State of the University

Before a crowd of trustees, regents and other close friends of the university, President Stephen Sundborg, S.J., brought a discerning eye to the state of Seattle University. Marking 20 years as president this month and entering his fifth term as president, Father Sundborg shared his perspective on where the university has been, where it is today and where he would like to see it go. He outlined the following 10 elements he envisions for SU in the “new chapter for the university and the next chapter for me”: 

1. Fulfilling the dream of truly becoming Seattle’s university, the independent university worthy of and matching the vibrancy of our city and region. 

2. A recognized and prized partner of, and contributor to, the corporations and institutions which are shaping our lives and futures. 

3. A voice of ethics, values, justice, and compassion issuing from our Jesuit identity for a region needing these anchoring attributes. 

4. Increasingly the first-choice university for students who want academic depth and life transformative decision-making and action. 

5. Championship athletics, with the facilities to match, which puts our university on the national map of students, alumni, and supporters. 

6. An aggressive development of technology to enhance the learning of our students and to provide access to students who want our kind of Jesuit education. 

7. An assured enrollment, success, and graduation of students on all levels of our education, which will allow us to build our academic reputation and our programs. 

8. A distinguishing student experience which combines challenging academics, service to community, preparation for careers, and a strong sense of belonging, fun, and community. 

9. A clarity and integrity in how to be a Catholic university in the Jesuit tradition which is inspiring for students of a new world and of a new mindset. 

10. A university community and its friends unified by our Jesuit history and values and increasingly capable of discerning its future together. 

Click State of the University to read Father Sundborg’s full remarks.