St. Lawrence University: Parents

January 2009

Dear Laurentian families:

Happy New Year! I write to share information about the current and future state of students’ lives at St Lawrence University. As you already know, many changes confront our world, exciting changes and seriously challenging changes. As a result of all of this change, I thought that my mid-year letter to you could focus on communicating our continuing and lasting educational commitment to you and your SLU student.

The value of your student’s St. Lawrence education will continue to rise.
Of course we’re acutely aware of and affected by the economic recession, as are all organizations, businesses and families. We’ve all heard the stories of delays in progress for planned projects, hiring freezes, and mass lay-offs. Let me say right up front that all of us here at St Lawrence University hope your family’s future is strong and positive. As for St. Lawrence, let me share that while all colleges and universities are affected by the deep recession, we believe that we are in a strong position to weather the storm. We also believe the best way to assure the future is to take good care of our students today. Because of the way we are structured, we will adjust to the recession gradually, making the changes needed after analysis and care, so we continue providing value to our students. You can feel confident that the leadership of the institution is thinking of educational benefit with every decision we make.

The legacy of retiring President Daniel F. Sullivan, which has been to improve the student experience, will endure.
Just before the holidays, we announced that The Dan and Ann Sullivan Funds for Student-Faculty Scholarship will be the overarching name for a collection of funds supporting student-faculty research and student-faculty work in the arts during the academic year and in the summer. Support for projects from these funds will be available to all students and faculty on a competitive basis, as is the case today with the University Fellows Program. And second, because St. Lawrence’s campus center truly has been redefined and transformed thanks to the leadership of Dan and Ann Sullivan, effective May 2009, when a Commencement weekend dedication takes place, St. Lawrence’s Student Center will become the Sullivan Student Center. The Student Center has become the heart of campus, pulsing with the energy of our students, their ideas and the power of the friendship connections that they establish with their fellow Laurentians.

We will continue to plan campus projects that benefit student learning and student life.
The Student Life and the Facilities Operation Staffs are working hard to provide relief for residential overcrowding by creating approximately 80 new residential spaces, caused by strong first-year enrollments and healthy retention, while reclaiming former social and lounge spaces that were temporarily used as residential spaces. We are in the final phase of constructing Pub 56, our new pub/ social gathering space whose name celebrates the University's founding in 1856. Funds for such projects were donated by generous alumni, parents and friends, and may be used exclusively for these projects. We continue to be thankful for the gifts that allow us to strengthen the campus in visible and programmatic ways.

We will move forward with sustainability projects.
We intend to model the kind of global citizenship through the 21st century to which we want our students to commit. You know we do so much to reduce our footprint on the planet, I won’t outline everything here. Let me just note that we are assessing costs for further physical plant improvements that will save energy and money.

We anticipate the next decade with great confidence as we welcome our next president.
William L. Fox, a 1975 graduate of our University who is a seasoned president of Culver-Stockton College in Missouri, will join our community on July 1. Bill Fox already knows us very, very well, having been an active alumnus. The St. Lawrence trustees, senior management team, faculty, staff and students have great faith that our best years are ahead of us, even as we look back on one of the most transformative periods of our history.

I hope your student has had a productive and restful holiday break, and that the spring semester will be among the best. My staff and I are ready to answer your questions and help your student at any time.

Best regards,

Joseph A. Tolliver
Vice President and Dean of Student Life

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	January 2009 Dear Laurentian families: Happy New Year! I write to share information about the current and future state of students’ lives at St Lawrence University. As you already know, many changes confront our world, exciting changes and seriously challenging changes. As a result of all of this change, I thought that my mid-year letter to you could focus on communicating our continuing and lasting educational commitment to you and your SLU student. The value of your student’s St. Lawrence education will continue to rise. Of course we’re acutely aware of and affected by the economic recession, as are all organizations, businesses and families. We’ve all heard the stories of delays in progress for planned projects, hiring freezes, and mass lay-offs. Let me say right up front that all of us here at St Lawrence University hope your family’s future is strong and positive. As for St. Lawrence, let me share that while all colleges and universities are affected by the deep recession, we believe that we are in a strong position to weather the storm. We also believe the best way to assure the future is to take good care of our students today. Because of the way we are structured, we will adjust to the recession gradually, making the changes needed after analysis and care, so we continue providing value to our students. You can feel confident that the leadership of the institution is thinking of educational benefit with every decision we make. The legacy of retiring President Daniel F. Sullivan, which has been to improve the student experience, will endure. Just before the holidays, we announced that The Dan and Ann Sullivan Funds for Student-Faculty Scholarship will be the overarching name for a collection of funds supporting student-faculty research and student-faculty work in the arts during the academic year and in the summer. Support for projects from these funds will be available to all students and faculty on a competitive basis, as is the case today with the University Fellows Program. And second, because St. Lawrence’s campus center truly has been redefined and transformed thanks to the leadership of Dan and Ann Sullivan, effective May 2009, when a Commencement weekend dedication takes place, St. Lawrence’s Student Center will become the Sullivan Student Center. The Student Center has become the heart of campus, pulsing with the energy of our students, their ideas and the power of the friendship connections that they establish with their fellow Laurentians. We will continue to plan campus projects that benefit student learning and student life. The Student Life and the Facilities Operation Staffs are working hard to provide relief for residential overcrowding by creating approximately 80 new residential spaces, caused by strong first-year enrollments and healthy retention, while reclaiming former social and lounge spaces that were temporarily used as residential spaces. We are in the final phase of constructing Pub 56, our new pub/ social gathering space whose name celebrates the University's founding in 1856. Funds for such projects were donated by generous alumni, parents and friends, and may be used exclusively for these projects. We continue to be thankful for the gifts that allow us to strengthen the campus in visible and programmatic ways. We will move forward with sustainability projects. We intend to model the kind of global citizenship through the 21st century to which we want our students to commit. You know we do so much to reduce our footprint on the planet, I won’t outline everything here. Let me just note that we are assessing costs for further physical plant improvements that will save energy and money. We anticipate the next decade with great confidence as we welcome our next president. William L. Fox, a 1975 graduate of our University who is a seasoned president of Culver-Stockton College in Missouri, will join our community on July 1. Bill Fox already knows us very, very well, having been an active alumnus. The St. Lawrence trustees, senior management team, faculty, staff and students have great faith that our best years are ahead of us, even as we look back on one of the most transformative periods of our history. I hope your student has had a productive and restful holiday break, and that the spring semester will be among the best. My staff and I are ready to answer your questions and help your student at any time. Best regards, Joseph A. Tolliver Vice President and Dean of Student Life
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