THESE ARE UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIMES, to be sure. When the stock market can both take its largest point plunge and post its largest gain within the space of a week, the term "rollercoaster economy" seems a gross understatement. We're seeing it every day: housing prices, declining stock market, growing unemployment, high gas and food prices. However, when you look back at America's history, you can see that with courage, determination and compassion, we have overcome many obstacles and challenges.

America fought a successful revolution and initiated a bold new experiment in democracy. We waged a civil war and wrestled with the best way to reconstruct our union. We stood up and were counted as a force for freedom during the First World War and sought to forge an international peace afterward. The United States survived an economic depression and a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor – likely our nation's greatest challenge. The story of how America rose to the occasion of World War II is well known.  Since that time we are fortunate to have lived in an America that has asserted a leadership role in the world.

In a global economy, for the United States to be the leader, we must be the best in educating our people. America must have the intellectual capacity to solve increasingly complex problems. We must be the inventor, creator and innovator to grow our economy. Few would claim that a cure for cancer or the prevention of famine is a straightforward problem with a simple solution. Our capacity — our brainpower — depends on education.

We must not let the critical task of financing higher education leave anyone behind.  It has become a national challenge, a challenge that reaches down to every American citizen.  While the primary responsibility for financing higher education is with the student and their families, colleges and universities across the nation and at home, right here at Sacred Heart University, continue to partner in this cause through the student financial assistance programs and processes.  It comes as no surprise that today, colleges and universities are feeling the effects of the credit crunch.  The challenges present themselves every day, to each one of us, in different ways. 

For all the challenges such circumstances present, we are fortunate to be part of an institution remarkable for its resilience. Sacred Heart University, in its short history, has weathered many storms and sustained its strength through difficult times. We have done so by staying true to our mission and our long-term goals, by carefully stewarding resources, and thoughtfully adapting to change. We will continue to do so!

I am proud to say Sacred Heart University's traditional commitment to keeping our education affordable is unchanged by recent events. We are reaching out to more students facing financial challenges every day. This past year, over 90% of our full-time undergraduate populations, and an ever increasing number of part-time undergraduate and graduate students received some type of financial aid or scholarship from Sacred Heart.

But we have much work to do.  We must continue to build on current student aid programs at all levels; federal, state, institutional and private.  To ease the burdens of processing, we need to build more innovative systems that bring technology to each student applicant.  It is apparent that we must identify the strongest financing options as the clearest route to access and affordability.   As you know, each one of us at Sacred Heart University is focused on preparing students for success, to be leaders in our nation. We believe that we accomplish this by being active listeners who embrace change and are always ready to improve our work.

 I ask each of you to join me and our student financial assistance staff in being both optimistic and hopeful, for it will take this attitude and this commitment to bring to our students and future generations the education they need for America to continue its leadership role in the world.    

Back to SFA Today - December 2008    Next Page