This week I’ll be at Dartmouth College, returning to the campus where I earned my undergraduate degree 40 years ago (gulp) this coming May. Walking familiar paths, discovering the favorite spots that have been transformed into something else (nod to Peter Christian’s ruffle chips with honey mustard) and visiting with ’87 classmates sets me to reflecting on my younger self. The image above is of Mt. Moosilauke, which boasts a lodge at the top that marked the end of our first-year pre-orientation hiking trip, and the beginning of my college journey. I am still on that journey, exchanging the Dartmouth Green for our Green.

Such reflection is timely, because I’m at Dartmouth to participate in a panel about the value of higher education in an AI world. The belief I will share is worth repeating here:

I believe in the unchanging premise, purpose and promise of higher education. The premise is that the pursuit of knowledge — understanding ourselves and our world — is an endeavor worthy of pursuit, as learners and truth-seekers. The purpose is that we have an obligation to share this knowledge. Asking a research question and designing an experiment to answer it can be supremely satisfying. But we do this not simply for our own benefit but because we believe that this knowledge belongs to the world — that is why we teach and why we give talks and publish papers. And the promise is that this understanding and this sharing will have a positive impact on our students, on ourselves and on the world.

As we engage in strategic planning this year, we are asking fundamental questions about who we are as an institution, how we work and what we do, all in the context of the premise, purpose and promise of higher education.

That is a noble effort, and one that offers engagement for all.

Here’s the latest from around the Beat

Thank you to all who attended the pulse survey results rollout. Unit leads have been spending time this month having conversations within their units and identifying specific actions to take in response. With an eye toward accountability, these actions will be included into the annual goals. Once we have collected all of the action items, we will post them by unit on the Pulse Survey page. Stay tuned!

Our strategic planning conversations are at the point of turning ideas into action. Check out the website where you will find a chart (first draft only) that represents how each declaration working group offered an initial definition of their declaration and then articulated how it could show up in practice. For example,

• Welcome with Promise could mean: Consistent yet individualized welcome extending beyond admission and across student pathways, which in practice could look like: Strengthen advising, onboarding, communication and cross-unit coordination.
• And Inquire with Impact could mean: Inquiry responsive to human and societal needs; impact includes basic research, creative activity, arts and humanities, which in practice could look like: Align research support, resources, incentives and delegated decisions with priorities.

You will notice the rollout of new banners adorning campus in time for homecoming. These banners anchor the Delaware Declarations in the idea of UD as “of and for Delaware.”

Tuesday is Election Day. Classes are suspended and offices are closed to give everyone a chance to get out and vote.

It is nearing the end of October and the close of Walktober. Thanks to all who came out each week to join our special edition Prez Walks.

Upcoming Community Events:

Opportunities to gather will continue throughout the rest of the semester. All are welcome:

• Prez Runs meet every Thur. at 7 a.m. We run at all paces and in all weather. Prez Walks are scheduled for Thur., Nov. 12, and Thur., Dec. 3, at noon. Both Prez Runs and Walks meet at Mentors’ Circle. If we need to cancel a Prez Run or Walk for any reason, we will share it on the President’s Page.
• Craft Circle. Come one, come all, and bring your crafts (and see how little progress I have made on my afghan since our last craft circle …) Thur., Nov. 5, at 6 p.m. at the President’s House. I’ll provide light refreshments and comfortable seating, you bring a book or crafting supplies. Please, no glitter.

Yours in UD,