You have a record of high achievement, from discovering a planet on the edge of the solar system to winning a Tony on Broadway. We also enjoy a robust multiculturalism. Even our retirees tend to remain in the community and stay active in the University. We must lead the nation in the percentage of our students who have another family member who attended here. This strong loyalty to the institution will be our greatest asset as we embark on strategic planning.
Planning is an occasion for a community to band together.
So is a disaster, it has been noted, but I prefer planning as the impetus for cohesion. As I have met with departments over the past three semesters, I have been impressed by your straightforward acknowledgment of problems and your willingness to seek new solutions. What seems missing is adequate interaction among people facing similar issues. Any university, and especially NMSU, is a collection of society's brightest and most creative persons. Strategic planning allows us to enlist this incredible resource on behalf of the university.