News

Sunday marks the one-year anniversary since the devastating mass shooting in Buffalo, which tragically claimed the lives of 10 innocent people and injured three others. Our thoughts and prayers remain focused on the victims, their families, and those impacted most. May the 10 lives we lost on that horrifying day remain on our minds and in our hearts. This weekend, the City of Buffalo is hosting a series of remembrance events to offer healing and hope for the community.

Wishing you joy and gladness in this Easter Season. In a world full of many difficulties, crises, and hurt; let us remember during this Easter, that God is with us, alive and well in the world. As we celebrate Easter and the risen Christ, let us be reminded that this is a special time set apart when we are invited to awaken our memory of God’s presence in our lives.

I want to take a moment to bring to your attention and ask for your support for our community members during the upcoming Jewish High Holiday. Passover starts at sundown on Wednesday, April 5, and ends after nightfall on Thursday, April 13.

Hilbert College has named Kristine Still, PhD, as Provost and Executive Vice President. Still assumes this new role in June. As the college's chief academic officer, Still will join Hilbert at a pivotal moment for the college and community, closely following the announcement of its pending acquisition of Ohio and West Virginia-based Valley College and the steady expansion of its undergraduate and graduate programs across traditional and online settings.

The celebration of Ramadan begins this evening, Wednesday, March 22nd. Ramadan is a spiritual month for Muslims that is marked by special observations such as fasting and nightly prayer. In the spirit of St. Francis in his encounter with the Sultan Malik al-Kamil, we encourage you to discover more about this tradition and take our Muslim brothers and sisters into consideration.

As colleges and universities across the country remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., today let us take a moment and pause for thoughtful reflection. As we continue to witness our nation's discourse, let us be reminded that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a champion for justice, racial equality, and change. His courage challenged the morality of our nation. However, you choose to spend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I hope you will take some time to remember Dr. King and to reflect on how we can advance the values he stood for in our own lives and in the communities we share.

Hilbert College Athletic Director Tim Seil is pleased to announce Ted Egger has been named the Head Coach of the Hawks’ Football program.

Hilbert College was awarded a $500,000 grant from The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. This is the third year Hilbert has received this grant and will be used to continue essential support of the Franciscan Advocacy & Resource Center at Hilbert. As you know, this Center helps students overcome life issues and supports and strengthens their ability to transition and thrive in their educational setting and beyond.

The Peter & Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation has awarded Hilbert College a $100,000 capacity building grant, to support the first year of a Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselors (CASAC) partnership project between Hilbert College and BestSelf Behavioral Health. The funding will be used to support educational, technological, and programming needs during this unique initiative's first year within the Hilbert College Global online division.

Hilbert College was awarded a Liberty Partnerships Program grant for $1.25 million over five years, $250,000 per year beginning this year through August 2027, to serve 200 students annually in the program. The Liberty Partnerships Program, which is administered by the New York State Education Department, partners with institutions of higher education to align meaningful school and community partnerships that deliver research-based programming to students enrolled in public and non-public schools that are identified as having a high risk of students dropping out of school. Hilbert is the first private higher education institution in Western New York to receive this transformative grant.

Hilbert College is ranked No. 2 among Regional Colleges in the North for Top Performers on Social Mobility in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best Colleges rankings.

Hilbert College welcomed its largest incoming class on record this fall, an 81% increase in new students from fall 2021 to fall 2022. Hilbert had approximately 220 new students in fall 2021 and 399 new students in fall 2022. Hilbert’s overall student enrollment also increased 20% compared to 2021, from 750 to 901.