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Greetings Bronco Alumni, Donors, and Parents!
The end of Fall Quarter marks a lot of milestones – a new year around the corner, the holidays, and the beginning of new student admissions. As applications roll in and early admits are announced, I’m so gratified by how much interest there is in Santa Clara University from new and prospective students. As you may or may not know, many public and private schools across the country are facing dramatic enrollment declines. The combination of a shrinking high school class nationwide, problems with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), rising costs, and much socio-economic or political uncertainty, have rocked the higher education landscape. When I look at all of that, I’m grateful for how much interest there is in Santa Clara, our campus, and our programs. This fall, the University brought in the second-largest class in SCU’s history, selected from the largest-ever pool of applicants. This is no accident. Our faculty and staff truly make this university successful by developing really good programming, engaging in great outreach, and providing outstanding care for our students.
Our faculty have so much interest in our students. At some other universities, too many faculty just “put up” with teaching, doing it because they have to. Here, at Santa Clara, our faculty teach because they really want to. Yes, it’s stressful, it tires them out and works them hard, but as a rule, our faculty adore their students. I hear it from our faculty, but I also hear it from our students—they are consistently happy with the quality of their professors.
For our part, here in the College, we continuously work to invest in—and improve the experience of—our students. This fall, we created a brand new position, the Assistant Dean of Student Services and Academic Support, and welcomed Denise Ho into the role. This position is responsible for improving and managing the overall quality of student academic support across the College and will be a resource to our academic departments.
With over a decade of experience in higher education, Denise’s career is rooted in holistic student support, driven by her passion for creating accessible, student-centered services that alleviate the stress of academic planning. She holds a Master of Science in Educational Psychology with a focus on College Student Development from Northeastern University and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine. In her new role, Denise looks forward to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all students, staff, and faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences. She’s excited for this next chapter and to continue her commitment to student success.
As I reflect on where we are, and as we button up our campus for the holidays, I am grateful for our community, which includes all of you alumni, donors, and current parents. Thank you for your support and trust!
Wishing you a warm holiday season filled with the joys of family, friends, and community.
Daniel Press
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Santa Clara University
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