Neil Albert Salonen UB President

Many good things have been happening. Another 88 students joined the teaching intern program, and 255 new UB students are teaching in schools throughout the region. The School of Engineering is nearly 800 students strong, and is preparing application to establish its first Ph.D. program in computer science and engineering. The fall Capstone presenters were spectacular, and everyone is looking forward to an even stronger spring display of scholarship. Senior Tanisha Hubbard scored her 1,000th point for the UB women’s basketball team — a rare feat for a collegiate athlete. The ovation for her achievement thundered through Harvey Hubbell Gymnasium. Beyond campus, you’ll see UB alumnus Kenichi Ebina won the amateur night at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater.

There’s more. UB is now the safest residential college in Connecticut. We’re also one of the fastest growing colleges in the state. Our job placements and graduate school acceptances are sterling. UB’s alumni and friends are bringing new energy to fund-raising efforts.

Is there more to do? Of course. There are strong programs to expand, new ones to start, and buildings to renovate. More scholarship funds are needed to help make sure every worthy student can afford to enroll here. And building our endowments will be critical to secure UB’s future.

This May we begin our diamond jubilee celebrations. Our genesis, The Junior College of Connecticut, was incorporated on May 5, 1927. The first class graduated two years later, in May of 1929. We will commemorate our 75th anniversary with a series of events and programs that will run from May 2002 to May 2004.

The first event, 2002 Commencement, will be held in the new, nearby Arena at Harbor Yard. That location will allow for a larger, memorable ceremony, regardless of the weather. We will focus on honoring some of our most successful alumni — both as a celebration of what a UB education has meant "in the real world" and as an inspiration to our current students. We’d love to have you join us on that occasion.