Julie Sullivan Delivers State of the University Address

President spoke on increasing tuition costs and aggravation over lack of representation for underprivileged students

President Julie Sullivan delivered her first annual State of the University on Mar. 1. The event comes on the one-year anniversary of her presidential announcement and symbolizes the importance of “firsts” and serving as a role model for others. 

The address was given in an optimistic tone, highlighting the importance of pursuing Santa Clara’s Jesuit mission and inspiring difference-makers within the Bronco community. President Sullivan noted her appreciation for the honesty among people within the university, as she remarked that the community of students, faculty and leaders have been “anything but shy” in conversation with her throughout her first year. 

Sullivan emphasized the university’s increased national prominence. She stated that Santa Clara is ranked in the top 15 universities in the country in undergraduate teaching and number 55 in the best overall national university rankings, maintaining that these figures demonstrate an uncompromising standard of excellence. She also shared that the university received a record number of applications for the 2027 class. 

The inclusion of diverse viewpoints and areas of expertise is integral to Sullivan’s goal of forming leaders of the future and necessary to Santa Clara’s Jesuit mission. 

“This variety is what pushes us to look more deeply, engage more meaningfully and work more diligently,” she said. “Our variety is also what causes us to disagree and challenge each other, and that’s all healthy.”

Sullivan celebrated the 20th anniversary of the LEAD Scholars Program, which provides support and resources to first-generation college students. 

“We appreciate the talents, perspectives and experiences our LEAD scholars bring to our learning community, and seek to attract more first-generation students to Santa Clara,” Sullivan said. 

Ensuring the affordability and accessibility of a Santa Clara University education was a prevalent topic for Sullivan, who described how many students currently do not receive enough financial aid to compensate for increasing tuition costs, despite the importance of a four-year degree. 

“The decision to invest in a four-year degree is among the most important decisions one can make, yet this academic year, 21% of our students are carrying unmet financial need, and the average of that unmet financial need is just over 20,000,” she said. 

Recent issues with mental health resources on campus were also addressed. 

“We learned that we weren’t as equipped as we needed to meet those increased needs,” she said. “I’m proud of the significant investments we’ve made in mental and behavioral health resources, which have totaled over 1.6 million over the past two years.”

The 2023-2024 fiscal year budget, adjusted to reflect rising operating costs and the repurposing of existing funding, was discussed by Sullivan. The budget includes a 3.0% tuition increase for undergraduate students and a 3.5% increase for graduate programs. Other changes include an additional $6.3 million allocated towards additional undergraduate financial aid and $700,000 of additional graduate financial aid for the School of Law. 

Sullivan invoked the rising prominence of issues such as intense polarization and disinformation, and argued that Santa Clara is in position to respond to these challenges through a humanistic approach.

“I think a Santa Clara university education has never been more important, with our values, pursuing a more humane, just and sustainable world, our commitment to developing a moral framework and our commitment to cultivating a spirituality of gratitude, discernment and reflection,” Sullivan said. “I’m proud that’s the type of university that we are.”