At
this year’s ACE national conference an interesting question came up, which
(paraphrased) was: How can universities make the changes required to adapt to a
rapidly changing (and increasing) set of challenges and opportunities? The answer provided: “focus on the
why”.
This
could mean a lot of different things, depending on precisely which “why?”
question is posed. There are
several relevant and important questions in this category. To name a few: Why
should students and their families pay the current tuition to attend URI? Or:
Why should the state legislature and the Governor provide additional support to
URI? Or: Why would faculty and staff want to work for URI now, and in the
future? Here’s one I deal with
very frequently: Why should alumni and other potential supporters give to
URI? These questions, and the
associated answers, are clearly central to the vitality, quality, and future of
the University of Rhode Island.
As
important as they are, not one of these is the most important question. That question is: Why are we here? The answer is known to all of us: To
educate students. It is, ultimately,
about them, and not about us – the faculty and staff. The University of
Rhode Island has multiple important missions, but education at the
undergraduate and graduate levels is the heart and soul of the university and
the foundation of all of our missions and endeavors. In the midst of everything we are involved in, it is both
good and necessary to remind ourselves frequently about why we actually exist.
Certainly,
the University of Rhode Island exists to conduct research, scholarship, and
creative work. However, we do these things, at least in part, to provide new
knowledge to our students, and to engage them in these very activities. URI is very service oriented, but, again,
we serve the people of the state, our nation, and the world to create a better
environment for our students, our graduates, their families, and the societies
in which they live. We focus on
economic development for the same reasons. The phrase “student-centered” is not a slogan, a marketing
strategy, or camouflage. It is the
essence of why we exist.
Accordingly,
we should test all of our decisions, and assess all of our priorities, in light
of what would be in the best interests – both short- and long-term – of our
students. Indeed, it is in the
best interests of the university and its faculty and staff to do so. This does not mean providing students
with all that they desire, reducing the rigor or demands of our curricula, or having
low standards for their academic work or behavior. Just the opposite.
The
relationship is reciprocal. If we – the faculty, administration, and staff – have high expectations for our
students, it is fair and right for the students to have high expectations of
us. Based on what I observe around
campus and hear from students and alumni, I think the University of Rhode
Island has long exemplified both a broad understanding of why URI is here, and
the benefits of mutual high expectations.
The
University of Rhode Island is moving assertively to provide an even better
education for its students at the graduate and undergraduate levels. For example, the Academic Strategic
Plan, with its emphases on experiential learning, internships, research and
scholarship, globalization, diversity, and community provides an outstanding
framework for the future. The
faculty has been working diligently and productively to frame and implement a
much needed new general education program. There is an intensifying focus on what knowledge,
competencies, and experiences our students need to be competitive and
successful in the 21st century.
In
the end, all that we are and all we do at URI benefits from an unrelenting
focus on why we are here. Universities with such a focus will attract talented
and committed people (students,
faculty and staff), new resources, and the gratitude of those we serve.
