IN THIS ISSUE:
REGULAR FEATURES:
A Message From the President
Billiken Briefs
Human Resources FYI
Media Matters
Medical News
News Briefs
Professional Notes
SLU Stars
Top Ten
Trivia Corner
University Grants
Welcome back! Fall always is a special time of the year for me. I especially enjoy seeing the excitement on the faces of new freshmen as they begin their college lives; their hope and enthusiasm are excellent reminders of why we are all here.
This fall at Saint Louis University will be special. Joining our midtown family for the first time are our colleagues from Parks College of Engineering and Aviation. I hope you will extend a warm welcome to the Parks faculty, staff and students who now are calling the Frost campus home. I would especially like to thank all the Parks faculty and staff members for putting in so much extra time this summer to get labs and other facilities up and running in our new McDonnell Douglas Hall. Dean Charles Kirkpatrick tells me that such dedication was truly above and beyond the call of duty. Staff members from information technology services, facilities services, telephone services and many other departments also did an extraordinary job in coordinating a myriad of details. There are many exciting things going on at Parks College, and I'd like to share just a few with you.
- The number of entering first-time freshmen as of Aug. 25 was up 43.9 percent from last year, and the number of transfer students was up 13.8 percent. Both the quantity and quality of students are greatly improved. The average ACT score for entering freshmen is 1.8 points higher than last year - 26.2 as compared with 24.4.
- Dr. Cecil Thomas is building a biomedical engineering program that I believe will be a shining star at the University in the years to come. This new program received trustee approval last year, and I'm very excited about the potential this academic initiative represents. We already have 14 incoming freshmen who plan to major in this field. Other new programs are under discussion as well.
- A building in midtown was purchased for the relocation of the aerospace technology labs. The building, Amelia Earhart Hall, on the southeast corner of Compton and Washington avenues, is two blocks north of the new parking structure. Classes will also be held in the former central utilities power plant building, now named Oliver Hall to honor the founder of Parks College, which was converted to house the school's wind tunnels.
- The move of Parks College to Saint Louis University represents a wonderful opportunity for our engineering and aviation students to share in the tremendous resources of the Frost campus. It also offers new opportunities for faculty collaboration. Our Frost campus is enriched by their presence.
Lawrence Biondi, SJ
President