Last week, I had the pleasure of taking the podium at Bobby Dodd Stadium to welcome another record-breaking class to Georgia Tech. After receiving more than 50,000 applications for first-year admission — a record for the Institute as well as the state — we welcomed our largest overall enrollment in history this fall with more than 46,000 students. Our incoming class set another high watermark with nearly 3,700 first-years and nearly 1,400 transfers from other universities.

The true measure of Georgia Tech’s success is the value it creates for others. Rankings are nice — don’t get me wrong. I take pride in seeing many of our programs recognized among the best of their kind. And the publicity helps us attract the best students and secure the resources we need to serve them. Ultimately, though, our success is defined not by what some media outlet says about us, but rather by what we do for our students, our community, and the world.

This past weekend, Beth and I flew back from a long-overdue visit to Georgia Tech-Lorraine, our campus in the historic city of Metz, France. Established in 1990, Georgia Tech-Lorraine is an integral part of the Institute’s mission and work. With a reputation for stimulating technological advances and economic development, the campus boasts more than 20 partnerships with some of the finest schools, research centers, and industry hubs in Europe.

Earlier this month, we celebrated more than 4,500 new bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral graduates with four inspiring Commencement ceremonies at Bobby Dodd Stadium. It was the perfect way to finish one record-setting year — and hopefully begin another. 

Americans are understandably concerned about the rising costs of attending college, which have significantly outpaced inflation over the past three decades. Despite these national trends, I am delighted that Georgia Tech not only has been able to keep tuition and fees flat over the past three years but also, thanks to major state investments, will significantly reduce fees this coming year.