The Daily Campus

Issue date: 5/10/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Nick Hart UConn President Michael Hogan.

As another academic year came to an end, UConn President Michael Hogan reflected positivaely on the university's academic growth, athletic successes and the class of 2009 in an interview last week.

"Working with this year's graduates has been the happiest time of my life…It has been my pleasure and my honor to be their president," Hogan said.

"We're sending off a bright and capable class into the world," he said with pride. "It can't get much better than that."

As a final piece of advice to the seniors, Hogan wanted to tell them that this is "only the beginning of [their] educating. Your learning truly never stops."

Hogan plans on attending "four or five" commencement ceremonies this May, including the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine's ceremonies.

Hogan said he was most looking forward to hearing Timothy Shriver speak. Shriver, after receiving his bachelor's degree from Yale and a Master's Degree in religion and religious education, earned his Ph.D. from UConn. Shriver was a counselor and teacher for the UConn branch of Outward Bound and is currently the Chairperson and CEO of the Special Olympics.

Aside from a distinguished class of 2009, Hogan said he has much to be proud of this year at UConn.

"Academically, we've seen so much growth here," Hogan said. "U.S. News and World Report ranked several of our graduate programs in the top 20 in the nation and our faculty has received countless research grants and won distinguished awards."

"Our students have achieved wonderful scholarships, including the university's first Marshall Scholar, Michelle Prairie. We have a growing Honors Program and our incoming class has even higher SAT's and more diversity than ever."

In addition to the academic success, Hogan was able to rattle off some of the many athletic achievements that UConn has celebrated this year.

"UConn's football team won their bowl game this year and we have an excellent track team. Out men's basketball team made it to the Final Four and our women even won a national championship, how about that?"

Through a tumultuous year of significant budget cuts and recession, Hogan has managed to keep an optimistic outlook for UConn's future. But some of the negative changes have been difficult to ignore.

"I think it's been a difficult year with the budget cuts," Hogan said. "It's not yet clear what next year will look like. There's a lot of uncertainty. So far, we've had to [reduce] some of our services like the museum and library hours. Through it all, though, we've managed to preserve our undergraduate and graduate programs and we intend to succeed."

"It's easy to get consumed by the bad news but it's always important to remember all the good things happening for students here." Hogan advised.

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