Employee Breakfast
Sept. 15, 2006
Robert A. Kennedy, President, University of Maine
• Welcome and thanks for
attending at this busy time of year.
•
We're almost two weeks into the semester and things are going well.
- UMaine has more than
11,500 students, as enrollment continues to rise at a steady, manageable
pace;
-
The new first-year class has just under 2,000 students in it, a seven
percent increase over last year's first-year class; in-state, we are up
four percent, which is very good.
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But the remarkable number, to me, is the increase in first-year
out-of-state students; up 19 percent over last year, and 55 percent over
two years ago.
•
To me, this says a lot of good things about UMaine:
- It means that the word is
getting out, far and wide, that this is, as we say, a great place to get
a good-value, high-quality education, and to be part of a wonderful
community.
-
It also means that our students are having a good experience at UMaine;
they are going back home and telling others the good things about
UMaine, and it shows in interest and in enrollment.
•
Much credit goes to Sharon Oliver and our admissions staff for their
hard work in bringing these good students to UMaine.
•
And these are good students – they have solid academic credentials, and
we have every reason to believe they will do well.
•
Each of us should take pride in this, because it is a reflection on the
commitment, talent and hard work of our wonderful staff and faculty. As
I've always said, I believe UMaine's people are the key to our success,
and we do indeed have wonderful people working each and every day to
make this a great university.
•
And any time a student and his or her family makes the momentous
decision to choose UMaine, that is affirmation of what we are all doing,
and it is a great compliment.
•
We received good news recently, when Princeton Review announced, for the
third consecutive year, that UMaine is on its list of "361 Best Colleges
in the U.S."
•
I find that recognition particularly gratifying, because the Princeton
Review's methodology is rooted in surveys of current students. If our
students give us a good report, we must be doing something right.
•
One thing that aggravates me, though, is the fact that UMaine does not
get the recognition it deserves in U.S. News and World Report's annual
rankings.
•
I know we are as good as, or in some cases better than, schools that are
ranked higher than UMaine.
•
So, we're doing something about it. Edna Szymanski, our new provost, is
leading this effort.
•
A number of good ideas have already been generated. One, which is very
exciting, is the notion of creating a number of academically oriented
living/learning communities, sort of based on the Honors College model,
to attract and retain even more good students.
•
And Provost Szymanski and a group she's leading are working on some
other ideas, too. These are things that will make UMaine stronger, and
help us to move toward our goal – which is realistic and, in my opinion,
well deserved – to be ranked in the Top 50 nationally.
•
It's a big effort, and each of us can play a role in getting us to that
point. I really do believe that we are close, and we are heading in the
right direction.
•
So many other things are going well. I just want to mention a couple
here this morning.
•
Last year, we talked a lot about the beginning of our fundraising
campaign – the largest in UMaine's history, with a goal of at least $150
million. We are off to a great start, having raised over $18.3 million
in the past fiscal year. And we're way ahead of that pace in the current
year.
•
I talk to a lot of people about giving to UMaine, and they always tell
me how pleased they are with what UMaine has become and where it is
heading. We are poised, I think, to move ahead very quickly under Vice
President Barbara Beers' leadership, toward our fundraising goal.
•
Next month, we will open the new Student Innovation Center up near
Jenness Hall, and great progress is being made on the recreation center,
which will open next year.
•
New buildings and new programs really do help to signal progress at a
university, and I believe that these will play a very important role in
UMaine's future, especially for our students.
•
Important renovations are also going on at places like Wells Conference
Center, and our dining commons – all aimed at providing better and more
efficient service to our students, employees and guests.
•
Just eight days ago, Gov. Baldacci and the chancellor helped welcome the
first 12 Ph.D. students in UMaine's new Graduate School of Biomedical
Science. I think this is one of the most exciting, important and
precedent-setting academic programs in UMaine's 141-year history.
•
It involves critically important work in human health-related research,
in collaboration with six other statewide institutions – but make no
mistake, these are UMaine students, and they are terrific.
•
The class is made up of eight women and four men – nine of whom have
Maine roots, with two students from China.
•
Some of those students have been out of Maine for education or jobs, and
now they are back to be part of GSBS. Talk about a reverse brain drain!
•
As most of you know, I'm pretty enthusiastic about this place. I could
probably go on until lunch, but that gives you an idea of some of the
current highlights at this incredible university.
•
In conclusion this morning, I want to thank each of you for your good
work.
•
I know and appreciate how much your efforts mean to our students and to
your colleagues, and to all of us.
•
You make this university work, and I am so thankful that each and every
one of you is part of this great community.
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