Talking Points

St. Lawrence today has unprecedented energy, momentum that carries us forward to greater accomplishment and reputation. Our goal is to get better faster than the competition at those programs that relate most directly to the education of our students. As President Daniel F. Sullivan recently noted, “Our resource base has grown substantially; demand on the part of prospective students is skyrocketing; our increasingly sophisticated assessments of student learning outcomes show strong results; and students, alumni and parents of St. Lawrence students are enthusiastic and pleased about what is going on here.”   Make note of these accomplishments since 1996:

*Four new majors to bring total majors to 35.

*Nineteen new faculty positions, expanding the faculty to 190 and reducing the student:faculty ratio to 11:1.

*Expanded student-faculty research: Over 100 students each year conduct independent research and 175 students conduct senior projects.

*Four new international programs. 
*Investments in facilities for student benefits: $180+ million for construction or renovation, over 20 projects completed or in progress.

The Result: Our Growing Market Strength

*Applications are at an all-time high: 4,647 for Class of 2011, a 45.5% increase over applications for the Class of 2010, which was an all-time high of 3,192.  

*Our acceptance rate has improved 29 points since 1998, from 73% to 44%.

*Our first-year retention rate has improved seven points since 1998, from 82% to 89%.

*Graduate school acceptance rate has risen from 67.5% to 84% from 1998 to 2005.

*Annual philanthropy is at or above $22 million, from $5 million in 1996.