A Message from the Chancellor

It has been an incredible year at UMass Dartmouth.

I am so proud of our students, faculty, and staff for all they achieved together. Many of our academic programs climbed in prestigious national rankings. The Commonwealth made a historic $73 million investment to help us renovate and reimagine our oldest academic building, the College of Arts & Sciences. We also continued to expand our research enterprise, which grew to $82 million in active grants. This growth means more students and faculty researching marine habitats, clean energy, apps to help people monitor their diabetes, and innovative STEM pedagogies in K-12 education.

Our Corsair football team was crowned New England Bowl champs, and men's and women's basketball made impressive playoff runs. We opened a new biodegradability lab that will help stop microplastics polluting our waters. Our students of color engaged in our "Changing the Face of Tech" partnership with Dell Technologies to diversify the tech industry.

The excitement and momentum are palpable. It's no surprise that applications are up, the number of campus tours has doubled, and our open houses for prospective students are packed. This fall, UMass Dartmouth welcomed our largest and academically strongest class in three years.

Public research universities like UMass Dartmouth are our society's most powerful engine of opportunity because we bring a college education within everyone's reach and launch students into amazing careers. With half of our students the first in their families to attend college, our graduates are changing not only their own lives but the lives of their families and communities. It is no wonder that our University is ranked No. 69 in the country and No. 2 in Massachusetts for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report.

We could not provide this transformative education without your support. Currently, 87 percent of our students apply for financial aid. Our Corsair family's philanthropic generosity gives our students the financial assistance they need to continue their journey toward success.

Thank you for making all this possible—and there's so much more we are eager to do for our students. Your generosity enables them to take advantage of all UMass Dartmouth has to offer—great classes, faculty-mentored research, internships, and more. Together, we are launching talented young people into trajectories of lifelong success, driving economic development across the SouthCoast, and building stronger communities. Thank you once again, and I hope that we can count on your continuing support.

With gratitude,

Mark A. Fuller, Ph.D. Chancellor