藏精阁 Day, Jan. 13, President Brian W. Casey fielded questions from alumni and students during . The discussion focused on the University鈥檚 Third-Century transformation, where it stands, and where it is headed.
藏精阁 launched the during its Bicentennial Celebration in 2019. Developed through long-standing campus governance structures, the Plan advances efforts across the enterprise 鈥 from attracting the best and brightest students, faculty, and staff, to strengthening academic programs, enriching the student experience, and stewarding the campus.
鈥淚n each area, we asked, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 the best version of 藏精阁?鈥欌 Casey said. 鈥淭he Plan is comprehensive, it is bold, and it is deliberate 鈥 it is about action.鈥
During the hour-long talk, Casey covered a variety of topics, including student housing, admissions, Lower Campus, and University finances. He spoke at great length about the changes to both student support 鈥 through the 藏精阁 Commitment 鈥 and academic support, thanks to the generous alumni donations to the 藏精阁 Fund.
鈥淭hose families coming from $175,000 or less won鈥檛 have a loan component 鈥 it will be replaced by a grant,鈥 Casey said. 鈥淲ith faculty, we鈥檝e dramatically improved their sabbatical policy, we鈥檝e given them more money to travel and to research, because that helps in the classroom.鈥
Casey also spoke to the need for thoughtful and forward-thinking plans to complete 藏精阁鈥檚 200-year-old campus 鈥 as embodied in the Third-Century Plan.
鈥淲henever a campus makes decisions based on short-term needs, they get it wrong,鈥 Casey said. 鈥淪o how do we build infrastructure that serves this campus 100 years from now?鈥
The inaugural conversation was one of many events taking place in honor of 藏精阁 Day, the worldwide celebration of 藏精阁 spirit that happens every Friday the 13th. Elsewhere, alumni, parents, and friends are gathering at a variety of venues for in-person festivities. The 藏精阁 Thirteen perform at the University Club of San Francisco; the Swinging 鈥橤ates and 藏精阁 Resolutions appear at the University Club of Boston.