President Aceves Opens New School Year
President Salvador D. Aceves ’83, EdD ’95 marked the end of his first year at USF at convocation on Aug. 20 and shared his goals for the new academic year.
He welcomed faculty and staff to the newly renovated Presentation Theater on campus.
“As I enter my second year at USF, I am heartened by a phrase I hear from alumni, whether they graduated five years ago or 50 years ago….‘USF changed my life,’” he said.
Aceves said the focus for the upcoming year will be on enrollment.
This fall, USF has exceeded its undergraduate enrollment goal, with 1,873 first-year and transfer students. However, the fall classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025 are all below the target of 1,750 students per class. That means there are revenue implications, with the net tuition revenue from each of those classes below the $45 million to $50 million goal.
Aceves said it will take a few years to establish sustainable enrollment and net tuition revenue. At the same time, he said, planning groups will develop a comprehensive enrollment blueprint for the university. These groups are led by Eileen Fung, provost; Eric Groves, vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management; and Brent Gustafson, chief financial officer.
“As we plan for the future, USF continues to offer students the promise of a Jesuit Catholic education,” Aceves said.
“And years from now, when they look back on their time here and say, ‘USF changed my life,’ they will be speaking about all of us. And I count myself among the many grateful alumni when I say, ‘USF changed my life.’"
