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An Open Letter
To The WIU Community From President Goldfarb
Dear WIU Community,
I want to welcome everyone to the start
of the academic year. Like our first-year students, I too, feel
expectant, energized and excited. While I have been serving as
President of Western since July 1, the beginning of school more
clearly marks the start of my new endeavor.
I am honored to serve as your 10th President
and look forward to working with all of you. Even in these difficult
budget times, we have much to be thankful for, including fiscal
support for the rehab of Memorial Hall, the planning funds for
a new Performing Arts Center and a robust enrollment. We must
also begin planning for our University's future, focusing on issues
such as enrollment targets, diversity, the Quad Cities campus,
technology, and institutional marketing.
During the course of the summer, I have
spent a good deal of time meeting with constituents (alumni, Board
members, legislators, faculty and staff members, students), preparing
for additional meetings with departments and students, as well
as attending many events. The great respect everyone expresses
for Western has made me proud to be one of the newest members
of this great university and has made me aware of the foundation
upon which we can build our future plans.
In order to get us started on many of this
year's initiatives, I have begun to work with our administrative
team to develop guidelines for establishing our institutional
planning committee and for organizing the search committee for
the Provost. I will seek input until the end of August and then
finalize both of these committees. My recommendations for the
makeup of these committees can be found on the WIU website www.wiu.edu/president.
Please review and email me any suggestions or comments.
In addition, we have revived and slightly
expanded the previously established users' group for the Performing
Arts Center. The members of this committee can be found on the
WIU website www.wiu.edu/president.
Please contact any of the members with ideas or input. We
must submit our budget request for construction of this facility
to the Illinois Board of Higher Education by October.
Next month will also be marked by two very
significant events on our campus. On September 11, we will pause
to remember the tragic events of last year. We will join with
the Macomb community for a time of reflection. Please watch for
a forthcoming schedule.
On September 23, Founders' Day will celebrate
the 100th anniversary of the first day of classes at Western Illinois
University. On that date, I will deliver my first formal address
to the WIU community, and I hope you will attend and take part
in the many celebratory activities. The State of the University
address will be an ongoing addition to future Founders' Days.
Please know that I hope to meet all of you
during the course of the coming year. I also hope that you will
feel free to email A-Goldfarb@wiu.edu, call (298-1824) or write.
I wish everyone a very successful academic
year.
Sincerely,
Al Goldfarb
President
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