ÃÛÌÒTV

August 25, 2025

Dear Members of the Villanova Community,

Each year, on the first day of classes, I send a note to the community detailing the efforts that have gone into preparing for the new academic year, as well as news and upcoming events that are of interest to community members. The message below includes all of the updates I planned to share, but in light of the events on Thursday and Sunday, I wanted to check in with all of you.

First, I regret that a time that should be full of joyful anticipation is muddled with feelings of anxiety and unease. Please be kind to yourselves and one another. There is no playbook for how to return to normal after days that are anything but normal, but I hope and pray that with time, the unrest you feel abates. In the interim, please continue to utilize the resources available to you:

• and the , including , the University’s telehealth counseling partner available to students 24 hours a day, year-round, at no cost, and the , is open 24/7.
• Health Advocate (HA) counselors will be on-site tomorrow and Wednesday to offer support to faculty and staff. Tomorrow, HA will be in Garey Hall (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and St. Rita’s Hall (12 p.m. to 4 p.m.), and on Wednesday, HA will be in Riley Hall (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

Second, the safety and well-being of our community continue to be our primary concerns. In addition to the well-being resources noted above, Public Safety will share additional information about our emergency response to the incidents on Thursday and Sunday, and the measures in place to provide a safe and secure living, learning and working environment for all Villanovans.

I also want to reiterate my immense gratitude to everyone in the community. I have received countless notes detailing the courageous efforts of so many as the events on Thursday and Sunday unfolded. You should all be celebrated and recognized for your courage, kindness and leadership. I have always said that our greatest asset as a community is our people, and that has been clearer than ever in the past several days. Please continue to support and care for one another, and together, we will make it through this troubling time.

Finally, a warm welcome to our newest Villanovans, and welcome back to our returning students, faculty and staff. I am so happy that each and every one of you is here. A special welcome to our newest members, the Villanova Class of 2029, joining us from 45 states, plus Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico; and 30 countries. I offer my sincere appreciation to the countless members of our community who played a part in planning and executing all the events last week and this weekend. I am immensely grateful for your selfless efforts.

Looking Ahead

It has been a busy summer on campus preparing for your arrival, and many exciting events and milestones are taking place this fall. The following is an overview of what has happened and what is to come.

Upcoming Fall Events
As you would expect, fall is a busy time of year at Villanova. Here is a snapshot of a few of the upcoming events that I would like our community to be aware of:

• Opening Address – Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 2:30 p.m.
  Please join me for my annual Opening Address in the Villanova Room of the Connelly Center. This event is a wonderful way for our entire community—students, faculty and staff—to mark the beginning of the academic year; hear Cabrini, Rosemont, Campus Master Plan and Strategic Plan updates; and discuss upcoming initiatives for 2025-26. I hope to see you there.

• House Calls – Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
  If you haven’t already, I encourage you to . House Calls is a great way to welcome our new students from the Class of 2029, check in on them after their first few weeks on campus, and have them experience our sense of Augustinian community and hospitality. Training and dinner are included for all volunteers.

• Day of Service – Saturday, Sept. 20
  On this, the 20th anniversary of the St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service, I encourage all Villanovans—students, faculty and staff—to participate and make this Day of Service the biggest and best one yet. This annual tradition unites thousands of Villanovans—on campus and across the country—in service to the community, and it’s a great opportunity to put our Augustinian ideals into action.

• Pops in the Pavilion – Friday, Sept. 26
  Villanova is proud to welcome the Philly Pops and two-time Tony Award-winning singer and actress Sutton Foster on Friday, Sept. 26, at Pops in the Pavilion—an exciting new event to raise money for student scholarships. I hope you will consider taking part by buying a table or tickets to attend. Tables are available now and can be purchased by contacting pops@villanova.edu; tickets go on sale Aug. 27.

• 1842 Day – Tuesday, Sept. 30
  The ninth annual is Tuesday, Sept. 30! Students can, once again, participate in the Cat Cabs trivia game and the Student Giving Power Hour, and faculty and staff are invited to jump-start the day with a new 1842 Day breakfast in Dougherty Hall. 1842 Day brings together Villanovans on campus and around the globe to support a myriad of University programs and areas. All gifts made on 1842 Day support Espiritus Nova: The Campaign for ÃÛÌÒTV. I encourage everyone to follow @VillanovaU and @VillanovaAlumni social channels and participate in what will be a fun and inspiring day.

New University Compliance Officer

This summer, Paul Flanagan was appointed University Compliance Officer, leading the University Compliance Office. In this role, he oversees the design, implementation and maintenance of a University-wide compliance and ethics program that supports the institution’s mission and is in accordance with the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. He brings a collaborative approach to his role and wants his office to be seen as a partner and resource for the Villanova community.

Paul comes to Villanova with extensive experience in the compliance field, having held compliance and privacy leadership roles in several healthcare, for-profit, and higher education organizations across the country. Previously, he served as the Vice President and Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer at St. Barnabas Hospital in New York and currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Law at Drexel University. In March 2018, Paul received a Fulbright Award to teach compliance and privacy at the National University of Singapore. He is dually certified in compliance and health care compliance, received his JD from Creighton University School of Law, MS from Widener University, and BA from Catholic University of America. Please join me in welcoming Paul to Villanova.

Transformation of Campus
Each summer, the Office of Facilities Management works tirelessly to ensure that every inch of campus, from landscaping and hardscaping to small renovations and new construction, is looking its best. On behalf of everyone at Villanova, thank you to the staff in Facilities Management for their remarkable efforts over the summer. The following is a brief overview of the work in preparation for the 2025-26 academic year.

• Vic Maggitti Hall: Significant progress was made with the new home of Falvey Library. The exterior walls of Vic Maggitti Hall are nearly fully installed, with anticipated completion before the end of October.

• Connelly Center: The ground floor of the Connelly Center was renovated to include new seating and dining options, including Wawa, Nova Noodle, Co., and sushi. The exterior of the Connelly Center was painted, and a new roof was installed.

• Cabrini Campus: Landscape work and building renovations continue at several locations on the Cabrini Campus, including Cascia Hall (student center), Iadarola Hall (nursing and science building) and Tagaste Hall (student study space), as well as residence halls and classrooms throughout.

• Accessibility: Renovations were made to Villanova Stadium to make seating more accessible for our community, and a new ADA ramp and bathroom were installed in Garey Hall.

• Athletic Facilities: The turf on Campolo Field at the Higgins Soccer Complex was replaced, and we broke ground on the Cavanaugh Family Boathouse in Conshohocken, Pa.

• Parking: The M-1 Garage is complete, and there is a new surface lot (W4) accessible via West Campus to provide additional parking for Gallagher Hall.

• Elevators: A new elevator was installed in Bartley Hall, and the elevator in St. Mary’s Hall was replaced.

There has also been a great deal of design work related to the Campus Master Plan, including core projects such as a new campus gateway at Ithan and Lancaster Avenues, a new left-turn lane into Dougherty Drive, and a new Welcome Center/University Shop. I look forward to sharing some additional updates related to the Campus Master Plan, as well as the Cabrini and Rosemont campuses, in my Opening Address.

President's Office Hours for Students
I set aside time in my schedule each semester to meet with students who want to share ideas, discuss opportunities, or ask questions. Dates and times for the Fall 2025 semester have been posted and can be accessed online. I want to encourage all students to take advantage of this opportunity.

In closing, let us not take anything this year for granted—seize every opportunity, enjoy each moment, and care for one another. If we each embrace this mindset, I have a feeling it's going to be a special year for Villanova. 

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Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA
President