President's Message

2003-2004 Annual Report

Bucknell ranks among the top liberal arts colleges and universities in the nation. Of the 3,600 colleges and universities in the United States, only a few hundred offer the close faculty and student interactions, the small classes, and the care and nurturing that come with the challenges our faculty members provide our students. Of these, only a few have the resources to broaden the experience and to link the academic heart of the institution in an intimate and purposeful way to what occurs beyond the classroom and lab. Bucknell is one of these unique and special places.

Since being named president last spring, I have begun my journey toward becoming a Bucknellian. As a historian, I value Bucknell’s past and its traditions and am eager to learn more about this great university. Bucknellians have a special bond with each other, shaped by the exceptional educational experiences they have shared through the years on this beautiful campus nestled by the Susquehanna River.

But we must also begin to prepare for an even brighter future for Bucknell. During the next 18 months, we will embark on a strategic planning effort to determine our priorities for the coming decade. Those priorities will help shape the next comprehensive campaign that will provide the resources required to achieve our shared vision. This is a critical moment in the university’s history. I invite you to join me as we aspire to fulfill the extraordinary promise of Bucknell.

Brian C. Mitchell
President