University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J. addressed the current state of Saint Louis University, as well as what it can look forward to, at Tuesday’s Faculty Assembly meeting held in the August Busch Auditorium in Cook Hall.

After describing the financial troubles facing the University before his tenure, Biondi listed events occurring during his 13-year administration that have benefited SLU financially, including the sale of SLU Hospital to Tenet and the ongoing initiatives of Project SLU2000.

Biondi also noted the academic accomplishments made by faculty and students, such as improved retention and graduation rates, as well as SLU’s ranking in U.S. News & World Report’s list of “Schools That Offer the Best Value.”

All of these are “signs of notable success and progress,” he said.

As the 2002 fiscal budget will be presented to the Faculty Senate in January, Biondi reviewed a long list of this year’s expenses-ranging from telephone charges to office supplies-and discussed the causes behind several variances in the 2001 budget, including the loss of faculty in the University Medical Group that resulted in a $12 million loss in revenue.

Biondi then addressed ongoing and future affairs, such as possible uses for the Compton Heights Hospital, a new or improved student union, SLU’s commitment to the expansion of Grand Center and the unknown effects of the Vatican document Ex Corde Ecclesiae, the recent papal encyclical that addresses church influence at Catholic universities.

Biondi also added that although there will be no parking rate increase this year, an increase will occur next year.

Following Biondi’s address, faculty members raised questions and concerns, including the percentage of minority faculty and students as well as the lack of progress by the Stillwater Focus Group, a group of consultants who critique universities on how well they operate.

Faculty Senate President John Slosar said that although the University has seen progress, “There is still a long way to go.”

Slosar said he believes in Biondi’s vision that SLU can be the finest, Jesuit Catholic institution, but in order to do so, the faculty must play an active role.

“I believe Fr. Biondi is committed to [that vision], but he can’t do it by himself,” Slosar said.