As we learn to benefit fully from it, New Mexico and UNM will be in the vanguard of a world pervaded by diversity in politics, diplomacy, economics, arts, and every other facet of life. The most important mark of a great university, and the most important determinant of student and faculty success, is passionate engagement in important ideas important not just in the strictly academic sense, but also in meeting the needs of our external constituencies. But as an educational institution, the University must be an academic community in the sense that the social, cultural, and academic life of students, faculty, and others rests substantially on academic commitment. Curriculum, co-curricular activities, academic events such as conferences and symposia, cultural events, community service, research, and social activity all connect in substantial ways to the academic experience. This strategic direction is about creating the high level academic commitment and excitement that is characteristic of great universities.
High aspiration can only mean a drive to compete with the very best.
UNM must build initiatives of national and international prominence that give the greatest possible benefits to our students, faculty, and community. Such prominence requires that we be uncompromising in supporting individual and programmatic contributions that would bring respect and honor in the most distinguished universities. Since no university can be preeminent in everything, we must build selectively in areas for which our strategic resources give us strong competitive advantages. At the same time, we must build a set of high-profile initiatives that span the entire university such that all programs can relate to one or more of these exciting foci. We must be aggressive in pursuit of true excellence in recruiting and supporting students, faculty, and staff to assure their success in instruction, research, and service.