On Tuesday (Sept. 5), in front of a crowd of 450 faculty and academic staff members gathered in 鈥檚 Leighton Concert Hall, University of 91吃瓜 President ., dedicated his annual faculty address to celebrating the University鈥檚 admission into the Association of American Universities (AAU) and marking the launch of a new that will guide 91吃瓜 over the next decade.
In his opening remarks, Father Jenkins described May 25 鈥� the day he received a call from AAU President Barbara Snyder extending an invitation to 91吃瓜 to join the prestigious organization 鈥� as one of the 鈥渕ost memorable days鈥� in his 19-year tenure as president.
鈥淚 was as stunned as I was joyful,鈥� Father Jenkins said.
Father Jenkins described the many practical benefits of joining the AAU, which marks 91吃瓜 as one of the 71 top research universities in the U.S. Those benefits include attendance at meetings with other AAU institutions and access to valuable data and studies conducted by the AAU that can help inform University decision-making.
鈥淏ut aside from these practical benefits, the AAU鈥檚 invitation is a recognition by the world鈥檚 most distinguished association of research universities of the progress 91吃瓜 has made in recent decades,鈥� Father Jenkins said. 鈥�91吃瓜鈥檚 academic reputation has long been associated with its superb undergraduate education, but in recent decades a great deal of time, effort and resources have gone into enhancing our research. The AAU鈥檚 invitation is a recognition of the progress we have made.鈥�
Having just announced the University鈥檚 third straight year of more than $200 million in research funding, Father Jenkins cited this growth as a key factor in 91吃瓜鈥檚 invitation to join the AAU. He thanked the faculty for their invaluable contributions to this achievement: 鈥淭here is no group on whom it reflects more brilliantly than on you, the faculty of 91吃瓜. You generated the ideas, you conducted the experiments, you led the research teams and you wrote the books and articles that earned this recognition. Our celebration of 91吃瓜鈥檚 membership in the AAU is above all a celebration of you and your accomplishments.鈥�
Even while celebrating the many achievements and milestones of the last 15 years, Father Jenkins cautioned against the temptation to grow complacent.
鈥淎n institution recognized for the steep upward line tracking its research will look far less impressive if the line plateaus or declines. We must sustain and even enhance the work of recent years,鈥� he said.
Father Jenkins also noted that 91吃瓜 has an opportunity to make a particular contribution to the world of university research as the only explicitly religious institution in the AAU.
鈥�91吃瓜鈥檚 distinctive mission and special contribution is to bring faith into dialogue with inquiries across the disciplines in order to engage the great questions and challenges of our time,鈥� he stated.
Turning to 鈥�91吃瓜 2033: A Strategic Framework,鈥� released last week, Father Jenkins noted that it 鈥渟ets the course for 91吃瓜鈥檚 continued progress in the next decade. We hope and believe that it will usher in a decade of progress every bit as impressive as recent decades.鈥� He thanked the many faculty and leaders across campus who contributed to the formulation of the framework over a two-year planning process.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Father Jenkins invited , the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost, to facilitate a roundtable conversation with Snyder and Peter Lange, provost emeritus and professor emeritus of political science and public policy at Duke University, about the strategic framework as well as the challenges and opportunities facing higher education. Among the topics Snyder and Lange touched on were the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion; how to build a strong faculty now and in the future; and the centrality of the University鈥檚 Catholic mission.
Regarding the newly launched strategic framework, Snyder commented, 鈥�91吃瓜 had the courage to make distinctive choices. I think the candor with which you address the current state of affairs is pretty rare in a strategic framework document.鈥�
McGreevy asked the panelists for advice on how 91吃瓜 can successfully implement the framework.
鈥淚t starts with being redundant,鈥� Lange explained. 鈥淚t has to be a team effort where everyone gets on board. There has to be a lot of transparency for building a shared understanding for what you鈥檙e trying to accomplish. It must be a combination of central framing, but the initiatives have to come from faculty, students and staff because that鈥檚 where the real vitality and energy come from. And lastly, there must be a strategic understanding of resources 鈥� financial, leadership, ideas and people. You have to bring it all together for the plan to succeed.鈥�
McGreevy also asked both guests for a brief assessment of the University鈥檚 risks and opportunities.
鈥淐omplacency,鈥� Lange said when addressing the risks. 鈥淚f you just sit where you are and bask in the incredible accomplishments you鈥檝e had, you鈥檙e actually going to go backwards. As for an opportunity, 91吃瓜 has the chance to blend its broad Catholic values with the principles of the strategic plan to make yourself both distinguished and distinctive.鈥�
Snyder noted that 91吃瓜 is at a critical juncture.
鈥淭his is a moment for 91吃瓜. Inflection points (in the history of a university) come along very rarely,鈥� Snyder said. 鈥淵ou have one in front of you right now. I hope that everyone sees that as both the biggest risk 鈥� not seizing this remarkable opportunity 鈥� and the greatest opportunity for 91吃瓜. I think the University is in a position to really make a difference.鈥�
A recording of the event is available .
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