Fall/Winter 2007

Hodge outlines objectives for an 'Engaged University'

Excerpts from the President's Annual Address

On Sept. 6, 2007, President David Hodge brought together Miami's faculty and staff members, along with students and friends of the university, in Laws Hall for the "President's Annual Address." With a strong emphasis on the future, he presented a list of objectives for an 'Engaged University' and challenged everyone involved with the university to review the goals and ask how Miami can become better on a daily basis. Following are brief excerpts of those remarks. The complete address is available in PDF format at www.muohio.edu/president.

On Miami's strong sense of community...
"...[Valerie and I have discovered] a place even better than we imagined-better because of the warmth and commitment of our staff and faculty, the energy and creativity of our students, and the passion of our alums. I believe more firmly than ever that one of the most significant elements of Miami's success is how deeply we value community. It runs through every fiber of our university, providing an environment that encourages individual success through collaboration and support for each other."

On the findings of the "First in 2009" initiative...
"We have looked to our peers to set benchmarks to measure our progress, and we have focused energy on some of our most difficult challenges and most promising opportunities that we face... The final report provides a compelling description of what Miami is and, even more importantly, what Miami is becoming. The core message is simple and powerful. 'A single phrase,' the committee wrote, 'captures the essence of our vision for the future: The Engaged University.' This phrase may not be unique to Miami, but I believe that no university is better situated to live that charge, and in doing so, to achieve extraordinary success."

On the university-wide goals set forth by the President's Executive Committee...
"... Let me be very clear in emphasizing that these goals do not present new directions for Miami. Rather they are intended to provide a more coherent and focused road map for extending and stretching what we are already doing... In my experience, whether it is how we teach, how we involve students and parents, how we make the campus more beautiful or run more efficiently, or how we provide core services, knowing what we are trying to achieve together will increase the impact of what we do individually."

On the importance of the first goal...
"Our goal to 'Make the Miami undergraduate experience the best in the country' is a clear statement about our serious intention to set the standard for the engaged undergraduate experience. It is an ambitious goal, but it is a goal that is both central to the future of higher education and a goal that Miami is exceptionally well-positioned to achieve... At the heart of this goal is our commitment to the development of both intellect and character. By doing so, we provide our students with a foundation, and momentum, that will carry them through the rest of their lives."

In conclusion...
"For the past 200 years, consciously and unconsciously, Miami University has been building the future. As we stand on the brink of our third century, more than ever, we should understand the power of that purpose. Through our students, through our scholarship, through our creativity, and through our service, we build the future. With uncommon vision, and with a relentless commitment to the highest standards of excellence, we, each and every one of us who are Miami, the Engaged University, proudly embrace that challenge. We will make the world a better place."