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University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman shared her vision for the new academic
year and offered a few surprises as she addressed leaders from across all three campuses Wednesday
morning.
I plan to spend time this morning on the work of the University, including new academic
initiatives, investments in our innovation, and our ongoing service to society.
But first, Coleman described a remarkable partnership between University of Michigan
students and the community of Konia, in war-torn Liberia. There, a merry-go-round designed
by the students generates electricity, which, is stored and used to help power a local school
at night, when adults are able to attend.
They call their work Sustainability Without Borders. To me, it exemplifies something larger:
learning without borders.
This is the University of Michigan and this is what we do best: immersive learning, service
to society, sustainable practices and collaboration, all in a global setting. And there’s plenty
of fun in the merry-go-round to boot.
Coleman evoked the vision of the University of Michigan’s first president Henry Tappan
and his challenge to “carry the university forward to perfection.”
She praised the outstanding accomplishments of university faculty and researchers, especially
in the areas of medicine, manufacturing, health care policy and sustainability. She applauded
U-M staff, which she called the “backbone of our institution.”
A special note was made of the tremendous new Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander
Women’s Hospital, which will open next month. President Coleman conveyed the importance
of the university to the region’s economy, noting that U-M faculty are essentially creating
a new business every four weeks, and the university’s successful new Venture Accelerator is providing
space and resources for startups built on U-M technologies and ideas.
Programs across all three campuses are supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. Now, Coleman
says, the U-M will begin investing in University start-ups, literally, with a new program called
“MINTS”, which may provide up to $500,000 in funding.
An added bonus is that because so many startups are based here, in our backyard, we are helping
to accelerate businesses that contribute to the Michigan economy.
Despite the grand scope of this new venture, President Coleman was not yet finished making
big announcements, unveiling a new plan called the Third Century Initiative, a $50 million
commitment over the next five years to support immersive learning experiences and innovative
approaches to grand challenges.
We envision new programs and academic experiences that prepare graduates who aspire to advance
the public good, while also advancing our research and service work to develop solutions
to the world's most pressing problems.
As an example, Coleman described the groundbreaking research of Dr. Stewart ***, who regularly
sees firsthand the human toll of motor vehicle crashes, the leading cause of death in American
children and young adults. According to Coleman, research carried out by Dr. *** and others
has led the CDC to revise the nationally accepted protocol for treating patients at the scene,
resulting in an 11 percent increase in the accuracy of treating patients, and an annual
savings of $540 million in medical costs.
This is research turned into action, with very human benefits.
Coleman made clear that it is the unique qualities of U-M that made these kinds of initiatives
possible.
You know, there really is no place like Ann Arbor. Just look out the windows here at the
expanse of this institution. Life-changing teaching and research, a distinctive environment
for the arts, creativity, and innovation, and a diverse range of perspectives and people,
combine to create an unparalleled university.
As president, Henry Tappan saw Michigan’s potential. He challenged a very young university:
“Dare to be in advance of the whole country, if need be.”
Let’s dare to stay in advance of the whole country.
Let’s dare to be in advance of the world.
And together, let’s dare to move the university forward to perfection.
Thank you.