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Thanks and welcome to the state at the University Address.
It's hard to believe that a year has passed since we met to discuss the university's
progress toward our goals.
This address is part of my commitment to accountability
to you and our wider public,
allowing us to come together to look at the university is a whole, to celebrate
some of the year's successes,
and to delineate challenges and issues on which we must focus.
Thank you for attending this afternoon.
And joining us, I'd like to acknowledge some of our special guests.
We have with us today Executive Councilor Ray Burton
and his intern Ben Belanger;
we have from our Board of Trustees our chair *** Galway, trustees Wally
Stevens, and Carol Perkins, and Alex Nix
and our USSB representative Jill Tarkleson;
we have, from the Plymouth Selectboard, Valerie Scarborough our selectboard chair;
we have award winners *** and Betty Hanaway;
from the President's Council at Ed Wixson;
we have Mark Scarano from the Grafton County Economic Development Council and
Scott Stevens
from the Plymouth Regional Chamber. Thank you all for joining us.
I'd like to begin with the photo recently bought for us at auction
by a generous community member.
It is of the Plymouth Normal School Class of nineteen
thirteen,
each young woman carefully identified on the back.
fifty five students are posed in front of Rounds Hall
Ella, Phila, Annie,
Cora, Helen.
In their white blouses and long dark skirts,
their hair upswept,
some smiling,
some solemn,
and many looking to my eyes older than their years in the way of that era.
It was quite a year nineteen
thirteen.
The nation was dealing with storms and floods.
There were wars overseas.
The nation's president was a Democrat
and former academic
dealing with a controversial social issue
of women's suffrage.
These women,
educators to be entrusted with young minds,
we're not yet
entrusted with the vote.
In the photo, they seem tranquil,
with bright eyes and clear gazes.
They look to the camera
and the future.
Ernest Silver was president of the normal school than and remained so until
nineteen forty six
i was fortunate last month to visit two distinguished former faculty members
doctors henry Vittum
and Norman Bagley,
each of whom discussed Plymouth's history.
Dr. Bagley described President Silver as having been dedicated to students
to mutual respect
between students
and faculty
i was able to tell these beloved educators
that Plymouth State had been recognized again last fall by the Chronicle of Higher
Education
as one of the nation's great colleges to work for
and that among the categories was teaching environment
educational innovation
and commitment
to student success
we can imagine that President Silver would smile
to know that in that regard
this vibrant comprehensive university of seven thousand three hundred students
continues the traditions
of nineteen
thirteen
still it's a different era
higher education is in the midst of enormous upheaval
with some people questioning the value of higher education in relation to its
cost
and others predicting higher education's demise in the form we know it
state support for public higher education nationally is at a new low
while expectations for a college degree
and the need for a highly educated population
have never been greater
shifting demographics mean increased competition for students
and the introduction of massive open online courses or MOOCS
and competency based certification
will alter how we think about learning and it's assessment
in ways we can't yet fully predict
higher education must be accessible
and offer high quality
if our nation is not to leave behind those who are the first in their families to
attend college
or have fewer financial resources on which to draw
and many of us here today
with have been in those categories
responding to such challenges names are being nimble
an engaging in constant
planning an adjustment in readjustment
bringing good minds together in ongoing conversations about thomas t and serving
our students
at the same time that we have key issue are increasing access to high quality
programs through technology for example
we also are continuing to enhance the value of p issues strong residential
experience
in later to become even more
distinctive india ch
and distinguished in perth
formats
as executive director university relations steve barton often priestesses
while we are building
for the next generation
through technology
p issue faculty and staff have been enhancing access and excellence
this year for undergraduate degrees are offered fully online as well as on-site
business
communications and media studies
criminal justice
and nursing
the completion program for registered nurses
faculty are supported by professionals in information technology services
and in the office of learning technologies an online education
where they can study the educational impact
of emerging technologies
one student told me recently that the innovative learning in his online course
was biocon
plymouth st had entered the online arena early with first rate graduate studies
and the online n_b_a_ offered for a decade attracts professionals around the
globe
this year the national earning review get educated dot com
regexp issues program in the top twenty
and it's listed that's online in the programs
in the country
through the college of graduate studies in the division of online in continuing
studies
p issue this year had five thousand online in romance
for fifteen thousand credit hours
one-half all online programming offered by the university system of new
hampshire
p issue provided five hundred and fifty sections in fully online and hybrid for
me
the latter combining online in face-to-face work
those courses and programs provide wonderful flexible opportunities
for undergraduate and graduate students who were working
or overseas
replaced that
current residential students also take advantage of online access
because it allows them to take additional coursework during the winter
and summer sessions
or to combine online in residential courses
and earned their degrees
more quickly
because students must be prepared for a global workforce
and because international experiences are transforming impart academic
excellence
the issue has moved forward in international education
university increasingly is and should be
a multicultural community
this year at the global education office was recognized for innovative work in
education abroad
by the center for international studies
with its fares going places award
before eight thousand five hundred people from ninety five countries
at the same time
vice president jim hundrieser in coordinator of international recruiting
decayed
are expanding our partnership with the ls educational services to bring
international students here
for the state has been featured internationally as the host institution
that integrates
global experiences
into the curriculum
the center for global education engagement excuse me and mary lionheart
opened a saga
offering a place for all students
for international events and global programming
there are opportunities for students in chile
malaysia
romania
and more
the campus also has a look to the evolving needs of new hampshire
in our region
and respond
that's part of our mission this new hampshire's comprehensive university
new hampshire has an aging population
and i need for health care professionals
as does the nation
the recently established nursing program
geared toward the advanced nurses the creature
had to external reviews this year and was highly praise
in that praise we recognize as well our partners in spearman mario hospital and
mary hitchcock and others
who offer excellent clinical experiences for students
business and industry partners confirmed that the state needs science technology
engineering and math professionals
and with other university system institutions and those in the community
college system
we're working to increase student enrollment in stem fields
at last spring's commencement
we awarded our first doctor it's of education and learning leadership and
community
two wonderful educators
who already are having a positive impact on education and our school
it was a joy to see them walk across the stage in those deep
plymouth green doctor rhodes
antique rated by their advisers
and to learn about their research
they're developing collaborative initiatives and reading grant receiving
grants for significant projects
one doctoral students book
on literacy instruction
has just gone to press
when alumni speak of a p_s_ you education
they speak of it
as personal
in the mentoring they've received from faculty and staff
and active
in their engagement with real-world projects in hands-on learning
to advance that research and ending gauging
a faculty fellow position has redefined each year
and federal grants and
formally director the center for rural partnerships
was named vice provost for researching gauging
during this year's student research symposium on april twenty sixth and
twenty seven
colleagues and guests will be able to see the high quality of student
scholarship and creativity
as samples of student work this year
rebecca in jacobson
environmental science and policy
for two skated in a research experience for undergraduates program that took her
to be a disco research station in sweden
where she studied near curie dynamics
undergraduates additive it's and dave target biology
presented their research on the biological clock in horseshoe crabs
to get hampshire legislators
in concord
art students
who created the murals underlings ground company are indeed guilty
side documentary
produced on their work
and more are made with the twenty twelve preservation achievement award from the
new hampshire preservation alive
for outstanding education
an advocacy
faculty are active in providing students with opportunities to demonstrate their
work
develop professionally
and secure internships and positions
by supporting student presentations of professional meetings
and by bringing distinguished guests to campus
our students impress those they need
this year the office of career services has been in him
and manage agent currency is partnering with alumni relations university studies
and academic departments to strengthen career offerings for students
a survey conducted by university advancement
indicated that many alumni are e-card
to assist our students
with their career development
sustainability to is part of the planet experience
with the guidance of brian eisenhower
director of sustainability and helen abit professor of environmental studies
students have updated the sustainability handbook and developed a green office
program
they protested painted in the national recycling competition
and let campus initiatives as did faculty members like jeremiah duncan
atmospheric science and chemistry
who coordinated with students a plan that clean up campaign
subjects a leaky issue is the first college food service to be certified by
the new hampshire lodging in restaurant association
as an environmental champion
and for the third year
the issue is recognized in the princeton review skype to green colleges as among
the most environmentally responsible colleges
in north america
campus initiatives demonstrate creativity
and care for reaching
the museum of the white mountains
designed to preserve and promote the history
culture and environmental legacy of the white mountains
opened in february
and already has establish ing for p issue an identity
as a place for learning about the whites
allowing the us to drop on are wonderful location
director catherine and i've done has engage students in all aspects of the
museum
from doing research
to creating curriculum guides
and planning to promote culture landscaping
as has faculty fellow marcia smith lane
history and philosophy
the museum this year received three new collections
one of white mountains art by women artists
from francis's dali mcintyre
another of peace is associated with the bosons grand resort hotel from steve
barbara
former hotel president and managing partner
and p issues executive director of university relations
and a third six thousand volumes
of rare books
maps
an historical manuscripts
friend john w_ n_ and the h newton
the current exhibit passing through the alert the white mountains
funded by private support
is beautifully done
and as we thank our off-campus advisors enact owners
i'd also want to thank many people on campus
for excellent work
including the physical plant and i t s teams
university advancement and public relations
another initiative is the enterprise centre at planet
a business incubator n accelerator developed in partnership with the
grafton county economic development council
with federal funding digi cdc purchased property employment
and with the issue
raised two million dollars from federal regional and state sources for the
building
which the jc e d_c_ will own and operate
the building up in sinatra's
and its first anchor tenant will be narrative one
a rapidly growing software firm created by key issue alarmist tom armstrong
classic ninety
p issue is providing the e_c_ p programming
under the leadership of the executive director and college of business
administration faculty member michael tent now ski
creating jobs for the region
and opportunities for students faculty staff an alarm nine
in business graphic design communications and media study computer
science and more
work closely with entrepreneurs
p_c_p_ is supporting virtual clients now
it has served over one hundred participants through seminars
and already placed five students in internships with the e_c_ p for sp
as original comprehensive university
we fulfill our responsibility to our region in many ways
one example
is a three-year suicide prevention grant of two hundred and seventy eight
thousand dollars
from the u_s_ substance abuse and mental health services administration
to assemble a suicide prevention advisory board of campus and community
partners
to increase mental health awareness
and implement training on how to help those who need
last week
p_ s_ use center for the environment
hosted new hampshire's water in watershed conference
addressing the clean water so critical
to our states quality of life in terrorism
and key issue posted with the new hampshire preservation alliance
a conference on historic preservation stroll
in a sustainable future
tiger takes on bullying
produced with new hampshire public television
premiered at the flying monkey
the shows a thirty minute
television special to help children schools
parents in communities
deal proactively with polly
people if he s you are coordinating programs with our students
in math education for the schools national history day at watershed
management with this plan makes association
professional development for religious leaders
and forest management with the white mountain national forms
to initiatives with our host communities the plaintiff in holding us to serve
special no
this year
is the two hundred and fifty th anniversary of the town of planet
and community members from town in campus are engaged in a celebration
that began with the educational theatre collaborative sp reduction of the
original historical music
implement
marking the moment
with lyrics by tricia lindbergh educational leadership learning and
curriculum
and manuel marquez sterling social science
music by well i have been sent the new hampshire composer
the celebration will continue
through the summer
the second initiative is a new partnership being led by the plymouth
rotary
on behalf of the wise use of the penny river in livermore fall sites
about which you'll hear more soon
p issue students this year
contributed hundreds of thousands of hours to community engagement
and benefit from the mentorship of those in our host communities in region
and ph you again was named to the president's higher education community
service honor roll
i regularly receive comments about our students
to mentors who guidance students really recently wrote me and describe them as
and i quote
motivated
creative
actively engaged respectful
and even connie
and said
they could go on
those are wonderful words
for people who were giving of themselves
to guide our students
let me pause for a few samples of recent students staff and faculty recognition
valerie schlegel double major in spanish language and literature and in political
side
received the gilman international scholarship award to study in argentina
the first time the key issue student who's been recognized by the institute
of international education
sam wise sale
business from the class of twelve now in university advancement
and that sam i'm told left
was named a national newman civic fellow
for his commitment to creating lasting change in his community
one of one hundred and sixty two students
believe nationwide
tumi among the next generation
the nation's greetings
the athletic training program was recognized with the national kramer
professional development award
first in community service
annexed ron academic program
student setting for certification had a one hundred percent pass rate
compared with approximately sixty five percent
nationwide
student teams from the m_b_a_ program
earned two project of the year awards in the national small business institute
competition for the second consecutive year
the first time any school has achieved that distinction
retiring director craig xams that was named in espy i
the organizations
hines
gary good now
counselor education can school psychology
was named the mary jane fall counselor educator of the year
as a national leader in the counseling profession
by the north atlantic region association counselor education and superstition
marjorie king
health and human performance was inducted into the national athletic
trainers association hall of fame
king is one of only two hundred and seventy one
and twelve female inductees
in the history of the organization
to receive the hall of fame designation
which is the highest honor
an athletic trainer can receive
johnta mclean
and art
was named eight twenty twelve remarkable woman by new hampshire magazine
for taking her artistic work in fused glass
two extraordinary levels f technique
and imagination
the panther field hockey team captured the e_c_ a_c_ division three new england
championship
casey stood lay physical education
was named division three honorable mention all-america
the first panther
ever to be named for volleyball
the new england football conference academic all conference team
included seventeen
panther student athletes
seven for the second year
and three
for the third consecutive here
and then talk he won the mask at title for the second consecutive year
both men's and women's hockey team south postseason play
and coaches ashley kill stein
and craig russell
we're both named coach of the year
i repeat sheena
in health and human performance president of the american alliance for
health physical education recreation and dance
lead in the development of a new national
presidential youth fitness program
the goal is a new era
in children's health
and wellness
athletic director john p clark
and fellow alumnus and former men's basketball star adam to christopher
classes
two thousand
where name to the inaugural little east conference call thing
at a ceremony in providence
steve color and social work
was named chair of new hampshire state committee on aging
the committee to make recommendations regarding policy and procedures to best
protect the well being
writes
and quality of life
of older citizens
we can be so proud of planets people
affleck p_s_ you is
and what p issue
this building
this year at the campus has a number of planning process is underway
part of the ongoing conversation about building for the next generation
and that means referring back
to some other kinds of higher education questions i mentioned at the beginning
at this address
who will in students b
and how do we provide the education
that will transform their lives
today our students come from forty three states and thirty four countries
and fifty eight percent of undergraduates are from new hampshire
forty four percent of first-year students
are the first in their families to attend college
and p achieve students persist and graduate it significantly higher rates
the national average is
demographics across new england show declining numbers of high school
graduates through twenty twenty one
and their new audiences in adults who shifting careers
or come from geographic locations with demographics that differ from new
england's
students planning to enroll
mayberry morning needs
and seek flexible educational options
one challenge for the future than is in roman management
broadly defined
and meeting that challenge belongs to us all
not just a vice president for enrollment and it's been student affairs john
hunter eyes here
or director of admissions andy palumbo
first and foremost in enrollment management
a strong academic programs and facilities that enable our students to
succeed at the highest levels
faculty members can be proud that p issues programs attract students from
new england to china
but no institution can be staff
over the past two years colleagues had examined p issue in preparation for next
year's accreditation review by the new england association of schools and
colleges
the planning and budgeting leadership group is dieting a strategic plan
prevost chile bernier has asked faculty members to consider the changing
education landscape
to explore ideas an engaged the imagination
as we've got two new markets
what should be done through technology
what best through other moz
most of us believe that residential campuses will continue
and the most successful ones
will be distinctive
and offer an education that is increasingly value-added
how can we enhance campus learning
some faculty are exploring template of teaching
looking to deepen student learning
what are the most useful co-curricular programs
in this we also imply relevant data
about current and potential student interests
in order to meet our mission
and employee resources wisely
space and facilities matter
and consultants are meeting with the campus to truman written future you
needs
so that we utilize our space as effectively as possible
academic planning is being coordinated with the ten-year facilities master plan
the latter under the leadership of vice president for financing administration
steve taxon
we know for example the effect of the boyd expansion
for a new majors and increased students and faculty members in the sciences
to a center for the environment and over ten million dollars in research funding
and two million dollars intense
to handle a break and savage welcome sent
the first phase of all
for active living learning and wellness
has enabled new classes
and wonderful opportunities for students in athletics and recreation
as well as supporting student recruitment
and community programming
the next phases of all well also are important
enabling the department of health and human performance to expand its capacity
for students
in much-needed health and wellness fields
supporting academic programming including exercise prescription
physiological in cardiac testing
health and wellness
and laboratories for student and faculty research
as well as african recreational opportunities for the three quarters of
our undergraduates who use the facilities
affecting both recruitment
and retention
not to mention employee health and wellness
space on on the side of campus will need repurposed saying n remodeling
and in some cases expansion
at a recent career fair one speaker described eyes
as the most beautiful campus in the state
ob acting call of us are very proud
of this campus and i would like to thank allen shifty
and the physical plant
for their care
about this campus
fishing
enrollment management also requires an investment in technological
infrastructure
and content
this year p issue is moving to a customer relationship management or c_r_
am application
to surf potential and current students more effectively
building imbedded videos
to tell the p_n_c_ story
and providing virtual campus experiance online
in a more competitive environment we event
branding communications and marketing
play a new role
thank-you to all of you who have been pretty stupid ng in these thoughtful
conversations
and i know there have been many many of
as a campus we were integrated thinking and sense the outcomes and do it again
how we talk together and make decisions affectively will matter
you should know that the university system board of trustees has changed its
procedures
to provide the campuses more tiny and flexibility
more decisions will be final here on campus
with accountability sport
but fewer approvals that reduce our ability to move quickly
at this time announcing another changes
formally chancellor edna k rico tired earlier this month
and with us today if he has
arrived just in the last few minutes
is tightly sp
president of granite state college in inner and chancellor
and hewitt the incoming president of keene state college
was approved in introduced to kean
yesterday afternoon
and this year we lost two former trustees entry champions for education
in eugene savage and john cruise ship
will be next
another challenge is the cost of higher education
certainly we are working to enhance revenues in order to keep tuition and
fees reasonable
p issue recently has been awarded research funding at just over three
point six million dollars
and the funding of grants and contracts that the office of sponsored programs is
managing is just over ten and a half million dollars
those dollars enable exciting opportunities
for students staff
and faculty members
university advancement
led by vice president sallie highland
is a actively engaging alumni and friends is donors to scholarship funds
capital projects and the annual fund
all unrestricted annual gets directly support the operating budget
and i volunteer fundraising board the presidency
has participated
with one hundred percent
annual giving
and we are working with the governor and the legislature
even before the legislative reductions of the last biennium
we were cost-effective imprudent
spending approximately twenty percent less per student than any comparable
institutions
with a higher proportion of that standing
applied to direct instruction for students
we've worked to reduce ongoing energy expenses
and to enhance the use of technology and institutional processes
again
reducing costs as responsible stewards
when the state of procreation was reduced by forty nine percent
we came together in campus forums
and maintained our commitment to students
and absorbed eighty percent
of the reduction through voluntary separation plan salary in hiring freezes
and reduced benefits
we differed some investments
over the past decade plymouth st had seen increases in student numbers
in the numbers of students with financial need
and in the amount of aid those students needed
and we have increased the proportion of state appropriation
devoted to eight for new hampshire students
during the last biennium
we maintain that eight
demonstrating dedication
to students
the operating staff and the professional administration administrative and
technical employees are p eighties
increased
their personal scholarship giving
and the faculty created a new fund
supporting our students faculty scholarship
nonetheless there was an increase in tuition
and new hampshire citizens and families rightly are concerned about state
support of higher education
this year all of the university system residential campuses
side decline in new hampshire students
some of her own may have chosen to attend community colleges
or schools out of state
some of her own may have decided not to further their education
the loss of those students has a significant impact
on our operating budget
and in our public mission
new hampshire is aging and many adults will be leaving the work force
the in migration of educated adults has slowed
and national data indicates that new hampshire ranked seventh in the nation
in the high proportion of jobs
it will require a bachelor's degree by twenty eighty
only five years from now
students with those degrees will occur and more
and the last subject economic downturns
we also know what an education means
at the most fundamental level
and it is much more than jobs however important
they are
it is about one's mind
and life
as a result we're working actively with governor hansen
and the legislature
to restore our appropriation
and to continue the state's investment in our buildings
governor hassen has proposed to increase the university system appropriation
from its current fifty five million dollars
two seventy five million dollars in the first year of the biennium into ninety
million dollars in the second
and we will freeze tuition for two years
an increased mariette need
instead me
to new hampshire students
we have a strong advocacy campaign
lead on campus by steve barbara
with colleagues across the university system
i have testified before various committees
as have plenty state faculty and staff students parents friends trustees an
alumni
and materials are available online etc issue works for new hampshire
new hampshire is a grassroots democracy
and we're reading reaching out to state legislators
to reestablish and enhance our partnership
with new hampshire
in some
honesty is a community where people collaborate so that current students and
the next generation of students will thrive
when we look at an incoming class
we know that education is personal
and our students have needs
alex
lexie
building for the next generation will require intelligence and flexibility
and a willingness to take appropriate risks
it was not easy
in nineteen thirty
but they accomplished much
and so will we
thank you for letting me share that journey with you