TUgether Lecture
Michael Moss
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Starting Strong Supporting Student Initiatives Embarking on a new venture in support of students, student programs, and campus improvement initiatives, Trinity’s Board of Visitors hosted its first “pitch party.” Students presented game-changing ideas that could make a difference on the Trinity campus, which ranged from strategic plans, to better marketing of online educational resources for students, to photojournalistic highlights of the groundskeepers, food service personnel, and maintenance assistants who keep the campus running.
The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), or “Starting Strong,” aims to help Trinity students succeed in their early college years. The QEP is a required component of Trinity’s reaffirmation of accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Elements of the plan include administering early, low-stakes graded assignments, developing a summer bridge class related to quantitative skills, improving adviser training, and pilot testing more summer registration for fall classes.
Trinity University Press Trinity University Press, relaunched in 2002, has published 225 titles to date. The Press is dedicated to publishing original, compelling, and imaginative work that furthers Trinity University’s commitment to educate for “the personal, lifelong quest for understanding of oneself and one’s place in the world.”
Trinity Press 2016-17
18 8 5 4 3
new titles published (225 books in print)
new foundations and publishing partners (80 lifetime)
new regional, national, and international awards (50 lifetime) books featured on “best of” lists (28 lifetime)
bestseller list appearances (18 lifetime)
#TigerPride Gretchen Rush ’86, Trinity’s
They See Me Rollin’ B-Cycle, a city-wide bike-sharing program, was brought to campus in Spring 2017 in response to numerous requests by the Student Government Association (SGA). Branded with the Trinity logo, bicycles were installed near the residence halls for students to use as an alternative to driving to nearby spots.
Tobacco-Free Trinity On Aug. 1, Trinity became a tobacco-free campus with a policy prohibiting the use of any tobacco product on campus. Products not allowed include cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, and any other products usually identified with tobacco use, as well as Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, e-cigarettes, and vaping. President Anderson views the policy, four years in the making, as supporting the Surgeon General’s findings that tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S. The policy has been endorsed by the President’s office, the Faculty Senate, University staff, and the SGA.
head women’s tennis coach and four-time All-American, was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Women’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame.
Tim Scannell, Tiger head baseball coach, was named National Baseball Coach of the Year by several organizations after the team’s 2016 National Championship season.
2016-17 Tiger Athletics By the Numbers
10 12 18 200 20
SCAC Championships
teams competed in the NCAA playoffs* All-Americans
(299 in Trinity’s history)
student-athletes on SCAC Academic Honor Roll**
student-athletes earned national academic honors
*Includes individual sports such as track and field, swimming, and cross country that sent individual players to the NCAA Championships **GPA of 3.25 or higher during the semester in which they competed
2016-17 President’s Report 17
COMMUNITY
PROMOTING CIVILITY THROUGH DIFFICULT DIALOGUES “Challenge and discomfort are essential in academic institutions.” - Danny Anderson
America is in the midst of a polarized conversation about safety, pride in national identity, culture and religions, immigration and citizen status, and civility in our treatment of each other. The aftermath of the national political season left the Trinity community, like many college campuses, seeking to reintroduce civil dialogue. The Trinity community opened up to the often uncomfortable task of examining our collective differences, while also holding true to our values. Trinity remains committed to promoting genuine dialogue and critical thinking by facilitating challenging conversations between students, alumni, and community members.
The University hosted forums to create a space and structure for conversations about the election, faculty opened up dialogue in their classes, and nationally-known speakers facilitated conversations on campus addressing vastly different perspectives. At Trinity, even when we passionately disagree, civility remains the foundation of our conversations.
2017 MLK Jr. Commemorative Lecture
Marc Lamont Hill
A professor of African American studies at Morehouse College, Hill is an awarding-winning journalist, advocate, and activist. In his remarks in January, Hill passionately challenged us to listen for the true needs of the community, think critically to discern the causes for injustice, and live courageously.
DeCoursey Lecture
Nikki Giovanni Trinity’s DeCoursey Lecture hosted award-winning poet Nikki Giovanni in October 2016. One of the world’s most well-known African American poets, Giovanni’s work covers topics of race, social issues, and even children’s literature.
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Race Card Project
Michele Norris Norris, an award-winning journalist and former co-host of NPR’s All Things Considered, has reported extensively on race relations. Norris brought her Race Card Project initiative to Trinity in February, which captures people’s thoughts, experiences, or observations about race in six-word sentences.
Difficult Dialogues
Lennox Seminar Series
The University hosted open forums to help students process the results following the highly charged 2016 presidential election. We encouraged students to continue exploring an unknown world, striving for success, and fighting for a better future. In an opinion piece published in the San Antonio Express-News, President Anderson invited the community to join Trinity’s commitment to promoting genuine dialogue and critical thinking.
W. Kamau Bell The Lennox Seminar Series on Propaganda and Political Persuasion included critically acclaimed socio-political comedian and journalist W. Kamau Bell in September 2016, whose stand-up comedy addressing racism helped faculty and students talk about difficult issues through the lens of Bell’s humor.
Mutual Understanding Dinners In early spring, Vice President for Student Life Sheryl Tynes, Dean of Students David Tuttle, and Director of Student Involvement Jamie Thompson hosted a series of “Mutual Understanding Dinners,” bringing together student leaders from diverse political perspectives to develop a better understanding of each other’s point of view.
2016-17 President’s Report 19
“Our stories are woven together to form Trinity’s history, reminding us that we are all Tigers at heart.” - Danny Anderson
ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
CONNECTING TUGETHER Trinity graduates discover a lifetime of connections, guidance, and mentorship among alumni. For example, alumni chapters and network cities throughout the country help graduates maintain their relationship to the University and expand connections with area alumni. Trinity’s Office of Alumni Relations is creating more ways to strengthen the Trinity Network and highlight that all of our journeys are connected “TUgether.” New and continued programming provides opportunities for Tigers to be “Learning TUgether,” “Dining TUgether,” “Reading TUgether,” and traveling “On the Road TUgether.”
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In spring 2017 Trinity welcomed Hugh Daschbach ’95 back to campus as senior director of Alumni Relations. Daschbach had actively volunteered for many years with his local San Antonio Alumni Chapter Board and on the Trinity University Alumni Association Board. Before joining Trinity’s Alumni Relations and Development team, he served as the culinary concierge at the Hotel Emma in San Antonio’s Historic Pearl. A huge debt of gratitude goes to Carol Mansen ’83 for the energy and passion she shared while serving for more than four months in the role of interim senior director.
Human rights champion Elisa Massimino ’82 and volunteer extraordinaire Kay Jordan ’64 were recognized for their lead-
ership and accomplishments at the Alumni Awards dinner this spring. Massimino received the 2017 Distinguished Alumna Award, and Jordan was recognized with the Spirit of Trinity Award.
Tigers on Wall Street In April, Trinity students got a first-hand glimpse of life
1869 Scholars Engages Alumni in Mentorships This year more than two dozen alumni participated
in one-on-one mentoring with Trinity students as part of a pilot program called the 1869 Scholars. Twenty-eight student-alumni pairs in San Antonio, Dallas, and London participated in the initiative. The pilot was so successful that it garnered a $33,000 grant from NetVUE Foundation to expand the program to more than 120 students and 60 alumni over the next two years. “I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the alumni mentoring program, and I am thrilled about working with a Trinity student who, from all counts, is ready to engage in the process,” says Kenneth Jackson ’82.
Alumni mentors ranged from the class of 1972 to the class of 2010. Between February and April 2017, students reported spending an average of seven hours with their alumni mentor (in person or virtually). 1869 Scholars spans five University departments and three divisions including Career Services, Experiential Learning, Residential Life, Student Involvement, and Alumni Relations. The program addresses one of higher education’s unique and ongoing challenges—preparing students to articulate who they are, what they are capable of, and where their passions call them to serve and lead in the world.
Tigers at Heart in Houston In April, nearly 100 people —spanning seven de-
cades of Trinity alumni—gathered at the Marriott Marquis Houston for the inaugural National Conference for Trinity Alumni and Parents. President Anderson greeted participants over breakfast with opening remarks. Conference attendees then broke into sessions taught by Trinity faculty and coaches. After an Aramark-sponsored luncheon and keynote, guests visited the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and enjoyed private tours by two professors in Trinity’s Department of Art and
Art History. President Anderson then welcomed participants at a President’s Reception featuring the Trinity Chamber Singers. Capping off the full day, attendees then chose to either dine at favorite Houston restaurants or cheer on the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Tess Coody-Anders ’93 says she “left feeling smarter than when [she] arrived. It was like dusting off the intellectual cobwebs! It was great to sit in the front row again—this time as an adult learner.”
Save the Date! The second annual conference will be held on April 21, 2018, in Washington, D.C.
at work on Wall Street when three Trinity alumni, whose careers include stints at the famous financial sector, participated in a workshop that drew nearly 100 students. Mike Ashton ’90, managing principal of Enduring Investments; Nathan Coelen ’02, managing director at Morgan Stanley; and Mark Wittman ’89, managing director in investment banking at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, provided students with a day of coaching and mock interviews. “Hopefully our panel gave a small glimpse into what a career in finance is like, but more importantly, the advice we shared is applicable to any career they pursue,” said Coelen. Dubbed “Tigers on Wall Street,” the panel also offered tips on preparing for an interview, building a resume, and being aware of social media presence on the hiring process. “I was impressed by the overall caliber of the Trinity students and the response of the student body to this event,” Ashton said.
2016-17 President’s Report 21
GIVING
CONTINUOUS GIVING IS “TRINITY TRUE” We thank the many alumni, parents, and friends who support Trinity University. Your energy and gifts ensure Trinity remains an elite but accessible institution for students of all backgrounds. Miriam Sitz ’10 has been “Trinity True” for eight years.
Photo courtesy Jenna-Beth Lyde ’09, Parish Photography
22 Trinity University
She’s part of the new consecutive giving program that recognizes loyal alumni, parents, and friends who support the University consistently over time. Sitz’s first donation to the University was part of her senior class gift. “I was first motivated to donate because I wanted to sign a brick in the tower! Low-key vandalism AND supporting an institution I love? Too good of an opportunity to pass up.” Sitz soon realized there were deeper reasons to support the University. “Consistent support of Trinity builds a strong case to big corporate funders and foundations,” Sitz says, “and it shows others how deep our Tiger Pride runs.” Trinity True membership begins after a donor’s fifth year of consecutive giving and continues as long as they give each year.
Tigers are Trinity True Years of Consecutive Giving
Number of Donors
Giving in Fiscal Year 2016-17
5-9
1049
$751,270.11
10-19
449
$2,112,096.72
20-29
154
$1,155,398.51
30+
122
$1,846,925.07
In total, 1,774 TRINITY TRUE DONORS gave
$5,865,690.41
Heritage Society
45 members are Trinity True. 18 have given for 20 years or more. donors of 146 Heritage Society
Every gift matters, since full tuition supports only 64 percent of the cost of a Trinity education. Donors of all amounts and endowment support cover much of the remaining cost for each student. Money doesn’t make a university great, but it does buy many things that enable us to achieve greatness, including top faculty and facilities. Your financial support enhances the value of your degree—and that is something the entire Trinity network can get behind.
Tristan Ashton ’17 Physics Austin, Texas
FIVE-YEAR GIVING TOTALS
$12.0M
6,000
Donors
$13.5M $10.9M
5,845
5,803
5,981
$12.1M
$11.4M
6,192
6,079
Total Dollars Given
Total Number of Donors
4,000 2,000 0
1,734
1,444
1,563
1,726
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
13.7
14.9
15.7
15.0
13.3
%
%
%
1,522
%
%
Number of New Donors
“Being at Trinity has given me the ability to connect, think, evaluate, and express, and it’s a wonderfully fulfilling and empowering feeling. I appreciate your help in making that possible.” Leon and Alyne Goad Camp Endowed Scholarship Recipient Donor’s living family: Mr. and Mrs. John Paul Gould
Percentage of Undergrad Donors
2016-17 DONORS BY THE NUMBERS
Number of Donors
Amount Raised
6,192
$12.1M
donors
3,082
Alumni
in gifts and pledges
$2,606,333
Alumni
356
Current Students
$7,463
Current Students
16
Estates & Trusts
$408,229
Estates & Trusts
205 1,148 314
Faculty/Staff Friends Organizations
1,071
Parents
6,192
Total
$94,856 $734,964 $7,785,572 $477,239 $12,114,656
Faculty/Staff Friends Organizations Parents
Senior Gift 2017 The Class of 2017 left its mark on campus in many ways, including the senior gift campaign. More than 200 seniors, or 44 percent of the class, made a gift this year, raising $3,786 for scholarships and funds to support various areas of campus. Seniors who made a gift of $20.17 or more signed a brick inside Murchison Tower in May. The committee presented their class gift to Hugh Daschbach ’95, senior director of Alumni Relations, at the Twilight at Trinity event.
Total 2016-17 President’s Report 23
The Legacy of the Northrup Endowments In 1958, Trinity University was facing a financial crisis so dire
that some skeptics predicted bankruptcy or even absorption into a municipal university system. That same year, Preston Gaines Northrup, independent oil operator and rancher, died. The University’s situation changed dramatically when it was revealed that Northrup left a substantial bequest to Trinity—the first major estate gift ever made to the University—to ensure the University’s survival through an endowment fund and a steady source of income. The legacy left by Northrup and his late wife, Gretchen, offered a financial lifeline to Trinity at a critical time. Now with a current market value of just more than $100 million, the Preston and Gretchen Northrup endowment funds are the largest in the University’s endowment portfolio. The impact of their combined endowment funds continues to be transformational. Over the past 20 years, these endowments have provided more than $105 million to the operating budget in supporting necessities such as student financial aid, student and faculty research, and faculty salaries. Their contributions are remarkable because the Northrups started life with so little themselves. Born in Houston in 1895, Preston Northrup was self-sufficient since age 13. Gretchen Northrup attended a state teachers college. In 1926, Northrup handled oil matters in West Texas as a field representative for the Texas Pacific Land Trust. Moving to San Antonio in 1940, he engaged in ranching, drilling, and other oil activities. After World War II, he oversaw large rotary rigs in Southwest Texas. Northrup, a fierce believer in education, always credited Trinity President James Laurie for influencing Northrup’s decision to remember the University in his plans. At the 1963 dedication of Northrup Hall, Dr. Laurie praised Northrup for offering a “far-visioned philanthropy which established him from the very first as an important partner in Trinity University.” Preston and Gretchen Northrup helped create the Trinity University of today. Together they directly touched the lives of many young people, and they continue to affect the lives of generations to come.
24 Trinity University
CAMPUS IMPACT
FINANCIALS The University has established a strong tradition of conservative and balanced budgeting as part of sound financial planning. Highlights from the 2017-18 approved University budget include:
▲ 9.6%
Net student revenue is expected to increase by 9.6%, partially due to the addition of City Vista Apartments.
▲ 2.2%
Gifts supporting operations is expected to increase by 2.2%. ■
Endowment Support
Endowment support to the operating budget is anticipated to remain relatively flat.
▼ $5.7 million
Net income from operating activities is budgeted at $5.7 million, a slight decrease compared to the prior year. lanned expenses include compensation increases reflecting our continued focus on maintaining competitive P faculty and staff compensation, as well as additional funding for Trinity Tomorrow strategic plan initiatives.
2017-18 Revenue
2017-18 Expenses
$77,482,742
Net Student Revenue
$63,560,300
Academic Services
$46,434,305
Investment Income
$43,593,751
Student Life
$3,713,480
Contributions
$3,281,043
$6,923,773
Grant Revenue
$23,833,929
$5,446,163
Other Income
$140,000,463
$134,269,023
Conferences & Public Service Institutional Support Total
Total
2016-17 President’s Report 25
CAMPUS IMPACT
TRINITY UNIVERSITY BOARDS 2016-2017 Board of Trustees Erin Baker ’99 Sharon J. Bell Ted W. Beneski Walter F. Brown Jr. Clifford M. Buchholz ’65 Miles C. Cortez ’64 Janet St. Clair Dicke ’68 Douglas D. Hawthorne ’69, ’72 Gen. James T. Hill ’68 Walter R. Huntley Jr. ’71, ’73 John R. J. R. Hurd E. Carey Joullian IV ’82 Rev. Dr. Richard R. Kannwischer ’95 Richard M. Kleberg III ’65 Katherine Wood Klinger ’72 John C. Korbell Oliver T.W. Lee ’93 Steven P. Mach ’92 Robert S. McClane ’61 Melody Boone Meyer ’79 Marshall B. Miller Jr. Michael F. Neidorff ’65 Thomas R. Semmes L. Herbert Stumberg Jr. ’81 Jessica Thorne ’91 Lissa Walls ’80 Advisers
Leslie Hollingsworth ’88 Alumni Adviser Rev. James Freeman ’83 Synod of the Sun Representative
26 Trinity University
Alumni Association Board Michael Barrett ’00 Sean Benton ’10, ’11 Amy Turlington Chambers ’89 Colin Chapman ’90 Michelle Lippman Collette ’06 Allison Hawk Collinger ’88, P’19 John Collins ’79, P’07 Doug Conyers ’97 Jeanne Culver ’82, P’10 Rob Devlin ’90, P’18 Jennifer Arnold Dewar ’02 Mary Jarvis Downey ’80 Carol Smith Folbre ’81 Cesar Giralt ’09 Jill Garrison Grace ’85, P’16 Leslie Hollingsworth ’88 Tracy Holmes ’84 Avantika Krishna ’15 Mark Montalbano ’95 Julie Persellin Jon Plotnick ’08 Patrick Pringle ’87 Patricia Phalen Pringle ’88 Kay Lancaster Reamey ’72, P’05 Robert Robinson ’92 James Sanders ’98 Patrick Shay ’03, ’05 Frank Shiels ’80 Nick Shockey ’09 Adam Simmons ’09, ’10 Larry Street ’59 Terris Tiller ’00 Jasmeen Waliany ’06 Eric Weiss ’68
Board of Visitors Lyn H. Belisle ’72 Sardar Biglari ’99 James M. Blakemore ’77 Jelynne Burley ’88 Vannie Collins ’14 Thomas E. Evans ’84 Homero R. Garza ’71 Patricia Godley ’70 Charles L. Gottsman ’69 Marshall Hess ’88 William C. Huber ’88 Victoria Jennings ’67 Peter Jennings ’64 Lance Johnson ’95 Christopher M. Kinsey ’79 Carolyn H. Labatt Dave Mansen ’76 Todd McCracken ’88 David McGanity ’76 Lawrence P. Moon ’76 Heather M. Morlang Pummill ’98 Linda Tarpley Peterson Donald R. Philbin Jr. ’84 William D. Rasco Christine C. Renier Katharine C. Schlosberg ’82 Cynthia L. Schluter ’88 Robert N. Shaw ’69, ’72 Sebastien Solar ’05 Polly Spencer Barbara Anne Stephens ’66 Abbe Ulrich ’03 Scott G. Walker ’70 Chris Warren ’78 Lora K. Watts ’79 Philip A. Wetz ’73 Rebecca Young ’10
THANK YOU
Donors make a Trinity education possible. Access Trinity’s Donor Honor Roll online at donors.trinity.edu.
2016-17 President’s Report 27
Office of the President One Trinity Place San Antonio, TX 78212-7200 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Trinity students are remarkable. THEY ARE THE ANSWERS TO OUR WORLD’S QUESTIONS; THEY ARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF
problem solvers, critical thinkers, and leaders. THEY ARE CONFIDENT. THEY ARE CURIOUS.
They are catalysts who will make the world a better place. - PRESIDENT DANNY ANDERSON