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Report to the Board of Trustees – December 2018

Thank you, Chairman Gingo.

Most of my report today will address the Three-Year Action Plan that will be presented to the Board for its consideration as part of new business. As you can see from the first slide (PowerPoint not available).

Presidential Search

The process of creating the Three-Year Action plan has been an exercise in shared governance. This spirit of mutual cooperation will be continued and enhanced as a result of the Board’s actions today.

Last month the Board announced it will consider expanding the Presidential Search Committee to include elected leaders of six University representative bodies in the process. This is a major step in broadening shared governance at our University. It reflects the great importance attached to the selection of a new president, and recognition of the collective wisdom that resides here.

Moreover, I see this as another feature that will attract highly qualified candidates to our search. It is a further demonstration of our University’s renewed ability to rally together toward a common goal.

Soccer

All of us who teach know it is not uncommon for we, the educators, to learn from our students. This weekend, our students will again provide us with a valuable lesson in how best to rally toward a common goal.

This Friday our men’s soccer team will play in the College Cup for the third time in four years. It should be recalled that at one point this season their record was 6-6-2, and they were dismissed by nearly every sportswriter in the nation. Never dismiss these Zips. The team rallied and vanquished highly ranked opponents, one after another.

I hope that this weekend these student-athletes will earn a second star for Akron’s soccer jerseys. Regardless of the outcome they have earned our admiration and respect.

Commencement

The same holds true for another group of ¹ú²úÂ×Àí students. While not quite as visual as a soccer match, their victories will be even more significant in the long run.On Saturday Dec. 15, we will confer 1,150 degrees to graduates at the 2018 Fall Commencement Ceremonies at E.J. Thomas Hall. My congratulations to all of our graduates.

Congratulations, too, to Kim Haverkamp and all the other commencement organizers for concentrating this celebration into two ceremonies on one day.

If your schedules permit, I encourage you to join us for the 10 a.m. or 2 p.m., or both ceremonies on Dec. 15^th.

Thank you Mr. Chairman, that concludes my report.