St. Julie Billiart Emergency Scholarship Campaign Announcement

April 2009

Dear Alumni and Friends of NDNU:

This is my second letter to you as president of NDNU and the subject is the same as the first: how we are coping with the current economic downturn. I am happy to report that as far as the financial health of the University is concerned, the news is relatively good for the present. It appears that the steps we have taken to reduce expenses and shore up our financial situation are working, and we will end the year in relatively stable financial condition.

Our major financial concern now is that a number of our current and prospective students and their families are being heavily impacted by the current economic crisis and this threatens their ability to attend NDNU in the fall. Approximately 45 percent of our dependent undergraduate students come from families earning less than $60,000 a year and many of those families are being hardest hit by the recession. While we expect that many students will be able to cope with the economic downturn, it is clear that some students and their families are feeling the strain. In fact, the number of students filing for financial aid this year is up 16 percent over last year.

To address this situation, the NDNU Board of Trustees has approved a budget calling for a net increase in institutional aid of $200,000 to $5.6 million. While this increase will help, it will not be nearly enough to meet the need we anticipate and some deserving students will be deprived of the opportunity to benefit from an NDNU education. For a University that prides itself on its commitment to social justice, we must do all we can to address this situation. Therefore I have directed the NDNU Office of Financial Aid to establish an “emergency scholarship fund” to help those students most seriously impacted by the current economic crisis.

We are calling this fund the St. Julie Billiart Emergency Scholarship Fund in honor of the foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame, an order that has always been dedicated to creating access to education for those who would otherwise not receive it. The funds will be used first to help existing NDNU students remain in school and secondly to create an opportunity for entering students, who otherwise would not be able to attend NDNU in the fall.

Were we to raise $500,000, it would be equivalent to 20 full scholarships for needy students or as many as 100 partial scholarships. Obviously, we can’t succeed without the help of our many generous friends and alumni. Please help us keep the promise of an NDNU education for those students in greatest need. 

I recognize that these are difficult times for many of us; and if you are not able to contribute at this time, please know that we continue to value you as an important member of the NDNU family and keep you in our prayers and thoughts. But if you can help, please do. Even a small donation can go a long way.

You may make an online gift right now by going to Make a gift or, if you prefer, you may contact our Advancement team by calling the office’s main line at (650) 508-4161.

I thank you, in advance, for your continued and generous support and for your consideration during this challenging time.

Sincerely,

Judith Maxwell Greig, Ph.D.

President

For frequently asked questions, please visit St. Julie Billiart Emergency Scholarship Campaign FAQ.

 

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