State of the University
President Harker highlights successes, opportunities at annual address
1:03 p.m., June 11, 2015--Delivering his final address as University of Delaware president, Patrick Harker highlighted recent successes, campus changes and record-breaking gifts from this year's reunion classes at the 2015 State of the University program during Alumni Weekend.
The event, held Saturday, June 6, in Mitchell Hall, featured remarks from Harker, Provost Domenico Grasso and the incoming and outgoing University of Delaware Alumni Association presidents, a question-and-answer session from the audience, and the presentation of reunion class gifts, which this year topped $4.3 million.
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Harker noted that Alumni Weekend and Commencement just a week earlier provided "back-to-back opportunities to celebrate the people who are most important to the University -- our students and our alumni."
With the "newly hatched" Class of 2015 bringing the total number of UD alumni around the world to about 165,000, Harker said preparations are already underway for the Class of 2019, which will include about 4,000 freshmen this fall. While this number is about 200 higher than anticipated, he noted that it's "a good problem to have," when many universities are struggling to fill their classes.
"Our enrollment remains high because people recognize the value of the UD experience. They see the great academics, the vibrant campus life, the opportunities -- and they want that whole package," he said.
Harker reviewed some of the successes of the past academic year, including the national attention garnered by the GoBabyGo project, the $1.3 million raised for kids with cancer by students in the UDance marathon, the Carnegie Foundation's community engagement designation and the Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization. He also highlighted some of the major changes to the physical campus, such as the addition to Purnell Hall, new residence halls, the ISE Lab (now Harker Laboratory) and the Health Sciences Complex on the STAR Campus.
"None of these great things would have been possible without your help," Harker told the alumni. "We rely on your generosity to help bridge the gap between what students pay and what it actually costs to educate them. You understand how important it is to help the students who follow you, just as you were helped by those alumni who came before. We're working to make sure every student hears that same message -- from the moment they arrive on campus to the day they graduate."
Commenting briefly on his tenure at UD and his upcoming departure, he said, "Lately, I’ve been feeling a lot like our graduates do -- mostly excited, but also a little scared, a little sad. I’m also incredibly grateful for the opportunity and honor to serve as UD president. As I told our graduates last weekend, I will always be a proud Blue Hen."
Delaware Will Shine
Provost Grasso provided the alumni with an overview of the Delaware Will Shine strategic planning initiative.
The new plan, which was developed with input from the entire campus community and a wide variety of stakeholders, builds on the success of the Path to Prominence strategic plan and outcomes. Delaware Will Shine will align the University's research, scholarship and engagement initiatives and lead UD to be a pre-eminent, learner-centered research university.
"We are committed to excellence and consequentiality in everything we do," Grasso said, as he enumerated the seven grand challenges, great debates and big ideas that lie at the heart of the plan.
"These are areas where our expertise and resources can make the most difference," he said. "We can lead the effort to find solutions to these challenges."
The seven challenges are educating the global citizen, advancing cultural understanding and creative expression, bridging opportunity divides, building a sustainable economy, improving health and wellness, innovating energy and environmental solutions, and ensuring safety and security.
"We are now developing action plans and assembling teams of faculty and staff to take practical steps to address these challenges," Grasso said. "We want to see results as soon as possible."
Ralph Begleiter, Rosenberg Professor of Communication and founding director of the Center for Political Communication, followed Grasso with a moderated a question-and-answer session featuring Harker, Grasso and Charlie Riordan, deputy provost for research and scholarship who serves as chair of the executive committee of Delaware Will Shine.
Among the topics of discussion were the shift in student housing from the west to the east campus, admissions, the University's successful Associate in Arts program, the importance of the liberal arts in the curriculum and sustainability efforts at UD.
Milestone gifts
Ten classes celebrated milestone reunions during Alumni Weekend, and representatives of each reunion class joined Harker on stage -- along with a representative of UD's newest graduates, the Class of 2015 -- to present donations raised during University gift campaigns this year.
This year's grand total of $4,353,463 included a record gift of $2,070,483 from the 50th reunion Class of 1965.
Other gift totals were Class of 2015: $14,035; Class of 2010: $22,240; Class of 2005: $27,688; Class of 2000: $62,273; Class of 1995: $65,105; Class of 1990: $119,502; Class of 1985: $324,354; Class of 1980: $341,246; Class of 1975: $973,701; and Class of 1970: $332,836.
Harker thanked the class representatives for their "incredibly generous gifts" and for all they do for the University, adding, "We couldn't be more grateful for your support."
New leadership
Alumni Weekend also marked the end of Ken Jones' term as president of the UD Alumni Association, and at the State of the University event, he introduced the association's new president, Anne Giacoma Barretta.
Barretta encouraged her fellow alumni to stay connected via social media and the University’s web presence, including UDaily.
In the past year, the Alumni Association has awarded more than $91,000 to University students and programs, from hosting a conference in New York in March to an Honors Program celebration at Alumni Weekend.
“Blue Hens of all ages are connecting and networking with fellow UD alumni across the country at these events, and we’re proud to endorse their efforts,” said Jones.
Photos by Kevin Quinlan