Following its "We Rise To New Heights" strategic plan, Mount St. Joseph University spent the summer implementing major operational changes and campus-wide renovations to enhance the student experience for the new academic year.
Mount Community:
I am thrilled to see so many new and returning students on campus today, as we start the 105th academic year of Mount St. Joseph University!
This summer has been a season of transformation across the institution. Many operational changes and infrastructure improvements were made to better align our world-class academics, student support, and extracurricular offerings with the “Bold Goals,” established in the We Rise To New Heights Strategic Plan.
Watch our Welcome Back Video below:
We Rise To New Heights is much more than a tagline for the Mount’s Strategic Plan. It represents our collective Vision for Mount St. Joseph University in the year 2030, and the priorities we have established to guide us to achieve the Vision.
Consistent with these priorities, this summer, we accomplished a number of objectives.
- We revamped The Learning Center into The Learning Commons, to provide enhanced and expanded academic support opportunities for all students. “Project EXCEL” is now “Success+,” with a new catalog of services that can be easily tailored for student-specific needs.
- We relocated and enhanced our former Academic Advising and Resource Center, now the Advising Resource Center located in the Seton Center, adding an additional staff member, expanded services, and beautifully remodeled student-centered support space.
- We added a Director of First-Year Experience (“FYE”), who will lead the FYE offerings for all first-year students and begin developing peer-to-peer mentoring programs.
- The Career and Experiential Education Center moved to the Conlan Center, adjacent to the Classroom Building and Theatre. In addition, the department has hired a new staff member to better meet the career needs of Mount students, in the constantly changing employment landscape.
- We also made some amazing facility updates on campus – we renovated the first floor of Seton Center, added a state-of-the-art E-Sports Arena in the Harrington Center. Moreover, we are in the process of, beautifully, revitalizing the Japanese Garden, which will make our beloved Quad even more student-friendly and engaging.
- And, very importantly, we, now, have a new campus spirit landmark – an oversized yellow, MSJ Adirondak Chair just east of the Quad, across the street from the ZIV Art Building!
These are just a few highlights. There has been so much happening across the campus this summer, it is impossible to touch on everything! Moreover, there is so much more to come, as we grow and adapt to our strategic priorities, ensuring that We Rise To New Heights together this year…to assure that the Mount continues to Rise to New Heights – for the next 105 Academic Years!
As I conclude, please remember to join us for “Mount Day at the Reds” on Friday, August 29th! It's going to be a great night of community and fun. Indeed, all students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends are encouraged to attend! You can reserve your spot at this link:
www.gofevo.com/event/MSJ25.
It brings me immense joy to see the entire Mount Community back together on campus for the 2025-2026 academic year! May God continue to bless us, all – and GO LIONS!
Sincerely,
H. James Williams, Ph.D.
President