Letter from Rev. Donald C. Harrington, C.M.

Dear Friends of St. John's University,

As President of St. John’s, I have the great pleasure of presenting this report, which highlights the major accomplishments of the University’s 2004-05 academic year. The report has two purposes.

First, it seeks to capture the significant achievements of our faculty and students. In so doing, it evidences that St. John’s continues to build upon its record of academic excellence. As you will read on the following pages, this year, several new programs were launched – most notably within the Tobin College of Business and the College of Professional Studies, enhancing the educational options for students. Several academic programs were recognized for their excellence by U.S.News & World Report and The Princeton Review. Faculty were successful in the most competitive of venues and won major grants and highly respected fellowships. Students excelled in the classroom and on the playing fields.

Second, and even more important, this report seeks to convey the uniqueness of our institution. St. John’s is one of thousands of colleges and universities in the United States and one of hundreds of Catholic institutions of higher education. But it is one of only three institutions (Niagara and DePaul are the others) founded and sponsored by the Vincentian community. Our Vincentian mission distinguishes us. That mission, and the many ways by which we seek to fulfill it, gives thematic unity to this report. As you will note, we seek, always, to provide values-based education rooted in the principles of social justice and concern for the dignity of all persons. And we seek, in a special way, to reach out to the poor and marginalized, recognizing that interaction with the disadvantaged can transform our lives as well as theirs.

I hope that you will be informed, intrigued and inspired by the stories that you read here. Know that the University remains grateful for the support and inspiration which you, our friends, continue to provide.

Sincerely,

Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M.