David W. Rasmussen, Dean, College of Social Sciences

The College of Social Sciences was founded 30 years ago. Our enrollments are at record levels, we have attracted some of the nation's premier scholars to Eminent Scholar Chairs, retained our best senior faculty by awarding them named professorships, and our faculty's research is nationally recognized by the funding they receive from the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies.

At its heart a great public university combines access and excellence. Access means opportunity for students coming from families with modest financial resources and those who lack a tradition of attending college. Excellence is providing a first-class education provided by faculty that is recognized as doing important research of critical social issues.

Ours is a great public college of Social Sciences. Florida State provides access to many students whose families have not previously experienced college: about 30 percent of our students are the first in their family to attend college. FSU ranks fifth in the nation in bachelor's degrees in the social sciences that are awarded to African-American students.

These students have access to a distinguished faculty. The Department of Political Science and the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy rank among the top ten public universities. The Department of Urban and Regional Planning is ranked 13th in the nation and specific programs in Sociology and Economics are in the top ten.

We all can be particularly proud of the significant gains made in the last decade because they were made possible by the generosity of our alumni and friends.

Please take a moment to learn more how private support benefits our students, faculty and programs and the various giving options for the College, our departments, programs, centers and institutes. Whether a gift or pledge commitment provides unrestricted support, current year support for a specific designation or long-term endowment support, all contributions regardless of size are very important to the College and will help benefit our students, faculty and programs, both now and in the future. I encourage you to join us as a partner and supporter to help move the College closer to achieving its strategic goals and objectives. Please contact us with any questions you may have or to explore possible roles you might play in helping to forge and strengthen this partnership.

Thank you very much for your interest and support of the College and its students, faculty, and programs. We greatly appreciate it.

David W. Rasmussen
Dean