A Message from the It is with great pleasure that I introduce the Fall 2023 issue of D’Mensions with a health and wellness theme of “Feeding the Body.” The articles within aim to represent the dynamically changing landscapes of healthcare and higher education. Amidst the turbulence of our time, we believe it is critical to ensure every decision a university makes has an eye on the future and promotes public good. Our hope is that this issue illustrates how D’Youville University continues to achieve both as we strive to become the health and wellness capital of our region. As you will see in the following pages, we are a body in motion. Our students, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and community constituents are always on the move, making an impact within their respective areas of expertise and service. Within this magazine, you will read about the rigor of academic and student engagement on campus, activities and services in the surrounding community, and outcomes of the deliberate choices we have been making to face forward and pursue game- changing goals. Among recent achievements, one of our most ceremonious milestones has been the full completion of our three-year transition to NCAA Division II athletics, which occurred in July 2023. D’Youville now hosts 19 intercollegiate teams of student athletes and coaches competing in the East Coast Conference. This elevation of play is catalyzing countless new opportunities for student growth, wellbeing, and recruitment. As of the Fall 2023, we are enrolling an exceedingly diverse student body from a larger geographic footprint than ever before, in large part driven by students’ interest in playing for a Division II athletics team. We invite you to cheer on our student athletes, in-person, or online—as all our games and competitions are live streamed for viewing from anywhere around the globe. D’Youville University now consists of students enrolling from 26 states, 18 countries, and with greater than 80% of new students enrolled in health-related majors. This is not only exceptional news for the cultivation of ideas and a vibrant campus culture, but also very beneficial for combating the “enrollment cliff” which is plaguing many colleges and universities in the Northeast with a declining number of secondary students graduating and going to college. While we are fortunate to have new student enrollment return to pre-COVID-19 levels, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to maintain enrollment, so we may continue our objective of empowering people to lead compassionate, productive, and responsible lives. A second, more comprehensive and longitudinal achievement is the positive re-affirmations of both our ‘BBB’ investment-grade bond rating and our institution’s national accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. In August 2023, D’Youville was not only evaluated to be in full compliance but acknowledged with nine commendations of exceptional organizational practice. These results were the outcomes of a seven-year preparation process which engaged hundreds of campus constituents in a culture of continuous improvement. Throughout this process, cross- sections of campus teams tirelessly documented, reviewed, assessed, and made improvements to nearly all aspects of the university, in accordance with the guidelines and expectations of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. D’Youville University now has a clean record moving forward toward our next assessment cycle to commence in 2030. While these selected highlights are representative of our momentum, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. As always, I encourage you to reach out to our Advancement team to schedule a time to visit campus, in person. And in the meantime, please enjoy learning about all the excitement happening at D’Youville University as you browse this edition of D’Mensions Magazine. Sincerely, Lorrie A. Clemo, PhD D’Youville University President PRESIDENT | FALL 2023 II
