In his annual address to open the faculty and staff planning week, President Lambert took a “big-picture” look at the university’s short-term and long-term plans.
With an eye toward 2030, President Leo M. Lambert used his annual opening address to encourage faculty and staff to think “down the road and around the corner” in considering what lies ahead for Elon. The talk, delivered Aug. 22 in Alumni Gymnasium, followed the presentation of Elon Medallions to five faculty and staff members who provided years of exemplary service to the institution.
Lambert detailed the growth of the university over the course of one faculty member’s career, showing a photo of the campus from 1980 and noting the new buildings that have been added and the dramatic increase in enrollment. Elon had 2,200 students in 1980 and will enroll about 6,700 students this fall.
Elon is currently working with campus master-planning firm Ayers Saint Gross to develop a blueprint for growth between now and 2030. Elon plans to continue its slow enrollment growth and maintain a walkable, pedestrian-friendly campus with new academic and residential facilities added as they are needed. This year, the university will open new facilities for the School of Communications; begin construction on the Schar Center, a multi-purpose convocation center; and plan for construction of Sankey Hall for business programs, a new science facility, a commons building in the Historic Neighborhood, and additional residential facilities.
Lambert said that Elon will continue its drive to create the nation’s finest residential campus environment with additional facilities and continued expansion of academic programming tied to the residential neighborhoods. More than half of this fall’s first-year students will be enrolled in one of the residentially themed CORE curriculum courses, with more than 575 students in one of 25 living-learning communities led by faculty and staff members. “Students in residence have higher rates of retention, higher grade point averages, higher graduation rates and higher levels of campus involvement and participation in high-impact practices,” Lambert said.
President Lambert also spoke about the essential drive to increase resources for financial aid to keep Elon affordable to strong students of all backgrounds. The university is currently in the leadership phase of the Elon Leads Campaign, with 50 percent of the campaign goal directed toward building scholarship aid.
“Paying attention to financial aid over the long term is essential both to fulfilling our aspirations for a more economically diverse student body, and to ensure the long-term fiscal health of the university by meeting our enrollment goals in a very competitive admissions environment,” Lambert said.
The upcoming academic year will include an emphasis on implementing recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on Social Climate and Out-of-Class Engagement. A team of faculty and staff will work on action steps in five categories, improving the transition of first-year students, expanding student access to mentoring experiences, enhancing traditions and campus social experiences, creating new informal hang-out spaces, and revising policies and practices to make it easier for juniors and seniors to live on campus.
“The Task Force on Social Climate and Out-of-Class Engagement has done excellent work in recognizing the essential elements of our culture and is working to ensure that every student has access to the pathways, mentors, intellectual rigor and experiences that undergird an Elon education,” Lambert said.
In concluding his address, President Lambert said he is “constantly inspired by the innovative and creative spirit” of the Elon community. He cited several grants the university has received for academic programs, and top rankings for high-impact academic programs that lead to student success. “I think Elon’s future is going to be very bright because it will be powered by the creativity and commitment of the amazing people in this room,” Lambert said.