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UM-Flint Campus News from the Desk of Chancellor
Ruth J.
Person
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The
month of August brings our academic year to a close once
again- and what a year it has been! At the top of the list of
successes is the continuation of our accreditation for ten
years by the Higher Learning Commission-- a long awaited and
prepared- for event that engaged the entire campus. Several of
our academic units have had their own specialized
accreditation visits and several others have begun their
preparation for future visits. We implemented a number of new
degree programs and prepared other proposed programs for
review.
With a new leadership team
in place following the completion of a number of searches, we
have now turned our attention to our strategic plan and
accompanying campus master plan. I'm pleased to say that both
of those processes are in place and ready for launch in the
fall.
As we all know, enrollment
at UM-Flint hit a new high this past year. We also had our
largest graduating class ever. These two things signal to all
that we are on the uphill path -- dedicated to recruiting
students who can be successful at UM-Flint and preparing
students to graduate and lead fulfilling lives.
I'm not sure anyone is keeping a
record of how many awards we win each year, but 2009-10 seems
to be a record. I have mentioned a number of those awards in
past BlueNotes, so I won't try to recount them again here, but
they again are a testament to the success of our campus in a
wide range of areas -- from academic to facilities to student
programs to economic development. When I read the Provost's
quarterly report on the accomplishments of our academic units
and their respective faculty, I am again mindful of the hard
work and dedication of my faculty colleagues who are at the
core of what we do.
In other
areas of campus life we had many notable achievements as well.
Last month I noted all the facilities projects that are
underway. This past year our bookstore received a major
"facelift." Our Student Veterans Center and Student
Organizations Center are two outstanding examples of
successful renovation that speak directly to serving our
students better. Each month our campus improves and looks even
better.
Our alumni relations
program is getting underway with excellent progress to report
in engaging alumni around the region. We received our largest
gift ever from alumnus David Zick and his wife Francine this
year. Each day we discover our graduates who are out in the
world doing great things professionally and personally, and I
look forward to sharing more of their stories with
you.
In conclusion, thank you all
for helping to make this the best year ever. That's the good
news. The challenging news is that we are really going to have
to "put on our track shoes" to compete with ourselves next
year. But that's what it means to be "Leaders and
Best."
Ruth J. Person
Chancellor
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*COMPETE*
The
MHealthy numbers are in for the year; our participation rate
of 54% exceeded those of Ann Arbor and Dearborn by more than
ten percent. Thank you all for your participation! Since I've
been ill with pneumonia for more than four months as a result
of not taking proper care of my own health, I obviously need
to "get with the program" myself and set a better example of
balancing work and rest. I hope we can increase our rate of
participation next year to at least 60% and move beyond that
number in the years
ahead.
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*CONVENE*
Our student affairs
colleagues will be convening on August 6 for an all-day
retreat focusing on "Grassroots: Back to the Basics of Our
Profession." I am looking forward to joining them to focus on
best practices, challenges and
opportunities as they confront a very, very different student
life environment than they might have experienced four or five
years ago. The 24/7, younger student, residential environment
presents many new challenges for all of us, and I anticipate a
lively conversation. What would the very "best ever" student
affairs program look like for a campus like ours? What kinds
of best practices must we enact to be that program? Most
importantly, what must each student affairs staff member do to
prepare to execute those best practices, and what kind of
staff and personal development is necessary to achieve that
goal? I look forward to the energizing
discussion!
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*CONNECT*
Our annual
faculty and staff picnic is scheduled for September 1 at the
Ross House. Please join me and connect with friends and
colleagues old and new. Take a moment to greet our new
employees who will be joining us for the first time. And
please bring your appetite -- last year we had quite a bit of
food left over -- so come prepared to enjoy a pleasant
afternoon with good things to
eat.
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Thank you
for reading "BlueNotes!"
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On
My Calendar
8/6-Student Affairs
Retreat
8/14-Social Work Picnic
8/16-Mott Foundation
Briefing
8/17-Tour Durant Hotel
8/20-Alumni Event (Back
to the Bricks)
8/23-Veterans Conference
8/27-Birthday;
Graduation Party, Anesthesia Program
8/28-Crim "Michigan
Mile"
8/29-Physical Therapy Hooding
Ceremony
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