Welcome Back to the 2006-07 Academic Year

January 16, 2007

Members of the Rutgers Community:

Welcome back to campus for a new semester, and belated Happy New Year.   For those who are new this semester, welcome to Rutgers! 

I hope that during the winter break you were able to relax and enjoy time with family and friends.  Our Texas Bowl victory, capping an amazing football season, certainly added to the enjoyment of the holidays.  We also take pride in the Rutgers–Newark economics students whose team finished third in the national Fed Challenge competition. And I am very pleased to report that a new ranking has placed Rutgers–Newark 12th in the nation among small research universities—those that offer fewer than 15 doctoral programs. 

As you prepare for the hard work you will undertake this semester, the university is tackling a number of important projects.  These include setting priorities for a major fundraising campaign, pursuing the work of our committee on efficiency and entrepreneurship, and preparing for reaccreditation next year.

On the Newark Campus, design work is proceeding for a greatly enhanced facility for the business school at One Washington Park, which will also free the space currently occupied by business for other campus programs.  We are also working to convert our former law school building at 15 Washington Street to graduate student apartments.  And our newly completed Life Sciences Building is now in use for laboratory classes in biology and chemistry. 

Again, welcome back.  I wish you a rewarding and fulfilling 2007 at Rutgers. 

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey