Marking 120 Years

An email message sent to the campus community on October 2, 2024:

Dear Assumption Community, 

This week marks the 120th anniversary of Assumption University’s founding. Much has changed in the decades since. This is also an occasion to reflect on what never will. Then as now, we are deeply committed to our mission of Catholic liberal education, rooted in the belief that the pursuit of truth in the company of friends is both intrinsically good and enduringly applicable. In 1904, we were founded for immigrants for whom Assumption was the only accessible avenue to that pursuit and this kind of education. In 2024, Assumption’s Thrive strategic plan stands once more for access, ensuring that all qualified students who seek this education can receive it. 

At the heart of our work is a commitment to intellectual seriousness, the pursuit of truth, and the formation of thoughtful citizens. As Fr. Louis Robert, the first American-born Assumptionist, said to Assumption alumni in 1929: “Assumption must always remain the faithful custodian of the truth, for truth alone will make us free.” We are called not only to seek knowledge but to do so with humility and a commitment to the common good, understanding that the search for truth and the betterment of society are intrinsically linked. 

We remain steadfast in our mission. We form graduates known for their intellectual rigor and their dedication to a vision beyond themselves. We are a place where each student is encouraged to explore the deep questions of life, and where all are invited into the rich tradition of Catholic liberal education. 

Thrive, Assumption’s 10-year strategic plan. represents our unwavering confidence in the perennial value of a Catholic liberal education, and a testament to our commitment to providing access to all who seek it. Through initiatives like the Assumption Access Promise, we continue to open doors for students who, like the immigrants of our founding, pursue not just opportunity but deeper understanding. 

As we celebrate this anniversary, we look ahead with confidence and clarity guided by our mission, steadfast in its values and courageous in its vision for the future. We will continue to provide an education built on enduring truths, and in the company of friends, we will continue to thrive. 

Sincerely, 

Greg Weiner, Ph.D. 
President