It goes without saying that this is a unique
time in history, when we all are affected by a severe economic
climate. I am hopeful that our economy will make a full recovery
soon, but in the meantime, we are making the necessary adjustments
at Austin College to meet this challenge.
During these times of recession, we must be
prudent in our actions to control costs without negatively impacting
the quality of the experiences our students have on this campus. We
are fortunate in that we have been able to maintain strong programs
and strong financial aid packages that assist students to have
positive educational experiences in a residential liberal arts
setting.
A good example of the success we have met this
year is in our current freshman class. We track the success of each
class from semester to semester, and I am pleased to tell you we
retained 96.8 percent of the freshman class from the fall semester
to the spring semester. This is the highest fall-to-spring retention
we have had since 2002 — and the second highest in the last 10
years. In addition, we are on a record pace with applications for
admission and with deposits from those who want to be a part of the
new freshman class in fall 2009.
Today’s economic challenges are greater than
many of us ever have experienced. Nonetheless, I still ask alumni
and friends to place Austin College high on their list of charitable
support even during this difficult time and make a gift to the
Annual Fund this year. We need gifts of all sizes to enhance the
Annual Fund so we will have adequate resources to support our
scholarship program.
Austin College has a rich history of providing
significant financial support for its students. Scholarships have
made it possible for many of our alumni to complete their degrees at
Austin College, and now it is my hope that our alumni will increase
the level of participation in the Annual Fund in order to help
strengthen the scholarship program. With your gift, the Annual Fund
will increase and you will have made it possible for some young man
or woman to attend your alma mater and receive an outstanding
educational experience similar to yours.
I have great faith in our alumni and know in
times such as these, you always have stepped forward. Thank you in
advance for your support, which will make a meaningful difference in
the lives of our students.