The 2022 State of the University Address: Key Takeaways

Acting President Lisa Kloppenberg highlighted various moments of “Bronco Pride” that shone amidst the challenges of the past year

The 2022 State of the University Address was released through a school wide email on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

While the address is normally held in person, Acting President Lisa Kloppenberg cited the ongoing need for COVID-19 safety and the many adjustments the university has been forced to make as the reasoning for the video format.

Student Body President Abigail Alvarez delivered remarks following Kloppenberg’s introduction.

“While I know the importance of celebrating our victories and marking our progress, I also want to speak candidly about the pain we experienced this year,” she said.

Alvarez went on to address the trauma that the community has recently faced, including “epidemic” levels of sexual assault that occurred shortly after the school year began, and student deaths that occurred later in the fall quarter. 

She was also quick to point out the positive changes that resulted from these circumstances.

“For each of the hardships we have faced, the community came together and demanded change,” she said.

These changes included an extended pass-no pass deadline in the fall quarter, increased salaries for Counseling and Psychology Services (CAPS) therapists and mental health care that is accessible 24 hours a day.

Kloppenberg, who has served as acting president amidst some of the most trying times in university history, also offered her thoughts on how the university has reacted to the challenges of the past year and changed for the better.

“This year has demonstrated that as a university our commitment to increasing the diversity and inclusion of our faculty, staff and students is not just lip service, but is being taken to heart and put into action across campus,” Kloppenberg said.

She went on to discuss the new Division of Inclusive Excellence, launched Dec. 1, which integrates six separate units on campus to “centralize and scale” diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

The division has since begun a justice, equity, diversity and inclusion strategic planning process, abbreviated under the acronym “JEDI,” which Kloppenberg said “seems appropriate for the powerful force for change this process will be.”

Recruitment figures further manifested the administration's effort to make Santa Clara a more diverse and representative environment. Over 50% of the Class of 2025 are students of color, and 12% are first generation. Of the 26 newly hired faculty for 2021-2022, 75% identify as BIPOC.

“Such progress makes our Santa Clara University community look more like our increasingly diverse world,” Kloppenberg said. “We have a long way to go, especially when it comes to representation, equitable treatment and inclusion of historically marginalized and minoritized members in our community. But I am heartened by the committed trajectory we are on.”

Kloppenberg also underscored the university’s strong financial position, which provided impetus for new budget changes, including a 4% merit pool increase for faculty and staff and a $1.7 million increase in undergraduate financial aid.

“Our next president will join a university that is in a very strong financial position thanks especially to the hard work and strong stewardship of our finance and investment, university relations and admissions teams,” she said.

In light of these developments, Kloppenberg was optimistic about the university’s future.

“Now, as we stand on the brink of exciting and significant transitions in our leadership, advances in STEM, advances in our goals for antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion, I want to thank all of you who have been shining lights to one another and to me…let us continue to bring light to each other,” she said.