Hello and welcome to this installment of “From My Notepads.” I'd like to take a couple
moments to reflect upon the summer as a whole, to provide updates on some activities that
are
coming to a close as we transition to the start of fall, but also to say thank you.
And I’ll begin
by saying thank you. Each day I have the opportunity to tell the story of East Tennessee State
University, and in doing so I take great pride in telling the stories of the individuals
who, on a
daily basis, make this the most beautiful campus in the state of Tennessee. To Travis
Watson,
to Logan Burleson, and to everyone in Facilities: thank you for what you do on a daily basis.
Thank you for the flowers, thank you for all your landscaping efforts, but thank you for
the daily
reminders of the beauty that surrounds us, the beauty that inspires us, and the beauty
that is the
campus of East Tennessee State University. I have the opportunity to visit campuses all
across
the south, and I walk away saying “Wow, did you see those sidewalks?” and “Did
you see those
handrails?” The challenges that face other institutions do not face us because of your
tireless
dedication. Thank you again.
This summer, three committees across campus have been engaged in in-depth efforts of
analysis and research toward the development of a potential new budget process for ETSU.
Earlier this summer, we launched a new website that allows everyone across the university
to
follow the activities of those committees, and I encourage you to visit www.etsu.edu/budget
for
information, updates, and for the process to which you can be engaged in the development
of
a new budget for ETSU. I'm excited as this process moves forward, but what I'm excited
about
most is that we've remained consistent in our values of being open, transparent, and
inclusive
as we, as a university family, develop a new budget model for ETSU.
This week we welcome 78 students to the Gatton College of Pharmacy as they began their
graduate career in pharmacy education here at ETSU. And next week brings our student
class, the Class of 2018, to their new home here ETSU. Each day we move one step closer
to commencement be that in December or in the spring, but in my mind graduation begins
every day here on the campus of ETSU through small acts in the classroom, or advising,
or in
counseling, or even helping a student who's lost on the way to an academic building on
the first
day of class. Those small acts all build a foundation of student success, and I encourage
each
of you to join me as we launch the campaign “Graduation Begins Today” here at ETSU
this fall.
One of the hallmarks of East Tennessee State University is the opportunity for our students
to
study abroad. This summer my family and I had the chance to be part of that experience
as
we traveled with a group of students to Rome. We had the opportunity to attend classes for
students, to be part of cultural experiences, but to see our students in a different setting.
In that capacity I had the opportunity to review student capstone presentations and,
in that capstone
presentation, watched a group of students reflect upon their experience in Rome, watched
a group of students present their work to their peers, but watched a group of students
share
with me and with others the transformative impact that study abroad programs had on each
individual in the room. Today I had a student, Kalyn Grindstaff, come in the office and share
with me a picture that was in her capstone project – a picture that at the time I asked
about and
said, “Where'd you get that? That’s a great photo,” and she said, “I took it.
Dr. Noland, it’s the
first time I ever used a real camera. It's the first time that I have ever looked at
photography in a thoughtful manner.”
Kalyn blew me away with that picture today. Kalyn: thank you for giving me this. I will
keep it
in my office with pride, for it is a daily reminder of the transformative impact of East
Tennessee
State University, be it at home or abroad.
Great things happen every day of the week on this campus. Each day of the week we can
move one step closer to the realization of a college degree for all of our students.
So to
everyone, thank you for what you've done to make this an outstanding summer and let's
get
prepared. Our freshmen arrive next week and the fun begins. Godspeed everybody and go
Bucs!