Hello fellow Bobcats,     

Welcome back — we missed you! I trust you had a great winter break with family and friends, did fun stuff, rejuvenated and chilled, and also craved for your QU community. We’re looking forward to a terrific spring semester. Here are a few highlights:   

You’ll notice that the South Quad construction is moving full steam ahead with the residence hall on track for completion this fall, and the two academic buildings set to open in May 2025. And one of those buildings has a new name: The SITE! With student input into the choice of its name, The SITE was chosen because it’s a building dedicated to Science, Innovation, Technology and Exploration. The 137,000-square-foot building will feature many varied learning spaces, research and tech labs to immerse in artificial and virtual reality, gaming and computing, and a 700-person flexible auditorium. The SITE is the first new academic building, along with the new School of Business, to be constructed on campus since the 1990s. These will be game-changers.    

This semester, we’ll continue our Critical Conversations Speaker Series. The series stimulates discussion across the spectrum of personal views and opinions we might hold, in a thoughtful and provocative way. We encourage you to attend as many of these sessions as possible, to listen actively and engage with a range of ideas that will challenge you to reexamine some long-held positions. During Convocation last August, I talked about “becoming the kind of micro-society that is inclusive of thought and of people different than ourselves.” This series is one of the ways we come together to engage respectfully with each other, hear stimulating and varying points of view, sometimes different from our own. Lawrence Ross joins us on Thursday, February 1. Explore the full list of conversations in the series   

We continue our commitment to inclusive excellence. David Fryson, our Interim Vice President for Inclusive Excellence, has been on campus since the beginning of the year, bringing his long and diverse experience and expertise. I look forward to benefiting from his leadership as he engages with students, faculty and staff, and helps guide us to realizing our goals for inclusivity.

QU men's basketball is in first place in the MAAC at 6-1 under new head coach Tom Pecora; and QU women's basketball is in fifth place in the MAAC at 4-3. With spring around the corner, mark your calendars for our QU baseball home opener on March 1 against Merrimack. The team will play on our new baseball field that’s almost completed. Make it a point to join your fellow Bobcats to cheer on your favorite teams. Being part of Bobcat Nation is one of the hallmarks of your QU experience. It’s a very fun way to connect with friends, cheer for our Bobcats, and build the bonds of community for life.   

Finally, this winter and spring, make the most of the recreational facilities on our campuses, and of the beautiful outdoors that surround us. Hike Sleeping Giant, even in the cold (the views are gorgeous), or check out snowshoes, camping gear, yard games and other equipment from our Recreation and Wellness Center. There are many special events in the spring, from GAME Forum in New York City to the annual Wake the Giant concert. Exploit every opportunity to be active, stretch your academic muscles, and nourish your QU friendships. Please see the full calendar of university events

Wishing you a productive, invigorating spring semester in your academic programs, with your friends, and in the community. I’m so happy to welcome you back to your QU family — please say hi as we see each other on campus!   

Warmly, 

Judy Olian
President

This memo was issued by email on January 22, 2024 to all students. A copy of this memo was also sent to faculty and staff.