On October 26, Quinnipiac Board of Trustees member and former Alumni Board President Jeanna Doherty ’94, joined President Judy Olian to share the campaign’s momentous announcement. They brought the news to a full house of excited Bobcat alumni, students, family, faculty and staff packing the festive men’s ice hockey Game Watch Party in the Recreation and Wellness Center.

As Quinnipiac closes in on celebrating its 100th year in 2029, the university stands on the threshold of a new era, Doherty said.

“It’s an era defined not only by where we’ve been, but by where we’re boldly choosing to go,” said Doherty. “As I look around this room, I see alumni, parents, faculty, staff, leadership and friends of our university. But I also see the very fabric of Quinnipiac, which is woven together by our shared experiences and our collective ambition.” 
 
Olian said it’s been her true privilege to lead Quinnipiac since 2018, beginning with the building of a Strategic Plan that coalesced around four pillars.

“We’ve accomplished a lot, together,” said Olian. “We built resilience, resolve and the capacity to overcome a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. It was during COVID that our board made truly gutsy decisions to go forward and build first a Recreation and Wellness Center, and then to commit to three South Quad buildings. While everyone else was dialing back on their ambition, we doubled down on ours!”

In addition to building new facilities, Quinnipiac has built a true passion among eager students and enthusiastic families joining the ever-growing Bobcat family. For the second consecutive year, Quinnipiac was the first choice for over 60% of its first-time students. In the last few years, over 170 faculty with expertise in emerging fields have helped build 38 new majors and certificates. Last year, Quinnipiac welcomed more than 2100 new undergraduate and transfer students and almost 1200 entering graduate students, a record number in recent years. Based on strong student outcomes, graduates’ financial success and positive feedback on student satisfaction with college life, The Wall Street Journal recently ranked Quinnipiac among the nation’s top 100 public and private institutions.

Speaking just moments before the puck would drop on the afternoon’s Bobcat Division 1 hockey match, Olian said she didn’t have to remind this crowd of another No. 1 ranking: the Quinnipiac men's ice hockey team’s 2023 NCAA national champion title.

“We’ve built so much together,” said Olian. “But there is one more thing we have yet to do. This afternoon, I am asking you to join with us as we continue to build our future. With the assistance of all you, we will take Quinnipiac into our next century; with a roar.”

To continue to build The University of the Future, the vision for the new campaign is to establish Quinnipiac as a model of learning in a rapidly changing world. It will help eliminate barriers to education to develop the brightest students from all walks of life; launch even more groundbreaking programs supported by world-class faculty; and transform physical spaces which will facilitate new forms of learning, living and collaboration.

The campaign’s four key strategic priorities are to raise $55 million to support student scholarships and financial aid; $50 million to launch innovative programs; $30 million to advance faculty excellence and leadership; and $25 million to invest in capital projects.

Doherty urged all members of the extended Bobcat family to join in “…seizing this moment to build the momentum that will author Quinnipiac’s next great chapter.”

“I’m asking each of you to join us in the groundbreaking effort. We gather here at a defining crossroads in Quinnipiac’s journey,” Doherty said. “Tonight, we launch an ambitious campaign with the goal of raising $160 million over the next five years. You will help us to do more, accomplish more and position our university to achieve more, not just for the next decade, but for the next century and beyond.”