On Thursday, Sept. 7th, President DiSalvo gave his State of the College Address. The event took place in the Dana Center, in Koonz Theater, where students, faculty, and staff from all departments gathered to hear about the current state of the college, and the plans for the college looking into the future. DiSalvo started by welcoming the incoming freshman Class of 2021 to Saint Anselm College.

Over the summer, the college had its first preview day for younger high school students to visit. It was anticipated that there would be 100 visitors, but instead 500 visitors came. Visitors to the college in general has risen 54 percent over the last four years. There has also been a more concentrated effort on recruitment, which has been successful in the New York metropolitan area where enrollment increased by 27 percent. Last year, there was one international student. This year, there are six international students from five different countries. Students also hail from 25 different states in the Class 2021, and they are the most diverse class in the history of the college. “How important is it that our students and the student body reflect the diversity of the world at wide,” said President DiSalvo.  

President Disalvo also vowed that the college would behind students and families who would be affected by the repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. He has asked the new Chief Diversity Officer, Dr. Ande Diaz, and Executive Director of the NHIOP, Neil Levesque, to create a pathway to citizenship for students and families affected by DACA.

There are 546 incoming traditional freshmen this year, which is larger number than in past years. “Is this an anomaly, or a new norm? We can’t answer that yet,” President DiSalvo said. What he did know is that the growing amount of students does impact space, classroom capacity, dining, the library, and the fitness center. “There are more bodies on campus, with the same services as before,” President DiSalvo mentioned, and asked for patience as everyone at the college adjusted to the new numbers.  

The next topic covered was a brief update on the financials of the college. Currently, Saint Anselm College has a 134 million dollar endowment, which helps attract new students each year. The college exceeded its fundraising goal, and participation in fundraising increased one percent, which according to DiSalvo, is an important increase. Alumni participation in fundraising is at eighteen percent. President DiSalvo also introduced the new Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Finance, Eric Norman, who has held positions at Curry College, UNH, and Berklee College of Music. Eric Norman will officially start on Sept. 18.

President DiSalvo gave an update on the new Student Center Complex. He said that the center is on track, and on budget to open in March of 2018.  “It is an extraordinary student center,” said President DiSalvo. “It is focused on what the students wanted and need.”   

Another update for the college is that there is a growing interest in living and learning. The Living Learning Commons offers this option, but there is also the option of Residential Learning Communities.

This year there are six new RLCs, with themes ranging from health and wellness, to body positivity, music, empowerment of women and more. President DiSalvo next updated on different programs for freshmen. This year, there were four Passages trips with 47 participants, and the Transitions Program had 50 participants. The college has also unveiled Anselmian 360, which is a retreat program designed to allow freshmen a night to reflect back and look ahead on their college experiences.

In August, 150 students went on the retreat, and 150 more students went on a retreat in early September. There will a third trip in January, to allow student athletes a chance to go on the retreat as well.

“All of our sports teams are continuing to do better.” said President DiSalvo, highlighting the accomplishments of the field hockey team, the basketball teams, the hockey teams, and men’s skiing.

Many new dynamic coaches have been hired, according to DiSalvo, and some of the athletic facilities have been updated. The floors Stoutenburgh Gymnasium have been repainted, the leaking in Grappone Stadium is set to be fixed, and there are new year round lockers for all sports teams in the Carr Center.

The school has also purchased a second, larger bus to transport students to games. “Tired spaces have been reinvigorated,” according to President DiSalvo.  

Looking ahead, President DiSalvo mentioned the possibility of offering graduate programs, with any department being able to submit a proposal.

The program would allow students to get their undergraduate and master’s degree, by attending the college for five years.

The school is also looking at the possibility of opening a welcome center for visitors in the location of the bookstore, as the bookstore is set to move into the Student Center Complex.

This would create more space in Alumni Hall, and President DiSalvo assured that “studying the space issue is a top priority this year.”  

There are challenges for the future of the college, including continuing aggressive recruitment efforts and investing in the college’s Strategic Plan. “The college is in a very strong competition to compete, but we cannot become complacent,” said the President.

He ended with a quote from Pope Francis, which states that “Life is a journey, and when we stop things don’t go right.”