Dear Colleagues,

I write to you with a hopeful heart that we can all constructively move forward following the full release of the independent budget investigation report. I am very pleased that the independent investigator found no deception, improprieties or ethical violations by the budget and finance teams. We teach our students these critical values and all of us must strive to live up to them as we partner in the Jesuit mission of Santa Clara University. 

I would like to thank the collaborative investigative team, under the leadership of Steve Sordello and the Board of Trustees, that facilitated this thorough and expeditious investigation. They performed careful, intensive work over the summer in addition to all their other pressing responsibilities. I would also like to thank the budget and finance teams who worked under incredible pressure last year and have continued to exhibit grace, professionalism and cooperation throughout this process. I am confident that they are fully dedicated to the best interests of Santa Clara.

We have opportunities for improvement as we foster more effective transparency, communication and alignment. The Board of Trustees, our administrative team and the UCC will be closely reviewing the ideas that came out of the investigation report during the coming academic year, with input from and deliberation with other governance bodies invested in these areas.

Trust was strained among members of our community over the difficult past year we all endured. I encourage all of us to use this as an opportunity for a reset: to take a deep breath, and above all else, to move forward together doing our best to presume good intent from each other for the benefit of our entire Santa Clara community.

With gratitude,

Lisa A. Kloppenberg
Acting President