Consider the premise. Does the hypothesis directly oppose it? Premise: In a time when higher education, and graduate programs in particular, are suffering from a lack of funding, we are positioning ourselves to remain in a leadership position with outstanding faculty, students, and private support from alumni and friends of the program. Hypothesis: The faculty and students work together to gain private support. 
In a time when higher education, and graduate programs in particular, are suffering from a lack of funding, we are positioning ourselves to remain in a leadership position with outstanding faculty, students, and private support from alumni and friends of the program.###The faculty and students work together to gain private support. 