Elon University President Leo M. Lambert welcomed employees to the new academic year on Aug. 25, 2008, with a speech that lauded past accomplishments while encouraging faculty and staff to "think beyond the walls of the campus" as leaders begin work on a new strategic plan for the school.
The president’s address was delivered Aug. 25, 2008, at opening ceremonies at the beginning of the annual planning week. He highlighted the success of the current strategic plan, New Century at Elon, which is in its final phases.
Some of those achievements included the following:
• National accreditations for the Love School of Business and the School of Communications;
• Started the Elon University School of Law and celebrated its recent provisional approval by the American Bar Association;
• Created the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and built the Belk Pavilion as its new home as part of a commitment to stay at the forefront of innovative undergraduate education;
• Planned and will soon launch publicly the universitiy’s next fundraising campaign;
• The residential nature of the campus has improved significantly, with construction of the Oaks and Colonnades residences and dining hall, along with the expansion of the Danieley Center;
• Project Pericles, North Carolina Campus Compact, and the social entrepreneurship scholars were born, and Elon was recognized as having one of the top three civic engagement programs in the nation;
• Consistently ranking among the most engaging institutions in the nation by the National Survey of Student Engagement and cited by Newsweek in 2006 as the “hottest” college in the nation for student engagement.
“Having a vision and a plan matters,” Lambert said. “Elon has become the academically stronger institution we imagined it could be at the start of New Century. The next strategic plan will be every bit as important as we chart the future for this remarkable university.”
Groundwork has already been laid for the next strategic plan, Lambert said. Long range planning subcommittees on various issues have conducted studies in recent years, with myriad suggestions for Elon’s future.
“When you think of Elon in 2020, what do you want us to be nationally or internationally known for?” Lambert asked. “The answer to that question may depend on strategic investments the university may make in a program or programs on which we will build our reputation.”
“Maybe we will strive to build the premier undergraduate research program in the nation. Perhaps we will define the premier undergraduate experience, integrating the liberal arts and sciences with the professional schools in new and imaginative ways, seamlessly weaving together experiential and classroom learning. Perhaps we want to become a leader in preparing entrepreneurs.
“These are just a few suggestions to prime the pump.”
Lambert concluded his speech with a request to the Elon community:
“In closing, I want to say let’s aim high. One of our trustees, Bobby Long, is fond of saying in Law School Advisory Board meetings, ‘Aim for the stars. The worst that can happen is that we’ll end up on the roof. But if we aim for the roof, we’ll never get off the ground.’
“So let us dream boldly and with confidence. This is a once in a lifetime privilege on all of our parts to create a great and distinctive university. Let us honor that privilege with our original thinking, creativity, and high ideals.”
To read the full address, click on the link to the upper right of this page.