The University President, Dr. E. Joseph Savoie, periodically posts blogs and email messages to the University community and the public about important University relations, developments, and updates.
Read his most recent blogs below and subscribe to receive all updates.
Dear members of the University family,
George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. Tony McDade.
Their tragic deaths – and those of countless others – are reminders that our nation has much work to do to address discrimination, intolerance and other inexcusable barriers to social justice that have burdened us for far too long.
Universities are a place where that work can occur. Indeed, they are a place where it must occur.
On Friday, the University graduated the largest and most diverse class in our 122-year history, capping an unprecedented semester in momentous fashion.
We conferred 1,905 degrees, an all-time high for a single semester. Women received 1,173 of those diplomas; that’s nearly 62 percent of the total graduating class and yet another record. Eighty-eight degrees were awarded to Hispanic graduates, the most ever.
Dear students, faculty and staff members,
The month of March witnessed immense changes across our campus and in the lives of most members of the University family.
We cannot yet anticipate fully what April might hold as the world continues to grapple with the effects of COVID-19.
In uncertain times such as these, it is important to catalogue the things for which we are grateful. It is equally as essential to thank those special individuals whose mere presence – even from a socially appropriate distance – offers the comfort and support we all need right now.
Dear students, faculty and staff members,
When the semester began in January, none of us could have anticipated the unprecedented nature of what lay ahead. Yet our University family has reacted to this extraordinary moment in characteristic fashion – with the same ingenuity, courage, optimism and compassion it has displayed time and again when challenges have arisen.
Over the past several weeks, I have been inspired by the countless acts of generosity our students, faculty and staff have undertaken.
