President's Message - Dec. 11, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
To the OSU Campus:
As this fall semester draws to a close and the holiday season is upon us, I want to
take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all of the members of the Oklahoma
State University community who have been so very helpful and supportive during this
leadership transition period for our university.
The appointment of Mr. Burns Hargis to the presidency marks only the second time in
the history of Oklahoma State University that one of our own graduates will lead the
university. I look forward to working closely with our new president and I am confident
the university community will continue on a path of excellence. I extend my most sincere
congratulations to him and his wife, Ann, as they assume these responsibilities.
During the past few months OSU has embarked on two important initiatives, both expected
to have a significant impact on our community. The first is related to our goal to
become the ‘healthiest campus in America’. During the summer we began a year-long
program to move the campus toward a tobacco-free environment.
With the guidance of the Health Care Task Force, the university is undertaking a series
of wellness initiatives identified and requested by the campus community. Recently
your participation in an on-line survey of wellness related information and programming
needs was requested. I encourage your participation in completing this survey so
we can identify those initiatives that will be most helpful to your own individual
health and contribute to the fulfillment of our campus-wide goal.
A second major effort is one of energy education. The university has employed several
new members to our community who are assisting our various colleges, administrative
units, student life residences and offices, and other university facilities to identify
ways energy consumption and costs can be contained and potentially reduced.
Early indications from several ‘pilot projects’, including a significant energy reduction
trial over the Thanksgiving holiday period, reflect substantial savings across the
campus from these changes. I encourage each of you to continue your own personal attention
to energy savings in your place of work and to work with the energy education managers
to help to identify even more areas in which savings can be achieved.
This coming weekend will mark the completion of degree programs for more than 1,500
undergraduate and graduate students. As the family and friends of our graduates join
in the celebration of the accomplishments of these students, we are clearly reminded
of the fundamental mission of our land-grant university – to provide educational opportunity
and access to ‘the people’. We extend to each of our graduates our most sincere congratulations
and best wishes for their success.
May each of you, your family and your friends have a blessed and joyous holiday season!
Marlene Strathe