2026 President’s Report
ROOTED IN MISSION
Focused on the Future
Jeff Gingerich, Ph.D. President Professor of Sociology
St. Bonaventure is moving forward with purpose at a time of significant change in higher education. The challenges are real, but so is our momentum — progress grounded in the mission and Franciscan values that have guided us since 1858. Rooted in Mission, Focused on the Future, our strategic plan for 2025-2030, gives that progress clear direction through four pillars — Community, Institutional Strength, Innovation and Purpose — that reflect both who we are and who we are called to become. While not a comprehensive account of our work or a final measure of the plan’s success, this report offers a snapshot of our progress and selected examples of how the plan is already coming to life across the university. Approximately 500 first-year students are expected to join us this fall, while total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is projected to exceed 3,000 students for the second consecutive year. Graduate enrollment has surpassed 1,000 students for the first time, while dual enrollment continues to expand access for high school students. Beginning this fall, all first-year students will receive foundational AI training, preparing them to use emerging technologies confidently, creatively and responsibly. The $12 million Murphy Building transformation, including the Henretta Communication Center, will create a collaborative, technology-rich home for the Jandoli School. We are also building lasting institutional strength. In fiscal year 2026, St. Bonaventure raised more than $30.5 million, reflecting the continued generosity and commitment of our alumni, donors and friends. Our endowment reached a record $123 million, the Bonaventure Fund exceeded its goal, and planned giving commitments approached $10 million. Behind every number are people: students pursuing their dreams, faculty and staff devoted to their success, and alumni and friends investing in the university they love. Important work remains, particularly in strengthening undergraduate enrollment, ensuring long-term financial sustainability and investing in what distinguishes a Bonaventure education. I remain confident because our mission is enduring, our priorities are clear, and this community continues to answer the call with compassion, wisdom and integrity. Thank you for believing in our students and helping to shape the future of St. Bonaventure.
Jeff Gingerich, Ph.D. President
THE MISSION
That Guides Us
STRATEGIC PLAN IN ACTION | PURPOSE At St. Bonaventure University, education is not simply about what students know, but who they become. Our Franciscan tradition shapes every dimension of the Bonaventure experience. We seek to educate the whole person — developing knowledgeable professionals, compassionate citizens and individuals prepared to lead lives of service. Academic excellence and moral purpose are not competing ideals at St. Bonaventure; they are inseparable. That commitment is lived through the relationships that define our community. We welcome students, faculty and staff of all faiths and cultures, affirm the dignity of every person and work to create a true sense of belonging. As we advance our strategic plan, our mission remains the foundation for every decision we make and every measure of progress. Where Service Becomes Vocation When Abby Docos, ’26, arrived at St. Bonaventure, she asked herself, “How can I spend the next four years not just studying, but truly serving this community?” That question led her to the Warming House, where she served members of the Olean community facing food insecurity and eventually became a student coordinator. Through that work, Abby learned that service is not only about meeting an immediate need. It is also about recognizing the dignity of every person. She saw how seemingly small acts — welcoming guests by name, listening to their stories and creating a place where people feel known and valued — could make a meaningful difference. Her experiences at the Warming House, along with a service trip to a rural community in El Salvador, also helped shape her calling to the legal profession. As she prepares to attend Syracuse University College of Law, Abby hopes to build a career advocating for others. She will carry with her the compassion, integrity and commitment to service that became central to her Bonaventure education.
“There is no knowledge without love.” — St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio
p Abby Docos, ’26, helps prepare for meal service at the Warming House, St. Bonaventure’s student-run soup kitchen. Her four years there helped shape her commitment to a life of service and advocacy.
15:1
student-to-faculty ratio
20%
higher graduation rate than the national average. of undergraduate students receive some type of financial assistance.
98%
60+
undergraduate majors and programs
21
graduate programs
500+
first-generation undergraduate students
Ranked No. 25 for value
o. 10 N for undergraduate
teaching in the North in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings.
2,000+
undergraduate students
1,000+
graduate students
~500
first-year students
6th
largest incoming class in 18 years
3,000+
overall enrollment including undergraduate and graduate students
WELCOMING THE
Class of 2030
St. Bonaventure will welcome approximately 500 first-year students this fall. Although the incoming class is smaller than those of the last several years, it is still expected to be the university’s sixthlargest first-year class in the past 18 years. Four of the five larger classes enrolled at Bonaventure during the previous four years, providing the university with a stronger undergraduate base as the university navigates this year’s smaller entering class. At the same time, the changing higher education landscape requires us to remain focused, strategic and responsive in how we recruit and retain students. Strengthening Our Enrollment Pipeline The university is intensifying its recruitment efforts by adding staff in key secondary markets, identifying high schools with the potential to become long-term recruitment partners, deepening relationships in our primary markets, strengthening the role of our alumni network in recruitment and sharpening how we communicate the value of a Bonaventure education. This work extends beyond a single enrollment cycle. Our goal is to build a stronger pipeline of future Bonnies and ensure every student has the opportunities, support and sense of belonging to thrive.
STRATEGIC PLAN IN ACTION | COMMUNITY
OUR MOMENTUM
By the Numbers Total Enrollment (Undergraduate & Graduate) 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
500
Note: Total student headcount is reported as of census day. The 2026 figure reflects enrollment as of August 1, 2026, and remains preliminary pending the September 2026 census.
23%
of students come from outside New York state
109%
growth in total graduate students since 2006
97%
of graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.
NEW PATHWAYS
Greater Possibilities
STRATEGIC PLAN IN ACTION | COMMUNITY St. Bonaventure is expanding access to its distinctive educational experience through record graduate enrollment, emerging programs and rapidly growing dual enrollment — reaching new students while meeting evolving workforce and community needs. Graduate Momentum • Graduate enrollment surpassed 1,000 students in January 2026 for the first time in university history. • Newer programs, including the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, M.S. in SpeechLanguage Pathology and Master of Social Work are experiencing strong demand. • The M.S. in Occupational Therapy program is projected to have a total enrollment of approximately 50 students, tripling program enrollment in just two years. An Earlier Path to Bonaventure • High school students can experience collegelevel learning, earn credits and begin building an early connection with Bonaventure. • New partnerships are extending Bonaventure’s reach into markets such as Buffalo and Binghamton. • Dual enrollment is expanding dramatically in 2026–2027, growing from 57 to nearly 350 students, increasing from 5 to 30 instructors and generating more than 12 times as many credit hours.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Guided by Wisdom
STRATEGIC PLAN IN ACTION | INNOVATION St. Bonaventure is preparing students to use artificial intelligence with competence, critical judgment and a strong ethical foundation. Across every academic school, faculty are exploring AI’s possibilities while teaching students to recognize its limitations.
Every First-Year Student will complete an AI literacy unit in the introductory seminar course.
ChatGPT EDU
licenses for all students, faculty & staff
New Major in Data Science & AI
Available in the School of Arts and Sciences
New AI Literacy Minor Available across disciplines
AI Across the Schools DePerro School of Health Professions Using AI in clinical simulations, research, nutrition planning and ethical writing. School of Business Examining AI in hiring, accounting, marketing, fraud detection and decision-making. Jandoli School of Communication Exploring AI-assisted journalism and media while addressing bias, accuracy and misinformation. School of Arts and Sciences Integrating AI across disciplines while teaching students to assess errors and outputs critically. School of Education Preparing future teachers and counselors to use AI responsibly, effectively and ethically.
REIMAGINING MURPHY
Building Jandoli’s Future
STRATEGIC PLAN IN ACTION | INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTH For more than a year, the John J. Murphy Professional Building has echoed with construction. In just a few months, it will become a hub for broadcasting, reporting, podcasting and collaboration when the reimagined home of the Jandoli School of Communication opens following a $12 million transformation. A ribbon-cutting celebration is scheduled for February 19, 2027. At its center is the new 6,200-squarefoot Henretta Communication Center, bringing WSBU-FM, The Bona Venture, SBU-TV and TAPinto Greater Olean together under one roof for the first time. The center will include broadcast, podcast and audio studios, a modern newsroom, an expanded First Amendment Lounge, an open atrium and meeting spaces. More than a renovation, it is an investment in communication education, giving students a collaborative, technology-rich environment to communicate with creativity, credibility and purpose.
p Foundation work continues as the Henretta Communication Center begins to take shape.
p An existing classroom being transformed into the control room for the new broadcast studio. q Steel awaits installation for the new Henretta Communication Center.
p Work on the transformation of Dresser Auditorium has begun.
$12M
Investment in the transformation of the Murphy square feet added Professional through the Henretta Building Communication Center
6,200
550
students enrolled in the DePerro School of Health Professions
18%
of St. Bonaventure’s total enrollment Rural Health, Closer to Home Ten years after St. Bonaventure made a major investment in health professions education, the DePerro School has become one of the university’s strongest examples of mission-driven growth. Today, 550 students — 18% of St. Bonaventure’s total enrollment — are pursuing health professions degrees, preparing for careers in fields with significant workforce demand while strengthening the university’s enrollment base. That growth is increasingly extending beyond campus. Rural communities face persistent barriers to care, including provider shortages, transportation and distance. Through major new grants and community partnerships, St. Bonaventure is developing a coordinated approach that brings education, prevention and early intervention closer to home — preparing students to serve rural and underserved populations while expanding access to behavioral health, preventive care and other essential services throughout the region.
$2.3M
$750K
BRIGHT Project
Wellness on Wheels
A four-year federal grant investment supporting 77 Counseling and Occupational Therapy graduate students, including $25,000 stipends for their final year of clinical training in high-need communities.
A Mother Cabrini Health Foundation grant launching a mobile health clinic that will bring preventative services, screenings, education and care navigation directly to underserved rural communities.
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
Growth with Purpose STRATEGIC PLAN IN ACTION | PURPOSE
Through a comprehensive campus master planning process, St. Bonaventure is shaping the long-term future of its physical campus—identifying opportunities to renew academic, residential and shared spaces while improving accessibility, connectivity and the overall campus experience. Areas of focus include: Athletic Performance Center • Track & Field • East Side Areas of Community Campus Gateways & Pathways • De La Roche Hall Science Labs • University Bell Tower Library Accessibility • Residence Hall Revitalization A First Step: Reimagining the East Side One project already taking shape is a new gathering and recreation space on the east side of campus near Francis Hall, the Garden Apartments and the Townhouses. Shaped by student feedback, the vision includes a pavilion and fire pits designed to create new opportunities to connect, recharge and belong.
$880,000
current estimated east side project cost
Connect A gathering space for connection and community.
Recharge Outdoor spaces supporting mental and physical wellness.
Belong A stronger residential experience supporting recruitment and retention.
PLANNING
For What’s Next
STRATEGIC PLAN IN ACTION | COMMUNITY
DESIGNED
For Excellence
STRATEGIC PLAN IN ACTION | INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTH St. Bonaventure is developing a bold facilities vision that would strengthen the health, development and competitive experience of nearly 400 NCAA Division I student-athletes while creating new opportunities for camps, events and community engagement. Athletic Performance Center The proposed 17,525-square-foot facility would triple the university’s strength and conditioning space and bring sports medicine, rehabilitation, nutrition, recovery and community areas together under one roof.
Track and Field Complex A new eight-lane track and turf field would fulfill a long-held vision for Bonaventure track and field, creating a dedicated home for the program while relieving pressure on existing athletic facilities.
proposed
17,525
square-foot Athletic Performance Center
$12M
estimated Athletic Performance Center cost
$9M
estimated Track and Field cost
STRENGTHENING
Our Foundation
STRATEGIC PLAN IN ACTION | INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTH Endowment Growth
$120M $100M
$123M
*
*as of May 31, 2026
$140M
Record Endowment
$80M $60M
FY26
FY25
FY24
FY23
FY22
$20M
$40M
Expanding Endowed Support Endowment in Action
$52.7M total institutional aid awarded in fiscal year 2026
$2.3M
aid funded by endowed scholarships in fiscal year 2026
$1M
generates approximately $50,000 annually in scholarship aid
$50K
generates approximately $2,500 annually in scholarship aid
Alumni, families and friends continue to translate their belief in Bonaventure into meaningful support for students. *unaudited figures as of August 12, 2026
$30.5M
Total contributed during 2025-2026 thanks to alumni, families and friends
$3.15M
Raised for the Bonaventure Fund in 2025-2026
$1.3M
Raised for the Bonnies Athletic Fund in 2025-2026
Nearly $10M
secured in planned giving commitments, including an additional $5 million in bequests
PHILANTHROPIC MOMENTUM
Generosity in Action
STRATEGIC PLAN IN ACTION | INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTH
WITH GRATITUDE
Because of You To our alumni and friends: Thank you for carrying St. Bonaventure forward. Through your generosity, advocacy, mentorship and continued engagement, you open doors for students and give momentum to Rooted in Mission, Focused on the Future. You help strengthen academic programs, expand access, advance innovation, renew campus spaces and sustain the Franciscan values at the heart of a Bonaventure education. The progress reflected in these pages is possible because you believe in our students and in the promise of this community. We are deeply grateful. Together, we are building what comes next.
Office of the President P.O. Box A St. Bonaventure, NY 14778
2026 President’s Report | Project Lead: Jack Steger, Ed.D., ’22, ’23 | Photography: Danny Bush, ’13, ’15
p Members of the Class of 2026 celebrate Commencement and carry forward Bonaventure’s enduring commitment to purpose, service and community.