As the 2002-2003 academic year comes to a close and the joyous occasion of Commencement is upon us, we should take a moment to pause and celebrate our accomplishments.
The past year has been an exciting one for us with much activity and buzz about Northeastern on and off-campus. Here are some of the fantastic developments of which we, as a university, are particularly proud.
1. Our applications for Fall 2003 have increased by 25 percent since last year, with more than 21,000 high school graduates (average SATs of 1200) vying for 2,800 openings.
2. US News ‘ World Report ranked Northeastern first among universities that combine classroom study with workplace experience.
3. Northeastern’s Career Services was top ranked by Kaplan Newsweek’s “Unofficial Insiders Guide to the 320 Most Interesting Colleges and Universities,” 2003 edition.
4. BusinessWeek’s “Best Business Schools” edition, ranked Northeastern University among one of the best business schools in the country.
5. The outstanding work by faculty, staff, and students to prepare for Semester Conversion beginning this September. Our continuing domination of the Business Beanpot; the success of our law students in regional and national moot court competitions; three Truman fellowship finalists.
6. The remarkable success of our student athletes, who have won six league championships so far and are well-positioned to finish the year among 100 most successful athletic programs in the country for the first time in our history.
7. The opening of the Behrakis Health Sciences Center and the groundbreaking for the new home for the College of Computer and Information Sciences, which will also provide residential housing for approximately 500 students.
8. The funding of six intercollegiate research centers in fields ranging from electronic materials to urban health to global management.
9. The Center for Subsurface Imaging and Sensing (CENSIS) received rave reviews from the National Science Foundation after a three-day site visit.
— Faculty achievements: Professor Sara Wadia Fascetti was honored by President Bush for outstanding mentoring, Steve Morrison received the distinguished member award from the American Economic Association; Professor Richard Katula was named a Fulbright scholar; and Andy Sum and Paul Harrington achieved new heights nationally as commentators on labor market trends.
10. The appointment of 11 faculty to named chairs and distinguished professorships: Bill Hancock in biotechnology, Joe Raelin in practice oriented education, Vladimir Novotny in civil engineering, and Hortensia Amaro in urban health.
While I often mention that we have a lot of work ahead of us in regards to moving Northeastern into the top 100 universities in the country, these achievements clearly indicate that we are well on our way. The recognition received by Northeastern’s students, faculty, and staff is a testament to the caliber, motivation, and drive cultivated here at the university.
There is so much to be proud of this year, and I would like to extend special words of appreciation to the members of the Northeastern community:
To the graduating class of 2003, I say thank you, congratulations, and best wishes on your next endeavors. It has been a wonderful five years learning and growing with you, and you will be greatly missed.
To the returning students, I look forward to the experiences and challenges that the upcoming academic year will bring. You will be the pioneers of Semester Conversion, and I know that we, as a community, take this step together.
To the faculty and staff of the university, I thank you for making Northeastern such a strong and vibrant institution.
— President Richard Freeland
