[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 155 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2199-E2200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO FATHER JAMES E. HOFF

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 15, 2000

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Father James 
Hoff, a friend, educator and community leader, who will step down from 
his service as President of Xavier University on December 31, 2000.
  Over the past ten years, Father Hoff has led Xavier to great new 
heights. In 1992, he began Xavier 2000 which led to the Century 
Campaign, the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the school's 
history, raising the endowment from $24 million to $89 million. He has 
also significantly strengthened the university's curriculum, advanced 
the quality of its faculty and created a more unified, attractive 
campus.
  Perhaps most telling of Father Hoff's work is the success of Xavier's 
students. In the 1990's, the average high-school grade-point average of 
its incoming students rose from 2.9 to 3.49 for the current class. And, 
in 1998, the school ranked first in the nation for student-athlete 
graduation rates (100 percent).
  In 1995, Xavier was recognized for the first time by U.S. News and 
World Report as one of ``America's Best Colleges,'' placing fifteenth 
among Midwest schools. In its 2001 ranking, Xavier climbed to seventh 
among regional institutions in the Midwest. Xavier has also received 
recognition from Money magazine and the John Templeton Honor Roll.
  Although Father Hoff surely deserves much of the credit, he is modest 
and quick to recognize Xavier's faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, 
administration and students--all of whom have helped to raise the level 
of excellence at the school.
  He says his greatest accomplishment during his tenure is defining the 
school's mission: ``to

[[Page E2200]]

prepare students intellectually, morally and spiritually to take their 
places in a rapidly changing global society and to work for the 
betterment of that society.'' He certainly has done that, and all of us 
in the Cincinnati area thank him for his vision and goodwill. We look 
forward to his continued leadership in our area.

                          ____________________