Dear Students and Colleagues, 

With Homecoming and Family Weekend now concluded, I want to take a moment to acknowledge what a special week it was for Temple. 

Whether it was here on campus or at Tailgate Village outside of Lincoln Financial Field, the energy and genuine Temple pride that was on display was simply infectious. I thank all members of our community who joined us for this special occasion. 

As we now look to the remainder of the fall semester, we continue to navigate unprecedented uncertainty. Alarming and sometimes harrowing news headlines have become the norm, and this onslaught can bring with it feelings of angst and uncertainty.   

In times like these, we can all find comfort and strength in reflecting on Temple’s mission and remembering why we are here: our students. They will always be at the center of everything we do. This is something I was reminded of during a recent conversation I had with Temple Student Government President Lourdes Cardamone and Vice President Janeese Hochstetler, who shared some of the issues they are hearing from the student body.    

Whether it is concern about fundamental freedoms or anxiety around the rise of artificial intelligence and the impact AI will have on the job market, our students are navigating a world rife with complex and evolving challenges. These are difficult times for society, but I want our students to know your university hears your concerns, and we are here to support you.

The uncertainty of the current moment will not dissipate any time soon, but we are committed to navigating through it together. 

Federal and Commonwealth update 
The university continues to closely monitor the federal government shutdown and other activity occurring at that level. As you know, the administration proposed a “compact” to nine universities, which would require those institutions to make commitments related to hiring, admissions, tuition pricing and curriculum in exchange for the possibility of preferred access to federal funds.  

While Temple was not one of the institutions to directly receive the compact, its ramifications would be deeply consequential for higher education. Our Federal Impact Advisory Group is reviewing the compact and will be providing its analysis and insights to our leadership team. As we continue to assess any potential impact on Temple, we will keep the community fully apprised.  

In addition, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has not yet passed a budget for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, which began on July 1. As a state-related institution that relies on its non-preferred appropriation to keep tuition costs down for Pennsylvania residents, the impact on Temple could be considerable. We already are seeing many students feel the effects of delays in the disbursement of funds through the PA State Grant Program. 

Vice President for Government and Community Relations Brian Keech and his team are paying close attention to what is happening in Harrisburg. It is important to note that receipt of the non-preferred appropriation has been delayed in the past, and when that has occurred, we have been able to keep in-state tuition stable while negotiations in Harrisburg are completed. We remain optimistic that Temple’s Commonwealth funding will be approved in due course. 

Enrollment and budget 
This fall, we welcomed 5,379 new first-year students, which represents a 9% increase in first-year enrollment over last year. This is the largest first-year class in Temple’s 141-year history, and I applaud and thank all our colleagues in the Division of Enrollment Management and our schools and colleges who played a part in recruiting such a strong group of talented students. 

We are also seeing similar progress in our international locations. Temple Japan’s enrollment this fall is 3,545, which is up from 2,777 students last year. This includes more than 650 new first-year students. Additionally, Temple Rome has enrolled 228 students this fall, which includes 38 first-year students. This brings our overall global enrollment to just over 33,000 across all our campuses and locations, which represents a slight increase from last year. 

However, even with all of this positive news, we continue to face significant budget challenges. Our total enrollment at Main Campus is down year-over-year, approximately 700 students short of what we had projected. This results from a significant decline in transfer students, a decrease in first- to second-year retention and non-degree seeking students, and a lower than projected number of returning third- and fourth-year students. It further illustrates why the work we are pursuing around student success and retention is of the utmost importance. 

As a result of the decline in total enrollment at Main Campus, revenue is projected to be approximately $10 million less than budgeted, further adding to the existing deficit of $27 million I wrote to you about in July. This structural imbalance must be addressed. We have some difficult but necessary decisions to make over the next several fiscal years, and I will provide an in-depth update on the budget later this semester. 

Strategic Plan update 
I want to again thank everyone who participated in the strategic planning process last semester. Whether it was through attending a town hall or listening session or by providing feedback online, I am grateful to have had such strong participation and representation from the university community. 

Over the summer, the Steering Committee—which includes representatives from schools, colleges and administrative units as well as students, alumni and community members—and the Executive Committee have been hard at work, and we are on course to have an updated plan ready for review by the Board of Trustees in December. I look forward to sharing more as the plan nears completion and is ready for community discussion.  

Prioritizing well-being 
As you saw in last week’s message from Vice President for Human Resources Sharon Boyle and Associate Vice Provost for Health and Well-being Mark Denys, partners across the university have been working diligently to develop initiatives that will help support our employees’ well-being. 

Specifically, I encourage all employees to take advantage of the Human Sustainability Index Well-being Program, which provides personalized insights and ensures employees access to the key university resources that can help support them. 

Students are also encouraged to prioritize their well-being and take advantage of today’s Fall Wellness Day. Our Ambler Campus will once again hold a series of activities, including painting and yoga in the Formal Gardens as well as tours of the Ambler Arboretum. Students can register for the Ambler event here, and free shuttles will run back and forth between Ambler and Main Campus throughout the day. At Main Campus, the Wellness Resource Center has hosted giveaways throughout this week. 

Temple brand launch 
Last week, the university launched a dynamic new brand campaign that builds on the iconic “Temple Made” messaging. The campaign distills just what it means when those two words are heard. It is something that is clear to all of us, but now the rest of the world will know, too: Real Success is Temple Made. 

The best part of this campaign is that it’s about real experiences and real outcomes. It utilizes our successful alumni to illustrate what is possible when you are Temple Made. I want to thank the team from Strategic Marketing and Communications for all of their work on this important initiative. 

PAFA partnership  
As you may have seen, last month, we began a partnership with Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) to expand programming for the Tyler School of Art and Architecture. 

Beginning this month, Tyler will occupy space within PAFA’s Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building on North Broad Street. Through the partnership, Tyler plans to launch new programs, provide valuable studio space and create a new “critic-in-residence” program. It is the latest example of Temple’s renewed Center City presence and aligns with the plans we are developing for Terra Hall. Given the rich history of both Tyler and PAFA, this is truly a win-win for both institutions. 

Furthering our commitment to civic engagement 
Last month, we announced a new initiative, Owls for Philly, which invites faculty, staff, students and alumni to volunteer in support of local nonprofit partners and community organizations. Now that the initiative has officially launched, I encourage all of you to seek out opportunities to make a difference in our community. 

The launch of Owls for Philly also comes at an opportune time as you may have seen that Temple will serve as the host for the 31st annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service’s regional signature project. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is one of the most significant annual community service events for the City of Philadelphia, and we are honored to host this year.  

Community-engaged learning courses 
Last semester, we invited proposals for undergraduate courses that bring Temple students into direct and meaningful engagement with our surrounding communities. I sincerely appreciate everyone who took the time to put forth a submission, and I applaud all our faculty who have had their courses selected for support in this first round. 

I invite you to learn more about these talented faculty members and their community-engaged learning courses in this Temple Now piece. 

Building philanthropic momentum 
Last month, Al Checcio, who has been serving as the interim leader of institutional advancement since March, was named senior vice president of the division. Al brings with him more than 40 years of experience in fundraising and philanthropy, and in his short time here at Temple, he has already made a significant impact. 

We are seeing stronger engagement with alumni, and recent gifts to the university reflect that. As you may have heard, on Friday during the official opening for Paley Hall, we shared that University Trustee Christopher Barnett, CLA ’10, had committed $55 million to support the College of Public Health (CPH). It is the largest gift in Temple’s history and in recognition of Barnett’s generosity, CPH will now be known as the Christopher M. Barnett College of Public Health. We are deeply grateful to Chris for his incredible generosity. 

Additionally, this past fiscal year, Temple received more than $133 million in gifts, which is the most ever raised during a single fiscal year. It is clear there is so much excitement around Temple, and it is a cause that alumni and friends are being called to support.  

New trustees 
Last week, three new trustees were elected to the university’s governing board: Ellen Cooper, FOX ’85; Jim Schultz, CLA ’95; and Stanley Middleman, FOX ’76. 

These individuals have a wide range of backgrounds, and they are all distinguished leaders in their respective fields. It goes without saying that their expertise will be immensely valuable in helping to shape the future of our institution. Learn more about our new trustees here. 

In closing, I want to thank you all for your continued commitment to this university. We have already had a great start to the semester, and I know more progress is yet to come.  

Sincerely, 

John Fry 
President