Dear UC Community,
The year 2021 will be upheld as among the most significant years in the history of the University of Cincinnati. Though we were largely locked down and forced apart during the first half of the year, the last half of 2021 brought us together like never before.
Our first large-scale gathering took place under blue skies in April when our graduates and their loved ones were able to celebrate inside Nippert Stadium for the first of three in-person commencement ceremonies this year. What an incredible joy to see our spaces re-energized by our students, faculty, staff and community during fall semester. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, we landed another record class by welcoming the largest-ever enrollment at our Uptown campus.
No single day in recent memory stands out quite like September 10, the day we accepted an invite to the Big 12; announced signature investments in diversity, equity and inclusion; and celebrated the renaming of a building to honor a powerful bond between a student and his mentor. We also continued to make significant progress with our Next Lives Here strategic direction, including the launch of Research 2030, as we strive toward leading urban public universities into a new era of innovation and impact.
I know all of you join me in congratulating our undefeated Bearcats who became the first-ever non-Power 5 team invited to the College Football Playoff. I look forward to cheering them on versus Alabama on New Year’s Eve.
As we set our sights on 2022, I wish you all happy holidays.
