 Provost Loppnow |
Moving Forward Together
Dear Members of the EMU Community:As you know, the EMU Board of Regents on Monday took a series of unanimous actions to reshape our University leadership. As someone who has worked proudly at EMU since 1974, I can tell you these actions are profound; in fact, they are without precedent. They have an impact on all of us who care about the University. As we find ourselves in this period of transition, we need to move forward together, and I underline the word together. If ever there was a time for cohesion and shared purpose, now is that time.
The specifics of the board’s collective actions Monday (including setting tuition and approving our 2007-08 budget) can be found on the www.emich.edu home page. The essence of its personnel decisions was this: The board decided that change was needed to keep EMU moving forward. I am just one part of that change.
The regents on Monday voted to permanently change my title and add responsibilities. My new role is to serve in the capacity of EMU’s president until an interim president is named. I will serve in this new role only as long as needed and I publicly renew my pledge to serve this excellent institution and our students with all my energy and abilities.
In addition to my new role, the regents created an executive council to advise and assist me. Visit www.emich.edu/president/exec_council for details. I will rely on council members’ knowledge and experience. Working with the Executive Council and the Strategic Operations Council, we will listen to our constituencies and identify key tasks to accomplish in the short term.
We will build on our time-tested foundation of exceptional academic programs and outstanding students, faculty and staff. Nothing that occurred Monday — or in the past seven months — changes what EMU is best known for: embracing and supporting student learning and development. We will recenter ourselves on those core values. Doing so is absolutely critical at this time.
We will also unite to restore trust and credibility. With that said, here is how I see our immediate priorities:
- We will encourage returning students to reenroll. Through all of this controversy, what takes place in classrooms, laboratories and scholarly activities has remained strong. We need to redouble our efforts to convey that message.
- We will expand our communications with various University constituencies, including employees, students, local community members, alumni, donors, friends and legislators.
- We will respond on time and thoroughly to the U.S. Department of Education report.
- We
will complete the summer term and finalize
preparations for fall semester.
In addition to working on those priorities with members of the EMU community, I am taking personal responsibility for implementing the University’s 16-point security enhancement plan. Visit www.emich.edu/security/070607strategy.php for details.
During the months since the murder of Laura Dickinson, our University community has experienced a broad range of emotions. It is important to acknowledge this reality and support each other. I hope we will focus on the fact EMU is an exceptional place to study, to live, to work and to grow.
Moving forward together,
Donald Loppnow
Provost and Executive Vice President