Eastern Michigan President James Smith’s first State of the University encourages greater unity in embracing positive achievements of students, faculty and staff

Speech stresses importance of Eastern’s diversity and focusing on a common objective of more effectively celebrating and sharing the University’s successes

Eastern Michigan President James Smith’s first State of the University encourages greater unity in embracing positive achievements of students, faculty and staff

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan has much to celebrate and to be proud of, and the University’s accomplishments should be more actively shared by students, faculty and staff, President James Smith said Monday (Sept. 17, 2018) in his first annual State of the University address.

“Eastern Michigan University is a special place, full of even more special people, and for that reason I think it’s vital you and I pause at this time to take stock of who we are as a University and a community with a common purpose – to serve our students and help prepare them for successful futures,” President Smith said in opening the speech.

Smith spoke to a crowd of students, faculty and staff in the Student Center Auditorium as he sketched out three themes or takeaways from his 45-minute talk. The entire address can be read here. For full video of the address, click here.

  • “First, we are, and must resolve to remain, a University Of Opportunity,” President Smith said. “It is deeply woven into our mission and history. But exactly what does that characterization represent? It signifies this: diversity of race, nationality, socio-economic and experiential background.
  • “Fully embracing our important role as a University of Opportunity will drive us, even as we make the difficult decisions needed to reflect the new normal in higher education, and it will be a central element and appeal in our upcoming comprehensive fundraising campaign.”
  • Second, President Smith emphasized the challenges Eastern faces going forward, “challenges that are not unique to Eastern but that demand our attention, to ensure the sustainability of our great University.”
  • Third, President Smith underscored his strong belief that the University must unify in telling its vivid story of student and faculty success.

“In speaking with many of you, I’ve found a deep well of pride in your interactions with students, in what you teach, in how you approach your job, in what you do on this campus and beyond,” President Smith said.  “From my view, we’re far more united in purpose than divided in spirit, and together, I hope we can, in whatever way possible, tell our story more often to more people.”

The President noted a wide variety of recent successes at Eastern – such as recent acknowledgments at being among the nation’s best in programs in dietetics, clinical psychology and teacher education – using them as evidence of the collective pride students, faculty and staff can justifiably share at Eastern.

President Smith outlined five areas of focus in addressing Eastern’s future. Those areas of focus are:

  1. To increase enrollment and student persistence;
  2. Improve communication;
  3. Update the University’s Strategic plan;
  4. Continue on a path to fiscal sustainability; and,
  5. Crush Eastern’s upcoming Comprehensive Fundraising Campaign.

Increase enrollment and student persistence

“Right now, our most pressing challenge is enrollment and student persistence,” President Smith said. “This requires support from every employee. The focus is clear: We need to enroll more students … But we also need to retain our current students.”

President Smith stressed the need to highlight key academic programs that are in high demand along with looking at further development of graduate programs and increasing Eastern’s offerings in online education and in recruiting international students.

He called upon all employees to help recruit new students, noting the many types of adult learners to be found today.

“Here’s a startling statistic,” he said. “Nearly 25 percent of Michigan adults age 25-64 have some college credit but no degree. Our state ranks number one in the Midwest for what are called college ‘stop-outs.’ In southeast Michigan alone, there are nearly 700,000 adults with some college credit but no degree.”

Improving communication

The President outlined several new initiatives to improve and expand two-way communication, including a monthly e-mail to all employees, coffee chats with division leaders and events such as Monday’s address. He also stated that the regular meetings that currently take place with administrative leaders and department heads will continue.

Along the line of communication, President Smith announced a special new initiative, the President's Sustainability Commission, to be chaired by Thomas Kovacs, a distinguished professor of meteorology and an authority on our Eastern campus environment. The Commission will be charged with working with various units to assess Eastern's sustainability efforts and make recommendations on how to become more sustainable.

The President said Eastern is already doing a good deal in this area, including the introduction last year of its co-generation electricity and heating system, the installation of energy-saving glass in residence halls and other buildings, and energy efficient lighting throughout campus.

“But how can we do more?” President Smith asked. “The commission will be a great opportunity for the campus to show how cross-sectional groups can work together to produce terrific results. I’m excited about this effort and what it can mean for the future of our campus and community.”

Updating the University’s Strategic Plan

While Eastern’s strategic plan is rooted in a noble mission statement and values, it lacks measurable and substantive action items that carry tangible metrics and goals, President Smith said, adding that the University will create work groups for each of the Plan’s strategic themes which, collectively, will include stakeholders from across campus: faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Stabilize Eastern’s finances

President Smith noted that upon arriving Eastern in July 2016, the University had incurred multi-million-dollar budget deficits for six consecutive years, a trend he has been committed to reversing.

“You all know firsthand the difficult decisions we have made to stabilize our finances because you live it every day …” he said. “I am pleased to say that, after the heavy lifting you all endured, we have made tremendous progress. The last two years, we have dramatically reduced those deficits and, for the current fiscal year, we project a balanced budget.

“Despite this progress, work is not done in this area. I commit to you … to ensure a more engaging process to work with key campus stakeholders as we tackle these challenges and ensure a stable financial future for Eastern Michigan University.”

The Comprehensive Fundraising Campaign

President Smith emphasized that the upcoming comprehensive campaign must be a team effort.

“It will require the input and support of every employee, because of a central fact of giving: Donors invest in YOU, the memorable and inspiring faculty member, the engaged administrator, the caring staff member. I hope you never forget that reality and the difference you as an individual can make,” he said.

In closing, President Smith returned to the theme of unity.

“I fervently hope we can all take more pride in Eastern and our work here …” he said. “The strategic priorities I’ve outlined today need your expertise. Only with your involvement can we be effective and succeed. This is above all a collaborative effort that sweeps in all the ideas, insight and energy on our campus.

“This is a wonderful institution, one with a rich history that is too often marred by our own negativity and tendency to dwell on the issue of the day.

“I know we are not perfect. I will make mistakes. I have made mistakes.

“But it is vital to our long-term success as an institution, and the daily success of our students, for us to commit to a more collaborative, empathetic, future-oriented and thus more positive outlook about this outstanding University.”

September 18, 2018

Written by:
Geoff Larcom

Media Contact:
Geoff Larcom
glarcom@emich.edu
734-487-4400