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Welcome
Good afternoon Chair Montgomery, Senators, faculty, staff, students and guests
and, of course, my best friend Patsy. Thank you for your faithful support of
me and the university. Each new year is re-energized by the high expectations
and great enthusiasm of our new students and faculty. Again this year the campus
buzzes with their energy.
I am particularly pleased to have this opportunity today to put a few, particularly important things on the table for you to think about this year. The partnership between the administration and the Senate is a key to our achievements. Bill, I look forward to working together with you and the Senate Executive Committee to clear many of the barriers that pop up before us as we move along.
How Are We Doing?
My principal topic today is to speak about our strategic planning process and especially about the context we set for it. But before I go into this critical topic, I would like to say a few words about how we are doing. The short answer is—quite well indeed. Of course we have much to do and in reality we never actually arrive. Achievement is a journey not a destination. But let me highlight some milestones along our trail.
Our recognition beyond College Park is increasing steadily. I never meet people who do not respect what is happening here. In early August I attended meetings at the National Academy of Sciences center in Woods Hole. As Patsy went around the area, she was surprised how forthcoming the local people were about the University of Maryland, telling her how difficult it is to get in and how the local high school students compete for admission.
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