ALLEGANY, N.Y. — A letter to friends, alumni receptions around the country, and the recently-distributed issue of Bonaventure magazine are keeping the SBU community up-to-date on campus news.
A state of the university letter from president Sr. Margaret Carney, OSF, was e-mailed Dec. 17, updating alumni and friends of SBU on a variety of topics.
In the e-communication, Sr. Margaret wrote about:
• Enrollment and retention, highlighting the largest graduate enrollment since 2003 and the highest freshman-sophomore retention rate “in recent history.”
• Academic program evaluation process aimed at ensuring that Bonaventure is “honoring its promise to students: an extraordinary learner-centered education at a cost that is affordable.”
• Campus facilities, highlighting the Allegheny River Trail Enhancement, the Bonaventure Square project on the former Castle property, and the Rare Books Addition to Friedsam Memorial Library.
• Student life, highlighting a new leadership program Bona/Lead as well as the new Center for Community Engagement and service groups such as BonaResponds and Students in Free Enterprise.
• Fundraising, highlighting the success of the 150th Anniversary Campaign.
Also last month, Sr. Margaret and F. Edward Coughlin, OFM, SBU vice president for Franciscan Mission, gathered with alumni and friends of the university at the first of five lecture/receptions that are part of SBU’s Fr. Joe Butler OFM series. Sr. Margaret and Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, spoke Dec. 11 on “Angels, Demons and Dilemmas: Catholic Life in the 21st Century,” at the Province’s San Damiano Hall on West 31 Street. Representatives of the university’s administration chatted with alumni after the presentation. Similar gatherings are scheduled for Jan. 13 in Denver and Jan. 21 in Boston.
Details on the series, named for Joseph Butler, OFM, SBU’s eighth president, appear in the Fall/Winter ‘09 issue ofBonaventure, The Magazine of St. Bonaventure University. The issue’s theme is “School Spirit” and it features the following:
· Mt. Ireneaus
· The spirit in service
· Liberal Arts Advocates
· A reflection on the year for priest by Robert Karris, OFM
· Spiritual inspiration behind the work of two faculty members
Shown in the photo behind the photo above is Dominic Monti, OFM, with guests at last month’s SBU gathering in New York City.