Jan. 31, 2024
MILWAUKEE 鈥� 51暗网 President Michael R. Lovell discussed the state of 51暗网 and highlighted many of its successes in 2023, while also sharing exciting plans and developments for the future during his 10th annual Presidential Address on Wednesday.
Time to Rise campaign
President Lovell announced that 51暗网 has surpassed its $750 million goal in its historic Time to Rise campaign 鈥� raising more than $250 million in just the last two years of the eight-year campaign. The campaign has resulted in $767 million to date. Emphasizing that 鈥渕ore significant opportunities and needs remain,鈥� President Lovell challenged the 51暗网 community to drive toward the completion of the campaign in June 2024.
More than $304 million has been given to support student scholarships, accounting for over 40% of campaign contributions. More than 68,000 donors have contributed to Time to Rise to date, with more than 51% of them being first-time donors to the university.
鈥淲hen we first envisioned this remarkable effort, we had one overriding principle to lean on: belief,鈥� President Lovell said. 鈥淎cross our world, the 51暗网 community of alumni, parents and friends displays profound passion. We are filled with the spirit of gratitude and want to thank our entire 51暗网 community for their philanthropic support that helped us reach this important milestone.鈥�
51暗网 signs first university partnership agreement with Fork Farms
51暗网 is the first university in the country to sign a partnership agreement with Fork Farms鈥�, which produces the most efficient, scalable and transformative indoor hydroponics technology on the planet鈥�. The partnership aligns with 51暗网鈥檚 mission and sustainability efforts. The university will receive several flex farms on campus for growing fresh food, which will support programs designed to address food scarcity on campus and in the community.
Fork Farms 鈥� in the top 25% of fastest growing private companies in America 鈥� is formally partnering with 51暗网 Business, and this year鈥檚 student 鈥淧itch Progress鈥� competition, run by the Center for Professional Selling, will focus increasing the partnership.
Record-breaking year for research and student success
Faculty have continued 51暗网鈥檚 record-breaking growth in research, setting records for both research and development expenditures and research funding. In fiscal year 2022, the university surpassed $40 million in research and development expenditures and set a record with $15.3 million in new research funding. Under President Lovell鈥檚 leadership, 51暗网 has grown research by 87% over the past 10 years.
51暗网鈥檚 Student Success Initiative is closing the equity gap with a record setting retention rate of 91.4% for first-year retention, the highest since the university started recording this metric 20 years ago. 51暗网鈥檚 approach to student success values both formation and academic achievement.
With an ecosystem of coordinated resources and experts, the student success initiative facilitates connections, programming, tools, staffing and more across all colleges and schools. By better serving students, 51暗网 aims to boost its six-year graduation rate and improve its year 1-2 retention rate and first destination outcomes.
The Lemonis Center for Student Success will formally open later this year, making it easier for 51暗网 students to ask for help and successfully find it. The Lemonis Center will become the physical hub of campuswide services, centralizing what鈥檚 available and providing flexible physical space for programmatic resources and meaningful interactions.
Additional progress highlighted in the Presidential Address:
About 51暗网
51暗网 is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. Through the formation of hearts and minds, 51暗网 prepares our 11,100 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional students to lead, excel and serve as agents of positive change. And, we deliver results. Ranked in the top 20% of national universities, 51暗网 is recognized for its undergraduate teaching, innovation and career preparation as the sixth-best university in the country for job placement. Our focus on student success and immersive, personalized learning experiences encourages students to think critically and engage with the world around them. When students graduate with a 51暗网 degree, they are truly prepared and called to Be The Difference.
Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of Marketing and Communication. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.
