President's Newsletter

Vol. 3 | Issue 2 | February 2018

Letter from the President

Since the founding of St. John’s University by the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians) almost 150 years ago, our University has upheld its mission to provide an affordable, quality, Catholic education to all, especially to those most in need.

Hard work and higher education have long been viewed as the most effective steps one can take to climb the ladder of success. It is a story that I often hear from many of our alumni—that without the financial and academic support they received from St. John’s, they would not have been able to attend college—and they attribute the success they achieved in their careers and personal lives to their St. John’s education.

The impact of a St. John’s education was recently recognized in a National Bureau of Economic Research report published by The Chronicle of Higher Education, which ranked St. John’s number one among US Catholic colleges and universities in a new metric called student-mobility rate. The student-mobility rate measures the percentage of all students in a birth cohort at a particular school whose parents were in the bottom 20 percent for household income and who reached the top 20 percent for individual earnings.

Of all the recent rankings and accolades received by the University, the student-mobility ranking is the most significant because it defines the very essence of St. John’s mission. Being ranked number one on this metric is a testament to St. John’s enduring mission to follow the Catholic and Vincentian tradition of helping those most in need by providing affordable, quality education that enables students to transform their lives and improve their economic circumstances.

I invite you to read how the University continues to work to ensure student success and how our efforts to promote academic excellence have been recognized by external rating agencies. You will learn how innovative classroom upgrades and state-of-the-art technology prepare our students for exciting new careers, and how improvements in academic facilities and in student mentoring and support programs all contribute toward ensuring student success.

I am proud of the work being done at St. John’s to provide students, regardless of economic means, with a quality education that will prepare them for rewarding careers and lives marked by service and achievement. I am grateful for the continuing support of parents, alumni, friends, and partners as we provide the next generation of students at St. John’s with a life-changing academic experience.

Sincerely,

Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw, Ph.D.
President

Student Enrollment, Retention, and Career Placement Update

In September, St. John’s welcomed a freshman class of 2,967 students, the largest cohort of first-year students of any Catholic college or university in the US. The class includes 994 students from Catholic high schools and 115 international students.
The average high school GPA of the freshman class is 90, which marks the third consecutive year the entering class has achieved that GPA.
Freshman retention rates matched last year’s retention rate of 84 percent.
For the Class of 2017, the undergraduate career placement rate was 94.3 percent, matching the record 2016 career placement rate.
Seeking a taste of college life at St. John's University, a record number of 2,117 high school juniors and seniors—and their families—made the trip from as far away as California and England to visit the Queens and Staten Island campuses for the Fall 2017 Open House events

Advancement Update

#GIVINGTUESDAY
- On Tuesday, November 28, St. John’s participated in #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. More than 1,572 donors contributed $137,680 to the University. Funds raised will support student scholarships, facilities projects, technology upgrades, and other areas.
PARTNERS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
- Through the St. John’s Partners for Student Success scholarship initiative, the University seeks to raise $15 million in new endowed scholarship funds. Introduced in 2016, the program has so far secured $3.18 million. A total of $110,000 in scholarship funds made possible from these new endowments has been awarded during the current academic year.
AN EVENING WITH ST. JOHN’S BASKETBALL
- On Monday, November 6, nearly 200 Red Storm basketball supporters filled the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan to raise $367,000 for the program. Emceed by legendary broadcaster Bill Raftery, the event also featured Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens, who joined Head Coach Chris Mullin and Assistant Coach Mitch Richmond for a Q&A session with members of the 2017–18 men’s basketball team.

University News

Student-Mobility Outcomes at St. John’s University Receive Top National Recognition

The University is the #1 Catholic institution in the nation on the list of "Colleges with the Highest Student-Mobility Rates," according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.

February 1, 2018

University-wide Technology Upgrades Give Advantages to Students

With numerous technological upgrades implemented in classrooms throughout the Queens, Staten Island, and Manhattan campuses, St. John’s is poised for the future of teaching and learning.

January 31, 2018

St. John’s University Excels in New Rankings and Success Rates

Excellence at St. John’s University has been reflected in new success rates and high rankings that exemplify continued academic distinction and robust study abroad participation.

January 30, 2018

Students Thrive through Mentoring Program

The growing success of the St. John’s University Student And Faculty Engagement (SAFE) program was celebrated by more than 80 members of the University community at a recognition dinner held on the Queens, NY, campus on November 15.

January 29, 2018

Students Pitch Business Ideas to Industry Leaders at University Competition

Tapping the entrepreneurial spirit at St. John’s, the College of Professional Studies (CPS) launched its first Pitch Johnny Competition, allowing students to pitch their business ideas to industry professionals and compete for a grand prize.

January 28, 2018

New Classroom Labs Enhance Learning at the College of Professional Studies

From cutting-edge situation rooms that are used to simulate attacks on US soil, to business incubator rooms for promising entrepreneurs, five new labs at the College of Professional Studies (CPS) are helping prepare students for some of today’s fastest-growing careers.

January 26, 2018

For Johnny Wiley, a New York City-Based Fellowship is Leading to International Internship Opportunities

Johnny Wiley, a Government and Politics major from Uniondale, NY, is the third St. John’s University undergraduate since 2014 to be awarded the Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship—a three-year international internship program funded by the Thomas J. Watson Foundation.

January 25, 2018

Ireland Added to St. John’s University’s Signature Study Abroad Program

Starting in spring 2018, St. John’s students can experience Ireland through the addition of historic Limerick as one of the three European cities included in the University’s popular Discover the World: Europe program.

January 24, 2018

University Mission Celebrated with Local Catholic High School Leaders

In what has become an annual fall tradition on the Queens, NY, campus, St. John’s University hosted local Catholic high school principals, guidance counselors, and senior University administrators for an appreciation dinner and discussion of shared issues and ideas in secondary and higher education.

January 23, 2018

Mission and Service Celebrated During Founder’s Week

The premier event of St. John’s University’s annual Founder’s Week celebration (held September 20–27) is the Vincentian Convocation, which this year welcomed to the Queens campus for the first time the Most Rev. John O. Barres, S.T.D., J.C.L., D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

January 22, 2018