GOOD MORNING!

IT IS MY PLEASURE, AND MY HONOR, TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU BACK TO CAMPUS FOR THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF WHAT PROMISES TO BE A MOST EXCITING ACADEMIC YEAR.

I AM DELIGHTED TO WELCOME ALL OF OUR NEW FACULTY AND STAFF TO THE EASTERN FAMILY. YOU HAVE JOINED AN OUTSTANDING TEAM ... AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

FOR OUR RETURNING FACULTY AND STAFF, I HOPE THAT THE SUMMER MONTHS HAVE PROVIDED SOME REST ... RELAXATION ... AND RENEWAL FOR YOU ... AND THAT YOU ARE EAGER TO MAKE THIS YEAR AT EASTERN THE BEST EVER ... FOR YOURSELVES ... FOR OUR STUDENTS ... AND FOR THE UNIVERSITY.

REGARDLESS OF YOUR ROLE ON THIS CAMPUS — AND WHETHER YOU'VE BEEN HERE ONE WEEK OR THIRTY YEARS — EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE AS WE CHART A COURSE IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME THAT WILL LEAD US TO EVEN GREATER NATIONAL DISTINCTION.

AS A LEARNING COMMUNITY, WE ARE LIMITED ONLY BY OUR DREAMS ... OUR VISION ... AND OUR LEVEL OF COMMITMENT.

SO LET US DREAM BIG ... LET US SEE FAR INTO OUR FUTURE ... AND LET US WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD AN EVEN GREATER EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A FEW OF OUR CAMPUS LEADERS IN ATTENDANCE. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AS I CALL YOUR NAMES, SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU ...

1. FACULTY REGENT DOCTOR PAM SCHLOMANN...
2. OUR NEWLY ELECTED STAFF REGENT STEVEN FULKERSON ... MISTER FULKERSON IS ASSISTANT NETWORK MANAGER WITH I-T-D-S AND IS WORKING TOWARD A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AT EASTERN.
3. OUR NEWLY-ELECTED STUDENT REGENT, DAVID "DOC" FIFER ...
4. FACULTY SENATE CHAIR DOCTOR DAVID EAKIN ...
5. AND THE CHAIR OF OUR STAFF COUNCIL, BEVERLY BURRUS.

NOW, I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO RECOGNIZE SOME WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED US ON OUR JOURNEY ... AND SOME FAMILIAR FACES IN NEW ROLES.

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. DOCTOR BILL PHILLIPS COMES TO US FROM LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA ... WHERE HE HAD SERVED SINCE 1999 AS THE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES.

AT THE HEART OF EVERY GREAT UNIVERSITY IS AN OUTSTANDING LIBRARY ... AND OUR NEW DEAN OF LIBRARIES IS A FAMILIAR FACE FOR MANY OF YOU. AFTER SERVING THE PAST YEAR AS INTERIM DEAN, CARRIE COOPER WAS NAMED THIS SUMMER AS DEAN OF LIBRARIES.

ALSO ... MONA ISAACS HAS BEEN NAMED THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DELIVERY SERVICES AFTER HAVING SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY ON AN INTERIM BASIS SINCE 2004.

OUR NEW REGISTRAR IS HEIDI TERRY. HEIDI BRINGS TO EASTERN 23 YEARS OF HIGHER EDUCATION EXPERIENCE AND COMES TO US FROM RADFORD UNIVERSITY, WHERE SHE ALSO SERVED AS REGISTRAR.

SIX FACULTY MEMBERS ARE BEGINNING THEIR SERVICE AS ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT CHAIRS THIS FALL. THEY ARE ...

1. DOCTOR JUSTIN COOPER, CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION
2. DOCTOR JACK CULROSS, INTERIM CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND THEATRE.
3. DOCTOR EZRA ENGLING, CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND HUMANITIES.
4. DOCTOR OLIVER FELTUS, INTERIM CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING, FINANCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS.
5. DOCTOR MICHAEL FOSTER, INTERIM CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES.
6. AND DOCTOR JUDY SHORT, CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF BACCALAUREATE AND GRADUATE NURSING.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DOCTOR BRUCE PRATT, WHO WILL BE SERVING AS CHAIR OF CHAIRS THIS YEAR.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AT THIS TIME ALL THE NEW FACULTY MEMBERS WITH US THIS MORNING. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? NOW, WOULD ALL THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE E-K-U STAFF PLEASE STAND?

I ALSO WANT TO MENTION OUR ONGOING NATIONAL SEARCH FOR A PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.

TWO YEARS AGO, I MADE A COMMITMENT THAT A NATIONAL SEARCH WOULD BE HELD FOR A PERMANENT PROVOST ... AND THE TIME HAS COME TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS.

THIS SUMMER, I APPOINTED A SEARCH COMMITTEE AND CHARGED THE MEMBERS WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CONDUCTING A NATIONAL SEARCH. THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN MEETING DURING THE SUMMER ... AND CREATED A POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR NATIONAL ADVERTISING OUTLETS.

THE 15-MEMBER SEARCH COMMITTEE, HEADED BY DOCTOR DAVID SEFTON, HAS AN AMBITIOUS, BUT REALISTIC, TIMETABLE TO BRING CANDIDATES ON CAMPUS BEFORE THE END OF THE FALL SEMESTER.

I WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU APPRISED CONCERNING THE PROGRESS OF THE SEARCH.

I WANT TO REITERATE MY APPRECIATION TO DOCTOR JIM CHAPMAN FOR HIS CONTINUED SERVICE AS INTERIM PROVOST.

WE JUST COMPLETED THE FINAL YEAR OF OUR 2003-06 STRATEGIC PLAN ... DEMONSTRATING PROGRESS TOWARD GOALS ON DIVERSITY ... PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT ... PROMOTING LEARNING ... PROVIDING INTELLECTUAL AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES ... AND CONSTITUENCY ENGAGEMENT.

AS WE BEGIN OUR NEW ACADEMIC YEAR, WE ALSO ENTER THE FIRST YEAR OF OUR 2006-2010 STRATEGIC PLAN.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DOCTOR KENDRA STEWART FOR CHAIRING THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE ... AND RECOGNIZE DOCTOR JALEH REZAIE FOR HER LEADERSHIP THE PAST TWO YEARS.

YOU HAVE RECEIVED, OR WILL SOON RECEIVE, IN CAMPUS MAIL A COPY OF OUR 2006-10 STRATEGIC PLAN. AT YOUR CONVENIENCE, PLEASE TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO REVIEW OUR MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS AS WELL AS OUR INSTITUTIONAL GOALS.

FOR THE REMAINING TIME WE HAVE TOGETHER THIS MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE COULD THINK OF AS "BUILDING BLOCKS" FOR EASTERN'S FUTURE.

JUST AS THE PHYSICAL INTEGRITY OF THE TALLEST SKYSCRAPER DEPENDS ON WHAT WE DON'T SEE UNDER OR JUST ABOVE THE GROUND ... OUR CONTINUED PROGRESS AT EASTERN DEPENDS ON THE FOUNDATION WE LAY TODAY.

THIS FIRST "BUILDING BLOCK FOR PROGRESS" DEFINES OUR REPUTATIONAL CURRENCY ACROSS KENTUCKY AND NATIONWIDE ... AND THAT IS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE ... EXCELLENCE IN OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS ... EXCELLENCE IN OUR FACULTY ... AND EXCELLENCE IN OUR ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES.

SOME OF OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS — SUCH AS OUR TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM — ARE AS OLD AS EASTERN ITSELF BUT STILL GOING STRONG.

OTHERS, SUCH AS PROGRAMS IN BUSINESS AND HEALTH SCIENCES, CONTINUE TO RANK AMONG OUR STALWARTS.

THEN, SPEAKING OF BUILDING BLOCKS, THERE'S THE SOLID LIBERAL ARTS FOUNDATION ... AS WELL AS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HONORS PROGRAM FOR OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST STUDENTS.

STILL OTHERS, SUCH AS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE AND HOMELAND SECURITY, HAVE EMERGED IN MORE RECENT YEARS IN RESPONSE TO SOCIETAL NEEDS.

I'M PARTICULARLY EXCITED THAT CLASSES WILL BEGIN THIS FALL IN OUR NEW PGA-ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL GOLF MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ... WHICH IS THE FIRST IN KENTUCKY OR ANY ADJACENT STATE AND ONLY THE 18TH NATIONWIDE.

THIS PROGRAM WILL PREPARE GRADUATES FOR A VARIETY OF ADMINISTRATIVE CAREERS IN THE GOLF INDUSTRY ... AND WE EXPECT ENROLLMENT TO REACH 300 IN THE COMING YEARS.

THE PROGRAM'S FIRST DIRECTOR. KIM KINCER, WHO GUIDED US THROUGH THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS, IS THE FIRST FEMALE P-G-A PROFESSIONAL GOLF MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR IN THE NATION. PREVIOUSLY, SHE HAD BEEN THE FIRST FEMALE HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL IN KENTUCKY.

ANOTHER GROUND-BREAKING PROGRAM UNDER DEVELOPMENT IS A JOINT DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAM IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP ... FOR WHICH WE HAVE SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL ALONG WITH WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

I AM COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH OUR ACADEMIC COLLEGES TOWARD MORE DOCTORAL PROGRAMS IN OUR FUTURE.

I THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT SOME OF OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS THAT ENJOY NATIONAL REPUTATIONS TODAY WEREN'T EVEN ENVISIONED WHEN WE GAINED UNIVERSITY STATUS 40 YEARS AGO.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE ... FORENSIC SCIENCE ... AND HOMELAND SECURITY ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES.

AND WE WILL ENLARGE OUR IMPACT IN THE YEARS AHEAD IN THE VERY SAME WAY ... BY RESPONDING TO CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS OF SOCIETY AND THIS COMMONWEALTH. WE MUST KEEP ASKING THE QUESTION OF OURSELEVES: WHY NOT EKU? AND WHY NOT NOW?

I HAVE ASKED THE PROVOST TO LOOK AT ADDITIONAL BACCALAUREATE AND GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT WE SHOULD EXPLORE OFFERING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF 21ST-CENTURY KENTUCKIANS.

A CRITICAL FACTOR IN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IS CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. AND THAT'S WHY OUR BOLD, NEW STRATEGIC PLAN AND OUR SACS REVIEW PROCESS TOWARD REAFFIRMATION OF OUR ACCREDITATION ARE SO IMPORTANT.

A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE SACS REVIEW IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE TEACHING-LEARNING PROCESS AT EASTERN.

WHILE IT IS THE FACULTY WHO WILL IMPLEMENT THE Q-E-P ACROSS THE CURRICULUM ... IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EVERY MEMBER OF OUR CAMPUS COMMUNITY ... EVERY STAFF MEMBER AND EVERY STUDENT AT THE VERY LEAST KNOW WHAT OUR QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN, OR Q-E-P, IS.

NOW, ESPECIALLY FOR YOU COFFEE DRINKERS, WE'VE COME UP WITH THE IDEAL WAY TO HELP YOU REMEMBER THE Q-E-P. TO PARAPHRASE A FAMOUS T-V COMMERCIAL, THE BEST PART OF WAKING UP IS Q-E-P ON YOUR CUP.

SO AS YOU LEAVE THE CONVOCATION THIS MORNING, SOMEONE WILL BE AT THE DOOR TO HAND YOU A Q-E-P COFFEE CUP. AND THIS COFFEE CUP WILL BE A CONSTANT REMINDER OF OUR QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN:

E-K-U WILL DEVELOP INFORMED, CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKERS WHO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY.

IT'S SHORT, IT'S SIMPLE, BUT, OH, SO IMPORTANT THAT WE PREPARE GRADUATES WHO CAN AND WILL THRIVE IN AN INFORMATION-BASED GLOBAL ECONOMY.

THE Q-E-P INCLUDES FOUR COMPONENTS: A CENTER FOR CRITICAL THINKING ... A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN ... AN ASSESSMENT PLAN ... AND A BROAD ARRAY OF PROGRAM INITIATIVES.

SIX PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND INCLUDED IN THE PLAN ... AND EVERY ACADEMIC COLLEGE HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS.

A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES ARE PLANNED FOR THE COMING YEAR TO ENSURE THAT THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY IS INFORMED ABOUT THE Q-E-P AND THAT WE ARE IMPLEMENTING INITIATIVES IN ALL OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS AND INCORPORATE THE PLAN.

I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE ENTERED THE HOMESRETCH OF COMPLETING THE COMPLIANCE REPORT FOR THE REAFFIRMATION PROCESS ... AND I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT HAS HAPPENED THIS SUMMER AND A TIMELINE FOR THE 2006-07 ACADEMIC YEAR.

AT OUR REQUEST, A TEAM FROM MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY GRACIOUSLY CONDUCTED AN OFF-SITE MOCK REVIEW OF OUR DRAFT COMPLIANCE REPORT THIS SUMMER. MEMBERS OF THE MURRAY TEAM WERE GENERALLY IMPRESSED WITH OUR DOCUMENTS.

A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT WERE MADE ... BUT THERE WERE NO SURPRISES AMONG THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

AS YOU CAN SEE ... OUR COMPLIANCE REPORT WILL BE SUBMITTED BY SEPTEMBER 8TH ... THE OFF-SITE REVIEW WILL TAKE PLACE IN EARLY NOVEMBER ... OUR Q-E-P WILL BE SUBMITTED BY FEBRUARY 27TH ... AND THE ON-SITE REVIEW TEAM WILL BE HERE APRIL 10TH, 11TH AND 12TH. WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE NOTICE OF OUR REAFFIRMATION IN DECEMBER OF 2007...AND, AFTER THAT, A CELEBRATION ... A BIG CELEBRATION!

AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, THE GOAL OF THIS REVIEW IS NOT MERELY REAFFIRMATION, ALTHOUGH THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. THE OVERRIDING GOAL IS THE BETTERMENT OF OUR INSTITUTION ... AND I THINK WE'RE ALREADY BEGINNING TO SEE THE FRUITS OF OUR LABORS.

I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE SACS LEADERSHIP TEAM ... AND ALL THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO WORK TIRELESSLY AND DILIGENTLY ON THE REAFFIRMATION PROCESS.

OBVIOUSLY, ANOTHER KEY TO NATIONALLY PROMINENT ACADEMIC PROGRAMS IN EVERY COLLEGE IS AN OUTSTANDING FACULTY ... AND WE ARE RICHLY BLESSED WITH MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE MASTERY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS IS MATCHED ONLY BY THEIR PASSION FOR SCHOLARSHIP, SERVICE AND THE TEACHING-LEARNING PROCESS.

JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE RECOGNIZED OUR 2006-08 FOUNDATION PROFESSOR AT SUMMER COMMENCEMENT. DOCTOR RON JONES HAS SUCCEEDED IN EACH OF THE PRIMARY ROLES OF A FACULTY MEMBER — TEACHING, SERVICE AND SCHOLARSHIP.

HE JUST COMPLETED HIS 25TH YEAR AS A BIOLOGY PROFESSOR HERE ... AND WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN.

HIS GROUNDBREAKING BOOK "PLANT LIFE OF KENTUCKY," HAS DRAWN RAVES FROM ACADEMICIANS AND LAYPEOPLE ALIKE ... NOT JUST HERE IN KENTUCKY BUT NATIONWIDE. MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING, THIS BOOK IS THE FIRST VOLUME OF ITS KIND IN KENTUCKY AND, OUTSIDE FLORIDA, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE ENTIRE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. IN THREE DECADES.

CONGRATULATIONS, DOCTOR JONES, ON THIS RICHLY DESERVED HONOR!

IT IS THIS LEVEL OF SCHOLARSHIP THAT IS ONE OF THE BUILDING BLOCKS IN BRINGING NATIONAL DISTINCTION TO E-K-U.

SCHOLARSHIP IS JUST ONE OF THE FOCAL POINTS OF OUR TEACHING AND LEARNING CENTER, LOCATED IN THE KEEN JOHNSON BUILDING.

THE CENTER WILL BE SPONSORING NUMEROUS FORUMS AND WORKSHOPS THIS ACADEMIC YEAR ... AND WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER MENTORING SERVICES AND SPONSOR SEVERAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES.

BE SURE TO WATCH E-K-U TODAY FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING CENTER PROGRAMS.

I MIGHT MENTION THAT THE LIBRARY WILL DEBUT THIS FALL AN INSTANT MESSAGING REFERENCE SERVICE. STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF A REFERENCE LIBRARIAN FROM THEIR HAND-HELD DEVICES OR P-C'S AND GET AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.

ALSO ... THE LIBRARY AND TEACHING AND LEARNING CENTER WILL CO-SPONSOR A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF SCHOLARSHIP ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH AT 3:30 P.M. IN THE KEEN JOHNSON BUILDING.

THE CELEBRATION WILL INCLUDE A KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY DOCTOR EDWIN DELATTRE... A FORMER COLLEGE PRESIDENT AND VICE CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE HUMANITIES.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IS ALSO ACHIEVED WHEN THE ENTIRE CAMPUS COMMUNITY IS ENLIGHTENED BY LEADING SCHOLARS OF THE DAY WHO SHARE THEIR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES ON ANY NUMBER OF TOPICS OF INTEREST.

OUR ANNUAL CHAUTAUQUA LECTURE SERIES THIS YEAR TURNS ITS ATTENTION TO AN INTERESTING SUBJECT THAT'S NEVER OUT OF STYLE ... AND THAT'S COMPASSION. CHAUTAUQUA DIRECTOR DOCTOR BRUCE MACLAREN HAS BEEN BUSY ASSEMBLING ANOTHER OUTSTANDING LINEUP OF SPEAKERS FOR US.

THE FIRST PROGRAM IN THIS YEAR'S SERIES IS ESPECIALLY INTRIGUING BECAUSE IT FEATURES A DOCTOR WHO LEFT HIS SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA IN 1983 TO LIVE AND WORK AMONG THE INNER-CITY POOR IN WASHINGTON, D.C. DOCTOR DAVID HILFIKER IS THE AUTHOR OF "URBAN INJUSTICE: HOW GHETTOS HAPPEN" AND "NOT ALL OF US ARE SAINTS."

OTHER SPEAKERS IN THE SERIES ARE AMERICA'S FUNNIEST PROFESSOR, OUR OWN CARL HURLEY ... TOM MARTINEZ, WHO ONCE BELONGED TO THE MOST VIOLENT RACIST SOCIETY IN AMERICA BUT WENT ON TO WORK UNDERCOVER FOR THE F-B-I TO BRING THE GROUP DOWN ...

... AUTHOR RICHARD RODRIGUEZ, WHO REFLECTS ON THE COLOR BROWN AND THE STRUGGLE OF HISPANICS IN MODERN AMERICA ... AND MARSHA EVANS, THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND C-E-O OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND AS MANY OF THESE LECTURES AS YOUR SCHEDULE PERMITS.

AND DON'T FORGET AS WELL TO SUPPORT OUR FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS EVENTS, ANOTHER SYMBOL OF OUR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

NO DISCUSSION OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IS COMPLETE WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY.

I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT, AT ITS JUNE MEETING, OUR BOARD OF REGENTS APPROVED A NEW ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY TO REPLACE OUR FORMER ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY.

RECENTLY, DOCTOR JESSICA BRYANT, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN OUR DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND THEATRE, ACCEPTED THE POSITION OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY COORDINATOR.

DOCTOR BRYANT WILL BE AN ARTICULATE ADVOCATE FOR ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AS SHE CONSISTENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATES THE NEW POLICY TO ALL SEGMENTS OF OUR CAMPUS COMMUNITY.

WE TAKE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY VERY SERIOUSLY HERE AT EASTERN ... AND THIS POLICY SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE THAT ACADEMIC DISHONESTY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK DOCTOR JUDY SPAIN AND BETSY BOHANNON FOR THEIR WORK AS CHAIRS OF THE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY COMMITTEE.

IN A RELATED MATTER, DOCTOR SPAIN AND MS. BOHANNON ARE ALSO PLANNING OUR SECOND ANNUAL FACE TO FACE WITH ETHICS CONFERENCE ON NOVEMBER 10TH.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT BUILDING BLOCK FOR PROGRESS IS OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING ONLY THE BEST IN STUDENT SERVICES.

IN THE HOUSING AREA, TWO NEW LIVING AND LEARNING COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN ADDED: BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY IN KEENE HALL AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN TODD HALL. FACULTY AND STAFF FROM BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY AND FROM PARKS AND RECREATION ARE WORKING WITH HALL STAFF TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS RELATED TO THE STUDENTS' INTERESTS.

IN ORDER TO BETTER MEET STUDENT NEEDS, OUR COUNSELING CENTER HAS ADDED TWO PSYCHOLOGISTS AND A PSYCHIATRIST TO ITS STAFF. AS MORE AND MORE STUDENTS STRUGGLE WITH THE STRESSES OF MODERN LIFE, THESE ADDITIONS TO OUR STAFF SHOULD MAKE A TREMENDOUS POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS AND IN THEIR ABILITY TO COMPLETE THEIR COLLEGE DEGREES.

CAREER SERVICES IS TRANSITIONING TO A NEW CAREER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW STUDENTS EASIER ACCESS TO JOBS AND ENHANCE EMPLOYERS' ACCESS TO STUDENTS LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT.

THE NEW SYSTEM ALSO ALLOWS FOR FACULTY ACCESS TO HELP ENGAGE THEIR STUDENTS IN THE JOB SEARCH PROCESS AND PROVIDES THE CAMPUS WITH A MENTORING SYSTEM INVOLVING ALUMNI AND EMPLOYERS.

ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE CAN DO FOR OUR STUDENTS IS TO GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO PLAY AN INFORMED AND ACTIVE ROLE IN OUR DEMOCRACY. A CRITICAL FIRST STEP IS MAKING SURE THEY ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE.

TOWARD THAT END, E-K-U IS ONE OF 80 INSTITUTIONS NATIONWIDE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AASCU YOUNG VOTER STRATEGIES PROJECT. THIS WILL BE A PEER-LED EFFORT THAT TARGETS OUR 18-YEAR-OLD STUDENTS.

MORE INFORMATION WILL BE PRESENTED SOON TO FACULTY ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE.

ANOTHER BUILDING BLOCK THAT IS CRITICAL FOR CONTINUED PROGRESS IS THE LITERAL KIND ... THE NEW FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ALLOW US TO BETTER SUPPORT OUR FACULTY AND SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC.

THE DOORS OPENED THIS SUMMER TO OUR MAGNIFICENT NEW BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER.

A GRAND OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, AT 10:30 A.M. I HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US FOR THAT HISTORIC EVENT.

BUT BEAR IN MIND THIS IS JUST PHASE ONE. PHASE TWO IS A 33-MILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER DESIGN ... AND SHOULD BE BID IN THE SUMMER OF 2007.

WE ARE ALSO OPENING THE DOORS THIS FALL TO A JOINT VENTURE IN LANCASTER WITH BLUEGRASS COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE. THE LANCASTER HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER, ON THE PUBLIC SQUARE IN THIS COMMUNITY ABOUT 20 MILES FROM RICHMOND, WILL OFFER CLASSES FROM BOTH E-K-U AND B-C-T-C, BEGINNING NEXT WEEK.

THIS LANCASTER CENTER WAS FUNDED BY A COMBINATION OF STATE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS AND BY PRIVATE MONEY.

SHERRY SCOTT HAS BEEN NAMED MANAGER OF THIS NEW CENTER. MS. SCOTT IS A PROUD TWO-TIME GRADUATE OF E-K-U.

THE LONG-AWAITED NEW SCIENCE BUILDING HAS MOVED FROM THE PROGRAMMING PHASE INTO THE DESIGN PHASE AFTER CAREFUL DELIBERATIONS ABOUT THE COMPONENTS THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE 2006 LEGISLATIVE SESSION APPROVED $54 MILLION OF THE REQUESTED $83 MILLION IN FUNDING ... WHICH REQUIRED US TO REDUCE THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT ... FOR NOW.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO SECURE THE FUNDING NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE FACILITY ... WHICH IS CRITICAL IN OUR EFFORTS TO PREPARE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ... SCIENTISTS ... SCIENCE TEACHERS AND OTHERS TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF OUR REGION AND COMMONWEALTH.

THE NEW SCIENCE FACILITY WILL BE LOCATED NEAR THE ROWLETT-DIZNEY HEALTH SCIENCES COMPLEX. BIDS ARE PROJECTED TO OPEN ON PHASE ONE IN FEBRUARY, 2008.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DOCTOR MALCOM FRISBIE FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE PROGRAMMING AND DESIGN PROCESS ... AS WELL AS STATE REPRESENTATIVE HARRY MOBERLY JUNIOR AND STATE SENATOR ED WORLEY FOR THEIR STEADFAST SUPPORT OF THIS MUCH-NEEDED FACILITY.

A NEW MANCHESTER CAMPUS IS AT THE END OF THE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT STAGE ... AND PHASE-ONE DRAWINGS ARE NOW UNDER REVIEW BY THE VARIOUS USERS OF THE BUILDING.

CURRENTLY FUNDED AT TWELVE-POINT-EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS, THE PROJECT INCLUDES SPACE FOR E-K-U CLASSROOMS AND LABS, CONFERENCE FACILITIES AND THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY. WE EXPECT THIS PROJECT TO BID IN EARLY SUMMER OF 2007.

HERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF GOOD NEWS ... THE CAMPUS-WIDE ELECTRICAL RENOVATION PROJECT IS COMPLETE. OUR WIDESPREAD OUTAGES, AT LEAST AS FAR AS OUR POWER GRID IS CONCERNED, ARE HOPEFULLY A THING OF THE PAST.

I WANT TO THANK FACILITIES SERVICES DIRECTOR JAMES STREET AND HIS DEDICATED STAFF FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK ON THESE AND MANY OTHER PROJECTS ... AND FOR THEIR DAILY COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO LIVE, WORK AND LEARN.

ANOTHER BUILDING BLOCK FOR OUR PROGRESS IS OUR COMMITMENT TO REGIONAL STEWARDSHIP ... OR STEWARDSHIP OF PLACE, AS I LIKE TO SAY.

CESAR CHAVEZ ONCE SAID: "WE CANNOT SEEK ACHIEVEMENT FOR OURSELVES AND FORGET ABOUT PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. OUR AMBITIONS MUST BE BROAD ENOUGH TO INCLUDE THE ASPIRATIONS AND NEEDS OF OTHERS, FOR THEIR SAKES AND FOR OUR OWN."

HIS WORDS APPLY VERY WELL TO E-K-U AND THE COMMUNITY AND REGION WE SERVE. FOLLOWING OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON WHAT IS ALREADY ONE OF OUR STRENGTHS.

KENTUCKIANS HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF PLACE AND CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THEIR STATE. THE QUESTION IS HOW WILL WE ENGAGE THEM? HOW WILL WE WORK WITH THEM TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES?

HOW WILL WE BRING FOLKS TOGETHER IN A SPIRIT OF COOPERATION? AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOW WILL WE GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BUILD THEIR OWN CIVIC CAPACITY FOR POSITIVE CHANGE?

EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY IS PROUD AND COMMITTED TO BE AN EXCELLENT "STEWARD OF PLACE" FOR OUR SERVICE REGION AND OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT PRIDE AND COMMITMENT ARE EXEMPLIFIED THROUGH OUR BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER ... WHICH SYMBOLIZES A NEW ERA WHEN REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSITIES SUCH AS E-K-U ARE PLAYING A MUCH GREATER ROLE IN REGIONAL COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS ALSO VISIBLE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED COLLEGE OF JUSTICE AND SAFETY THAT IS PLAYING AN INCREASINGLY SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN HOMELAND SECURITY INITIATIVES.

I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF, 20 YEARS FROM NOW OR SOONER, THE RICHMOND AREA HAS BECOME A HUB OF PRIVATE-SECTOR SAFETY AND SECURITY BUSINESSES.

OUR COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH SCIENCES WORK DIRECTLY WITH SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO HAVE A SIMILAR IMPACT.

A SOMETIMES OVERLOOKED COMPONENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS A CLEAN, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. ... AND OUR COMMITMENT TO STEWARDSHIP OF PLACE IS ALSO EVIDENT IN OUR NEW ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, WHICH WILL EXAMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAND USE AND WATER QUALITY AND HELP BUILD THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY TO ADDRESS RELATED CHALLENGES AND PROBLEMS.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DOCTOR ALICE JONES FOR HER LEADERSHIP OF THIS INSTITUTE.

OUR OFFICE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH WILL PLAY AN INCREASINGLY SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN REGIONAL STEWARDSHIP IN THE YEARS TO COME ... THROUGH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE AT OUR EXTENDED CAMPUSES AND THROUGH A WIDE ARRAY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CLASSES, TRAINING PROGRAMS AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE TO INDUSTRIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

ANOTHER FORM OF STEWARDSHIP IS SERVICE LEARNING. AS WE HELP OUR STUDENTS TO BECOME INFORMED, CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKERS WHO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, WE WILL BE INVOLVING THEM IN MORE AND MORE SERVICE LEARNING ACTIVITIES THAT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AND REGION.

ANOTHER WAY WE DEMONSTRATE OUR STEWARDSHIP OF PLACE IS BY BECOMING A PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY. OUR ANNUAL CAMPUS UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN WILL BE GEARING UP THIS FALL ... AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ATHLETICS DIRECTOR MARK SANDY FOR HEADING UP THIS YEAR'S DRIVE.

THOSE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW E-K-U POSITIVELY IMPACTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR REGION.

I MIGHT ALSO MENTION THAT, AS THE C-P-E CONTINUES TO SHOW A STRONG INTEREST IN TYING FUNDING TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND PERFORMANCE, IT IS KEENLY INTERESTED IN MAKING SPECIAL FUNDING AVAILABLE TO E-K-U AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING REGIONAL OR STATEWIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ... LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ... SOCIAL INCLUSION ... IMPROVED P-THROUGH-12 SCHOOLS ... CREATIVE GOVERNANCE ... AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION THROUGH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.

WE ARE WORKING ON STEWARDSHIP PLANS TO SUBMIT TO THE C-P-E THIS FALL. INCREASING OUR LEVEL OF SERVICE TO THE REGION IS SIMPLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO ... AND I KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN OUR REGION AND COMMONWEALTH.

AS WE CONTINUE TO PLAN FOR OUR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE ENROLLMENT GROWTH, ANOTHER BUILDING BLOCK FOR PROGRESS IS AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF AN E-K-U EDUCATION.

I BELIEVE EASTERN REMAINS A TERRIFIC EDUCATIONAL BARGAIN — A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE.

NOW, WITH THE RECENT ADDITION OF THE LANCASTER HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER TO OUR EXTENDED CAMPUS SITES AND THE INCREASING NUMBER OF ONLINE COURSES, WE ARE ALSO TAKING STEPS TO ENSURE THAT AN EASTERN EDUCATION IS EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE.

I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT EARLY INDICATIONS POINT TO AN ENROLLMENT OF MORE THAN 16,000 STUDENTS THIS FALL.

WE BELIEVE OUR DECISION TO TARGET NEED-BASED AID TO FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES WITH ESTIMATED FAMILY CONTRIBUTIONS BEYOND PELL-ELIGIBLE LEVELS WILL HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

OUR NEW TRANSFER CENTER ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE STUDENT SERVICES BUILDING SHOULD ALSO MAKE E-K-U MORE ATTRACTIVE TO NEW AND POTENTIAL TRANSFER STUDENTS FROM COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES AND ELSEWHERE.

IN ONE VISIT, STUDENTS CAN APPLY FOR ADMISSION ... DETERMINE HOW THEIR TRANSFER CREDIT WILL APPLY TO E-K-U DEGREE PROGRAMS ... APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID ... RECEIVE ADVISING AND REGISTRATRION SERVICES ... AND ARRANGE FOR PLACEMENT TESTING.

A GRAND OPENING IS SCHEDULED FOR THE CENTER ON SEPTEMBER 8TH.

GRADUATE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A FOCUS. WE WILL BE ADDING AN ASSOCIATE DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN THE NEAR FUTURE, THROUGH THE INTERNAL REALLOCATION OF CURRENT BUDGETED FUNDS ... AND THE FINANCIAL AID TASK FORCE WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO ENSURE THE UNIVERSITY IS MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE RECRUITMENT OF GRADUATE STUDENTS.

HOW BIG WILL E-K-U BE IN 10, 20, 30, 40 YEARS? GIVEN THE FACT THAT COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSITIES WILL LIKELY ABSORB MUCH OF THE ENROLLMENT GROWTH STATEWIDE, THE KENTUCKY COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION IS ALREADY TALKING ABOUT US BECOMING AN INSTITUTION OF 20,000 STUDENTS BY THE YEAR 2010 AND PERHAPS 25,000 BY THE YEAR 2020.

THE RAMIFICATIONS OF SUCH GROWTH ARE DAUNTING, AND WILL REQUIRE CAREFUL PLANNING TO ACCOMMODATE.

WE MUST ALSO FURTHER FOCUS OUR ATTENTION AND EFFORTS NOT ONLY ON RECRUITMENT ... BUT ALSO ON RETENTION AND GRADUATION.

THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONTINUES TO EMPHASIZE ITS EXPECTATION THAT POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR PERFORMANCE ... ESPECIALLY IN RETAINING AND GRADUATING MORE STUDENTS, AND IN DIRECTLY TYING FUNDING TO PERFORMANCE.

WHILE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES IN PLACE TO ASSIST WITH OUR RETENTION AND GRADUATION EFFORTS, SUCH AS THE NEW TRANSFER CENTER, A DEDICATED RETENTION COORDINATOR, NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID AND THREE-TIER ADVISING, WE MUST CONTINUE TO EXPLORE, DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CRITICAL AREAS OF RETENTION AND GRADUATION.

TO FACILITATE THAT PROCESS, I WILL BE APPOINTING EARLY THIS FALL SEMESTER A RETENTION AND GRADUATION TASK FORCE.

ADEQUATE FINANCIAL RESOURCES MUST BE CONSIDERED ANOTHER BUILDING BLOCK FOR PROGRESS.

IN JUNE, OUR BOARD OF REGENTS APPROVED A 2006-07 OPERATING BUDGET OF 192 MILLION DOLLARS ... AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 16 MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. MOST OF THE INCREASE GOES TO AREAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO INSTRUCTION AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT.

ONE EXAMPLE OF AN ACADEMIC INITIATIVE FUNDED THROUGH THIS BUDGET WAS TO PROVIDE ALL CURRENT TENURED AND TENURE-TRACK FACULTY AND LIBRARIANS WITH LAPTOP-DOCKING STATION SYSTEMS, TO REPLACE THEIR DESKTOP COMPUTERS.

THIS PROJECT REFLECTS OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING FACULTY WITH THE FLEXIBILITY AND MOBILITY NEEDED TO MEET TEACHING, RESEARCH AND SERVICE NEEDS ... AS WELL AS THE TOOLS NEEDED TO PROVIDE A TECHNOLOGY-RICH ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS.

AS THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR BUDGET THAT IS DERIVED FROM THE COMMONWEALTH CONTINUES TO DECLINE, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE CONTINUE TO AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR REVENUE.

I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT OUR ONGOING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN HAS REACHED THE 14-POINT-2 MILLION-DOLLAR MARK TOWARD ITS GOAL OF 25 MILLION DOLLARS.

MEANWHILE, UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT REPORTS THAT TOTAL GIVING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005-06 WAS ALMOST 7-POINT-2 MILLION DOLLARS ... UP FROM TWO-POINT-FOUR MILLION THE PREVIOUS YEAR. GIFTS TO THE ALUMNI FUND FOR SCHOLARSHIPS INCREASED 24 PERCENT.

THE FIRST YEAR OF THE SENIOR CHALLENGE PROGRAM RAISED NEARLY ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS TOWARD ALUMNI FUND SCHOLARSHIPS.

ANOTHER INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT SOURCE OF REVENUE COMES FROM GRANTS AND CONTRACTS. THE UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO SEE AN INCREASE IN EXTERNAL FUNDING FOR THESE IMPORTANT RESEARCH AND PUBLIC SERVICE ENDEAVORS.

ALSO, THANKS TO A SOUND INVESTMENT PLAN, THE UNIVERSITY'S ENDOWMENT, UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF THE E-K-U FOUNDATION BOARD, CONTINUES TO GROW.

IN FACT, OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, OUR ENDOWMENT HAS INCREASED ABOUT 75 PERCENT — FROM APPROXIMATELY 24 MILLION DOLLARS TO JUST UNDER 42 MILLION DOLLARS TODAY.

IN RESPONSE TO THE 2005 PROPOSED PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION PLAN, WHICH HAS BEEN POSTED ON THE E-K-U WEB SITE THIS PAST YEAR FOR FEEDBACK AND COMMENT, THE PARKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS HAS DEVELOPED RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE AREAS OF SERVICE PERMITS, PARKING METERS, VISITOR PARKING RE-ZONING AND ENFORCEMENT.

THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY LATER THIS MONTH AND THROUGHOUT THE FALL WITH THE GOAL OF IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2007.

THE UNIVERSITY IS ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING NEW BUSINESS OPERATING PROCEDURES AIMED AT IMPROVING OUR OVERALL EFFICIENCY AND HELPING, WE HOPE, TO MAKE SOME ASPECTS OF YOUR WORK A LITTLE EASIER.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE NEWLY REVISED OPERATING PROCEDURES RELATED TO PROCUREMENT CARD USE AND THE UNIVERSITY-RELATED TRAVEL POLICY INTRODUCE MUCH MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR TRAVEL AND TRAVEL-RELATED PURCHASES ... INCLUDING THE ALLOWANCE OF CHARGING AIRFARE, HOTEL COSTS AND RENTAL VEHICLES TO INDIVIDUALLY-ISSUED PROCUREMENT CARDS.

IN THE SPRING I APPOINTED AN AD HOC TRANSPORTATION WORK GROUP WITH BROAD CAMPUS REPRESENTATION WITH A CHARGE OF REVIEWING TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IN LIGHT OF AN AGING UNIVERSITY VEHICLE FLEET.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THIS POINT INCLUDE ESTABLISHING CONTRACTS WITH EXTERNAL VENDORS TOPROVIDE FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR AUTOMOBILE, VAN AND MOTOR COACH NEEDS ... THE RESULT OF WHICH IS ANTICIPATED TO BE BETTER OVERALL SERVICE AND SUPPORT TO THOSE OF YOU TRAVELING ON UNIVERSITY BUSINESS.

THE CAMPUS SHUTTLE OPERATION IS ALSO UNDERGOING SOME CHANGES. THIS INCLUDES NEW SHUTTLE BUSES THAT ARE COMING ON LINE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THAT ARE MORE EFFICIENT ... RUN MORE OFTEN ON AN IMPROVED TIMETABLE ... AND DO NOT LOOK LIKE SCHOOL BUSES. THESE CHANGES WILL BE HEAVILY PROMOTED ... AND WE BELIEVE THESE NEW BUSES WILL INCREASE RIDERSHIP.

ANOTHER INITIATIVE IN FINANCIAL AFFAIRS IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF UNIVERSITY PAYMENTS TO EMPLOYEES. THOSE OF YOU WHO ALREADY USE DIRECT DEPOSIT FOR YOUR PAYROLL CHECKS WILL SOON BE ABLE TO HAVE ALL PAYMENTS THAT YOU RECEIVE FROM THE UNIVERSITY — SUCH AS TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENTS — MADE BY DIRECT DEPOSIT.

MORE INFORMATION WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON ON ALL THESE IMPROVEMENTS.

I AM ALSO PLEASED TO REPORT THAT OUR FINANCIAL AID TASK FORCE CONTINUES TO MAKE PROGRESS. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE UNIVERSITY SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED ITS BASE-BUDGET COMMITMENT TO NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID LAST YEAR. BASED ON A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE TASK FORCE, WE WERE ABLE TO AWARD GRANTS TO MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND OF OUR FINANCIALLY NEEDIEST STUDENTS.

THIS ACADEMIC YEAR, WE WILL AGAIN AWARD APPROXIMATELY THE SAME NUMBER OF GRANTS. HOWEVER, AS THE TASK FORCE HAS RECOMMENDED, THESE AWARDS WILL BE MADE TO FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES TO FOCUS ON RECRUITMENT OF THESE STUDENTS AND RETENTION AFTER THEIR FIRST YEAR.

THE CONCENTRATION OF THIS TASK FORCE IS CURRENTLY IN THE AREAS OF GRADUATE STUDENTS AND TRANSFER STUDENTS AS WELL AS ON OTHER INITIATIVES THAT ADVANCE THE DIVERSITY GOALS OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

ALSO ... THE UNIVERSITY IS BEGINNING WORK ON A BUSINESS PLAN. DURING THIS PROCESS, WE WILL EXPLORE MANY QUESTIONS SUCH AS "HOW DO WE BEST MANAGE AND PLAN FINANCIALLY FOR OUR GROWTH IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND ACHIEVE OUR STRATEGIC GOALS."

HOW DO WE PROVIDE FOR FACULTY GROWTH? HOW DO WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR COMPETITIVE SALARIES AND BENEFITS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN FACULTY AND STAFF? HOW DO WE ADDRESS OUR NEEDS FOR ACADEMIC SPACE, STUDENT SERVICES, RESIDENCE HALLS AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE?

THIS PLAN, MUCH LIKE THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND Q-E-P, WILL BE THE PRODUCT OF CAMPUS-WIDE REPRESENTATION AND INPUT.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT BUILDING BLOCK, ONE THAT TOUCHES ON MANY OF THE OTHERS WE'VE DISCUSSED, IS DIVERSITY — CULTURAL ... INTELLECTUAL ... AND IN OUR STUDENT BODY AND OUR FACULTY AND STAFF.

THIS, AS YOU KNOW, IS A SUBJECT NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART ... AND, AS I HAVE LEARNED, YOU SHARE THAT PASSION.

SO LET US CONTINUE WORKING HARD TO FOSTER A WARM AND WELCOMING CLIMATE FOR ALL OUR FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS.

LET US STAND STRONG AS A UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY AGAINST ALL FORMS OF HATRED ... PREJUDICE ... AND DISRESPECT.

LET US, THOUGHTFULLY AND PURPOSEFULLY, WORK TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS, BOTH REAL AND IMAGINED, AND OPEN HEARTS AND MINDS.

LET US BE A BASTION OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND LOOK OUT, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE MOST VULNERABLE TO DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT.

AND LET US BE COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS AND FREE SPEECH, EVEN WHEN WE MIGHT DISAGREE WITH THE CONTENT.

THIS IS NOT JUST THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A HANDFUL ... THIS IS A PRIVILEGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US HAS AS A MEMBER OF THE E-K-U FAMILY.

I STARTED OFF THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT SOME OF OUR NEW CAMPUS LEADERS, FACULTY AND STAFF BECAUSE OUR MOST IMPORTANT, MOST INDISPENSABLE FOUNDATION FOR ALL OUR BUILDING BLOCKS FOR PROGRESS IS YOU, OUR TALENTED AND DEDICATED EMPLOYEES.

IT IS YOUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE ... YOUR PASSION FOR THE TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESS ... AND YOUR LOVE AND RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER AND FOR OUR STUDENTS THAT HAS MADE EASTERN THE GREAT UNIVERSITY IT IS AND WILL CARRY US ON TO EVEN GREATER HEIGHTS OF EXCELLENCE AS WE ENTER OUR SECOND CENTURY OF SERVICE.

IT IS WITH YOUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN MIND THAT SEVERAL IMPORTANT INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED THIS PAST YEAR. THROUGH BOTH YOUR PERSONAL PARTICIPATION AND YOUR POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, OUR CAMPUS IS MOVING TOWARD A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE.

MOST OF YOU ARE BY NOW FAMILIAR WITH THE "HEALTHY YOU AT EKU" WELLNESS PROGRAM.

MORE THAN 400 MEMBERS OF OUR FACULTY AND STAFF HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SOME WAY ... AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS LIFE-CHANGING ... AND POTENTIALLY, LIFE-SAVING PROGRAM.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT OUR HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE OR VISIT WWW-DOT-HEALTHY YOU AT EKU-DOT-COM ... AND GET STARTED TODAY DOWN THE ROAD TO GOOD HEALTH.

ALSO ... FOLLOWING A CAMPUS GRASS-ROOTS INITIATIVE, OUR BOARD OF REGENTS APPROVED IN JUNE A SMOKE-FREE-ZONE POLICY. THIS NEW POLICY, WHICH RESTRICTS SMOKING TO DESIGNATED AREAS ON CAMPUS, COINCIDES WITH A BOARD-APPROVED PLAN TO TRANSITION ALL RESIDENCE HALLS TO NON-SMOKING FACILITIES, EFFECTIVE WITH THE OPENING OF OUR RESIDENCE HALLS TOMORROW.

THE POLICY IS POSTED UNDER THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SECTION OF OUR HUMAN RESOURCES WEB SITE.

THE UNIVERSITY WILL PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION AND PROGRAMS TO HELP MEMBERS OF THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY WHO MAY WISH TO QUIT SMOKING. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT ADRIENNE BAUER IN HUMAN RESOURCES.

APPROPRIATE SIGNAGE INDICATING NO-SMOKING ZONES HAS BEEN PLACED AT VARIOUS CAMPUS LOCATIONS ... AND ADDITIONAL SMOKING SHELTERS WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DOCTOR MICHAEL BALLARD FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF THIS TASK FORCE.

ALSO STEMMING FROM OUR DESIRE TO PROVIDE A HEALTHY CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT, I ESTABLISHED THE EASTERN COMMITTEE ON RESPONSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP LAST FALL TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CAMPUS PRACTICES. BEGINNING WITH OUR NEW ACADEMIC YEAR, THIS COMMITTEE HAS BECOME A STANDING UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE.

THIS IMPORTANT COMMITTEE, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS, WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE WAYS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND STEWARDSHIP ON CAMPUS.

I WANT TO THANK DOCTOR ROBERT WEISE, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF THIS COMMITTEE.

YOU ARE NO DOUBT AWARE OF THE ONGOING POTENTIAL FOR A FLU PANDEMIC IN OUR COUNTRY. THE UNIVERSITY HAS IN PLACE A PROTOCOL FOR THE COORDINATION OF SERVICES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES ON CAMPUS FOR THE STUDENT HEALTH AREAS.

TO FACILITATE THE UNIVERSITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING FOR THE ENTIRE CAMPUS FOR SUCH AN EVENT, I WILL BE APPOINTING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS A TASK FORCE WITH BROAD CAMPUS REPRESENTATION TO DEVELOP EMERGENCY PLANNING AND A BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLAN.

I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AS WE CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND DIVERSE FACULTY AND STAFF, THE UNIVERSITY WILL BE UNDERTAKING A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ALL EMPLOYEE BENEFITS THIS YEAR.

THE FINAL "BUILDING BLOCK FOR PROGRESS" I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS MORNING IS A STRONG INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT TO OUR PROGRESS FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES IT GIVES OUR STUDENTS ... FOR THE PRIDE AND EXCITEMENT IT GENERATES ON CAMPUS, AMONG OUR ALUMNI AND IN THE COMMUNITY ... AND FOR THE SUPPORT IS HELPS BUILD FOR THE UNIVERSITY.

I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT EARLIER THIS SUMMER THE UNIVERSITY RECEIVED N-C-A-A RECERTIFICATION, WITH THE CONDITION THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON OUR OWN GENDER AND MINORITY AND EQUITY PLANS. WE WILL DO JUST THAT ... AND OUR INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS PROGRAM WILL BE STRONGER THAN EVER.

I HOPE ALL OF YOU ARE READY FOR ANOTHER EXCITING SEASON OF FOOTBALL. OUR NATIONALLY-RANKED COLONELS HAVE BEEN PICKED TO WIN THE CONFERENCE THIS SEASON.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH at 6 P.M. THAT'S WHEN THE HILLTOPPERS COME TO TOWN ... AND LET'S JUST SAY I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE THEM A "PROPER WELCOME."

FORGIVE ME IF I GOT A LITTLE AHEAD OF MYSELF. WE OPEN THE SEASON ON THE ROAD AT CINCINNATI SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 2ND AT 7:30 P.M. I HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US THERE AS WELL.

ALSO, OUR WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM HAS BEEN PICKED TO WIN THE CONFERENCE ... AND OUR WOMEN'S SOCCER PROGRAM IS GEARNG UP FOR ITS SECOND YEAR OF INTERCOLLEGIATE COMPETITION.

THE PROUD TRADITION OF E-K-U ATHLETICS WILL BE CELEBRATED ON NOVEMBER 3RD, WHEN THE UNIVERSITY INDUCTS AT AN AWARDS BANQUET THE INAUGURAL CLASS IN THE E-K-U ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME.

AS I SEE IT, THESE ARE THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR PROGRESS AT EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY: ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE ... INNOVATIVE STUDENT SERVICES ... FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ... REGIONAL STEWARDSHIP ... AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY AS IT RELATES TO ENROLLMENT GROWTH ... ADEQUATE FINANCIAL RESOURCES ... DIVERSITY BY ALL ITS DEFINITIONS ... AND A STRONG INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS PROGRAM.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, AT THE VERY FOUNDATION, ALL OF YOU.

I CAN'T SAY THIS OFTEN ENOUGH ... JUST AS ANY BUILDING WOULD FALL IF YOU STARTED CHIPPING AWAY AT ITS FOUNDATION, ALL THESE BUILDING BLOCKS ARE CRITICAL TO OUR CONTINUED PROGRESS AS A UNIVERSITY. NOT ONLY ARE THEY CRITICAL ... JUST AS WITH ANY STRUCTURE, THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY DEPENDENT ON EACH OTHER.

BUT, AGAIN — AND I CAN'T EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH, EITHER — OUR SUCCESS AS A UNIVERSITY DEPENDS ON ALL OF YOU.

YOU ARE THE REASON WE CAN BOAST ABOUT OUR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. YOU ARE THE ONES WHO ARE PLANNING OUR FUTURE TODAY. YOU ARE SERVING OUR STUDENTS. YOU ARE PROVIDING A SAFE AND ATTRACTIVE LEARNING AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT THROUGH YOUR MAINTENANCE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS AND GROUNDS ... YOU ARE IN THE COMMUNITIES, SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS SERVING OUR REGION ...

YOU ARE CHARTING AND PLANNING FOR OUR ENROLLMENT GROWTH ... YOU ARE MAKING SURE WE HAVE ADEQUATE FINANCIAL RESOURCES WITH WHICH TO OPERATE ... IT IS YOUR DIVERSITY THAT ENRICHES SO VERY MUCH OUR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ... AND, LASTLY, YOU ARE SUPPORTING AN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS PROGRAM THAT HELPS TO BUILD PRIDE IN THE UNIVERSITY.

IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOUR "PASSION FOR THE POSSIBLE" THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION OF EXCELLENCE THAT DEFINES EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY AND ALLOWS ME TO CONFIDENTLY PREDICT OUR SECOND CENTURY WILL BE EVEN MORE GLORIOUS THAN OUR FIRST.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT IS INDEED AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS YOUR PRESIDENT.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, ALL HOURS OF THE DAY.

I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT TOMORROW, WE WILL BEGIN TO WELCOME ALMOST TWO THOUSAND NEW STUDENTS TO OUR RESIDENCE HALLS. I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP TO HELP WITH "MOVE-IN DAY" ACTIVITIES.

AND, IF YOU HAVE NOT YET DONE SO, PLEASE CONTACT THE HOUSING OFFICE TO SEE HOW YOU MIGHT STILL BE OF ASSISTANCE. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UNIVERSITY TO COME TOGETHER AND PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD IN WELCOMING OUR NEW STUDENTS.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS TO HELP OUR NEW STUDENTS GET OFF TO A GOOD START IN THEIR NEW SURROUNDINGS. EVERY YEAR, WE RECEIVE MANY POSITIVE COMMENTS FROM STUDENTS AND PARENTS WHO ARE IMPRESSED BY THE CAMPUS-WIDE EFFORT TO MEET THEIR NEEDS FROM THE MINUTE THEY ARRIVE ON CAMPUS.

TO THAT END, I ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AS WE DEVOTE SEVERAL PARKING LOTS ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 17TH, TO THE PURPOSE OF MOVING IN OUR STUDENTS. LOTS TO BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY ONLY ARE: MARTIN, COMMONWEALTH, CASE, STUDENT SERVICES BUILDING, MATTOX AND THE BURNAM AND SULLIVAN LOTS.

THE CITY OF RICHMOND PARKING LOT ON CRABBE STREET WILL BE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE THURSDAY TO E-K-U EMPLOYEES.

AS WE ADJOURN, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL FACULTY MEMBERS TO REMAIN FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES FOR A BRIEF MEETING OF THE FACULTY AT LARGE.

NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME TO THE STAGE THE CHAIR OF OUR FACULTY SENATE ... DOCTOR DAVID EAKIN.

THANK YOU.