- Challenges of Excellence

-On March 25, 2003 Vice Chancellor and Provost Deborah A. Freund addressed faculty, staff and students in her state of the university speech, “The Challenges of Excellence.” Her comments are printed here as a service to the University community.

Here we are, 18 months after the 9/11 terrorists attacks. I had hoped by now we would have world events behind us, but, alas, things are just as challenging and—on a global and national scale—just as tumultuous.

Times of national and global crisis can be true tests of substance and character. Like 9/11, now is a time to dig deep and take strength and comfort from the values that are the core of our University.

At this University, excellence in these trying times calls for stepping up to the plate to understand the truth. Excellence demands tolerant and open minds; it requires working hard to understand the differences between cultures and ideologies that create crisis in the first place.

Through this excellence of purpose, we can help restore the balance of peace and cooperation and achieve the wisdom to avoid future crises. Let’s never forget that as educators, we are guardians of openness and truth, and we all must aspire to excellence in that role. That is why I have asked that we continue our classes, and why I ask you—in the spirit of our values—to be open to the full range of issues, ideas, and emotions we are likely to encounter from our students and our colleagues in the days to come.

In many ways, such openness reflects the goals in the Academic Plan that call for collaboration.


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Meet the Provost Office Administration Provost Committees Policies and Procedures	A \| A \| A Challenges of Excellence - March 2003 -On March 25, 2003 Vice Chancellor and Provost Deborah A. Freund addressed faculty, staff and students in her state of the university speech, “The Challenges of Excellence.” Her comments are printed here as a service to the University community. Here we are, 18 months after the 9/11 terrorists attacks. I had hoped by now we would have world events behind us, but, alas, things are just as challenging and—on a global and national scale—just as tumultuous. Times of national and global crisis can be true tests of substance and character. Like 9/11, now is a time to dig deep and take strength and comfort from the values that are the core of our University. At this University, excellence in these trying times calls for stepping up to the plate to understand the truth. Excellence demands tolerant and open minds; it requires working hard to understand the differences between cultures and ideologies that create crisis in the first place. Through this excellence of purpose, we can help restore the balance of peace and cooperation and achieve the wisdom to avoid future crises. Let’s never forget that as educators, we are guardians of openness and truth, and we all must aspire to excellence in that role. That is why I have asked that we continue our classes, and why I ask you—in the spirit of our values—to be open to the full range of issues, ideas, and emotions we are likely to encounter from our students and our colleagues in the days to come. In many ways, such openness reflects the goals in the Academic Plan that call for collaboration.