Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost
December 18, 2008
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,
President John F. Kennedy once reminded us: "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future." As members of a great public research university, we are especially mindful of the future, and continually work to make strategic progress toward our goal of being one of the top three public research universities.
The upcoming holidays are an opportunity for each of us to reflect on how much we have achieved together and how much more we will continue to accomplish as a university community in the years ahead. We clearly are making progress as a university, and that progress is being noticed worldwide. Thanks to the work of our dedicated faculty and staff, significant momentum is evident and sustained. (Related link: 2008 strategic planning progress)
Given new budgetary realities, we will have to be even more prudent so that we can continue to invest wisely in the academic initiatives that distinguish the University of Minnesota as preeminent. Although times are financially challenging, we cannot diminish our intensity of purpose as we look to the future. Our investments in great teaching and research must and will continue.
As we anticipate the coming new year, it is appropriate to acknowledge and celebrate our university's great past, our present strengths, and our very promising long-term strategic future.
Best wishes for the holiday season.
Sincerely,
Tom Sullivan
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