To the UConn Community:
Happy 2026! I hope you’re enjoying the holiday season and getting the chance to spend time with those who mean the most to you. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you. Whether you’re a current student, a faculty or staff member, a parent of a student, or part of our wonderful alumni and friends, you have all played a vital role in shaping UConn into the extraordinary community it is today — one filled with meaningful friendships. I truly cherish being a part of it all.
In advance of the beginning of the spring semester later this month, I write to wish each of you a happy New Year and to take a moment to reflect on just a few of the highlights from 2025 for UConn and UConn Health as we look ahead to 2026. While not comprehensive, it does capture some of the achievements, accolades, important news, and points of pride for our university community over the last year:
January: UConn Health earned a five-star rating for patient experience – the only hospital in Connecticut to earn this distinction – and in Storrs, we embarked on our Strategic Enrollment Management plan.
February: UConn Magazine chronicled 24 hours on the Storrs campus through a compelling collection of photographs taken over the course of a single day, and we kicked off a “Moral Courage” Metanoia.
March: We announced the start of the final phase of the dramatic renovation of the Gant Science Complex, UConn’s student-organized HuskyTHON dance marathon raised more than $2.1 million for Connecticut Children’s, and we announced a record-breaking 62,000 applications.
April: The UConn Foundation launched the largest fundraising campaign in university history, we spotlighted the role student activities play in building a sense of belonging at our regional campuses, and the role UConn Health team physicians play in keeping our student athletes healthy. And, of course, our women’s basketball team won its 12th NCAA championship.
May: We highlighted the extraordinary impact of UConn research and we celebrated the Class of 2025.
June: We adopted our budget for the next fiscal year in Storrs, and in Farmington, UConn Health was recognized as among the best maternity hospitals.
July: In the heat of summer, UConn hosted the Sustainability Summit for Northeast Higher Education, UConn Health hosted Summer Research Day, and UConn John Dempsey Hospital was recognized for the quality of its care for stroke and heart attack patients.
August: We welcomed the Class of 2029 and thousands of returning students to our campuses, and the Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine held their annual White Coat ceremonies.
September: We launched a major effort to bring great efficiency and transparency to the university budget, and UConn was recognized in the latest Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Sustainable Campus Index as a Top Performer, continuing to burnish our reputation as a nationally recognized leader in sustainability.
October: We announced the Bridgeport Promise Program, the UConn School of Pharmacy celebrated its centennial, UConn Health was named a Best-in-State Hospital and was recognized for its outstanding clinical performance, and we celebrated a major milestone in the construction of the new Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing building with a beam signing ceremony.
November: UConn Health opened a new chapter for a vital community healthcare provider when it submitted a bid to acquire Waterbury Hospital – a first step in bringing UConn Health’s exceptional care to new communities and patients. Underscoring this, this month also saw UConn Health earn its 10th consecutive “A” rating for patient safety. Also, UConn’s second Economic Development Forum was held in Stamford.
December: QuantumCT, a proposal that is being made jointly by UConn and Yale, was previously named as a finalist for a major National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. In December, the QuantumCT partners participated in an important site visit to interact with and present to NSF officials. Find more about UConn’s work in this incredibly important field here, including our newest television ad, which touts UConn’s quantum strength. And just before the end of the year, the UConn Foundation’s “Because of UConn …” campaign passed the halfway mark to its goal with more than $800 million raised.
It was certainly an eventful year in which the university both contended with great challenges and celebrated great achievements. We look forward to 2026 with a strong sense of optimism and determination as we carry out our vital missions at UConn and UConn Health focused on our fundamentals: student success, research innovation, and providing exceptional patient care.
Best wishes and happy New Year!
Radenka Maric
UConn President
