FROM PRESIDENT LAURA CASAMENTO
Telling the Utica College Story It’s been a truly remarkable year at Utica College. I am proud to say that we have a great story to tell—one of a vibrant, innovative institution that is meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing marketplace while remaining true to its founding mission of providing the communities it serves with broader access to the benefits of a quality, private education. As you will see in this issue of Utica, our success is rooted in the high caliber of academic work being pursued by our faculty and the intensive, highly personal learning experiences we provide for our students. This past year has seen significant milestones in academic achievement, financial performance, and philanthropic support, thanks to the deep commitment of all those who serve and support the College’s mission. The continuing success of our tuition reset initiative has greatly benefited the families we serve, reducing student debt and increasing our graduation rate 12 percentage points over the past four years. This has led to significant increases in applications and enrollment while enabling us to attract students of higher academic standing. Through innovative and prudent management of its resources, the College’s financial profile is stronger than it has been since its establishment as an independent institution. As president, I have had the great privilege of sharing our experience with colleagues at a number of institutions, including a recent meeting with higher education thought leader and University of Pennsylvania professor Dr. Robert Zemsky to discuss using our success as a case study in his forthcoming book. In November, I will share my own experience confronting the challenges facing higher education with fellow women leaders as a featured speaker at the Women in Leadership Conference at Harvard University. I speak for everyone at Utica College when I say that I am very proud of what we have accomplished over the past year, and I greatly look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.
3
