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 Oklahoma State University's history that one of our 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 sincerely congratulate him and his wife, Ann, as they assume these responsibilities.
Over the past few months, OSU has embarked on two important initiatives, both of which are expected to significantly impact 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, you were requested to participate in an online survey of wellness-related information and programming needs. I encourage your participation in completing this survey so we can identify initiatives that will be most helpful to your own health and contribute to fulfilling our campus-wide goal.
A second major effort is energy education. The university has employed several new members of our community who are assisting our various colleges, administrative units, student life residences and offices, and other university facilities in identifying ways to contain and potentially reduce energy consumption and costs.
Early indications from several ‘pilot projects,’ including a significant energy reduction trial over the Thanksgiving holiday, reflect substantial savings across the campus from these changes. I encourage each of you to continue your attention to energy savings in your place of work and to work with the energy education managers to help 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 celebrating these students' accomplishments, we are 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