UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENT ANN WEAVER HART DELIVERED AN UPBEAT STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS TODAY/YESTERDAY.
SHE REMINDED THOSE GATHERED OF THE INSTITUTION'S ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, BUT SHE ALSO ADDRESSED THE SCHOOLS NEED TO DEAL WITH STUDENT DISTURBANCES AND CAMPUS DRINKING.
NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC RADIO CORRESPONDENT ROGER WOOD REPORTS FROM DURHAM.
DR. HART BOASTED TO MORE THAN 300 FACULTY MEMBERS, STAFF AND STUDENTS THAT INTEREST IN ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO GROW.
DURING THE ONE HOUR STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS IN THE MEMORIAL UNION BUILDING, SHE POINTED OUT THAT ENROLLMENT APPLICATIONS INCREASED BY 9 PER CENT.
AND THE CLASS OF 2007 NOW INCLUDES NEARLY 2500 STUDENTS AT THE DURHAM CAMPUS.
SHE ALSO POINTED WITH PRIDE TO A RECORD ENROLLMENT OF 809 UNDERGRADUATES AT THE MANCHESTER CAMPUS.
BUT, PRESIDENT HART NOTED THAT WHILE THE UNIVERSITY?S MINORITY POPULATION IS GROWING..IT IS STILL LOW.
(HART) :16
'OUR MINORITY POPULATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE STILL, HOWEVER, STANDS AT ONLY FIVE PER CENT. THIS IS A CRITICAL MEASURE FOR US AS WE ALWAYS NOTE, BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED THAT A FIRST CLASS INSTITUTION NEEDS TO BE A FIRST CLASS DIVERSE INSTITUTION."
HART ALSO NOTED THE PRESENCE OF NEW FACULTY MEMBERS IN SPACE SCIENCE, DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY, AND BIOLOGY RESEARCH.
AND SHE UNVEILED A NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM TO THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET.
SHE NOTED THAT RENOVATION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS SUCH AS MURKLAND HALL AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BUILDINGS LIKE THE HOLLOWAY COMMONS HAS ADDED IMPORTANT CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS.
(HART) :20
"THE RENOVATION OF MURKLAND HALL CREATES NEW STATE OF THE ART INSTRUCTIONAL ROOMS AND LABORATORIES. AND THE RESTORATION OF HISTORIC SPACES OFFERING FRESH INSPIRATION TO OUR LARGEST COLLEGE. THE HOLLOWAY COMMONS PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF DINING SELECTIONS IN AN 800 SEAT DINING HALL."
HART CHALLENGED THE FACULTY TO IMPLEMENT A SIX YEAR ADOPTION OF AN INQUIRY BASED UNH EDUCATION.
BUT SHE ALSO HAD A CHALLENGE FOR STUDENTS.
SHE SAID THEY MUST JOIN WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND THE TOWN OF DURHAM TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THE NATIONWIDE ISSUE OF UNDERAGE AND BINGE DRINKING.
(HART)
"AN HONEST SELF APPRAISAL CONFIRMS THAT IN THE PAST, WE HAVE NOT MADE FULL USE OF THE RESOURCES AND POLICIES THAT WE HAVE PUT INTO PLACE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF ALCOHOL MISUSE. THIS YEAR, WE WILL WORK TO MAKE PARENTS FULL PARTNERS IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE BY NOTIFYING THEM WHENEVER AN UNDERAGE STUDENTS IS CHARGED WITH AN ALCOHOL VIOLATION, AND NOT WAITING UNTIL THE RESOLUTION OF THE HEARING PROCESS, OR A SECOND OFFENSE."
SHE WANTED TO POINT OUT, HOWEVER, THAT UP TO ONE HALF OF THOSE ARRESTED THE PAST FEW WEEKS IN DURHAM HAVE NOT BEEN UNH STUDENTS.
STILL SHE USED THE ISSUE TO PROMOTE THIS WEEKENDS UPCOMING STUDENT SUMMIT ON STUDENT BEHAVIOR.
(HART) :19
"BUILD ON THE POWER OF THE STUDENT SUMMIT, TO SPECIFICALLY CONFRONT ISSUES RELATING TO OUR CULTURE, AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE COMMITTED TO THE CORE VALUES OF RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER. THE OUTCOMES OF THE SUMMIT WILL REQUIRE ACTIONS FROM ALL OF US, NOT JUST THOSE WHO SIT TOGETHER THIS WEEKEND AND TALK ABOUT OUR DIFFICULTIES."
AS TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE SUMMIT ITSELF, UNIVERSITY SPOKESPERSON KIM BILLINGS SAID THAT IT WILL BE A THREE DAY EVENT, BEGINNING FRIDAY.
(BILLINGS) :14
"WHAT WE HOPE TO COME OUT WITH ON SUNDAY MORNING IS A PRELIMINARY REPORT WITH A SET OF STEPS THAT THE UNIVERSITY CAN TAKE TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, BUT AGAIN, IT'S A MULTI-FACETED, MULTI YEAR EFFORT ON THE PART OF SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY."
OVERALL, THE TONE OF PRESIDENT HART'S ADDRESS WAS POSITIVE.
SHE POINTED OUT THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES THE UNIVERSITY FACES.
BUT SHE DESCRIBED THE INSTITUTION AS BRIMMING WITH SMART, TALENTED, COMMITTED PEOPLE?WHO SHARE THE ASPIRATIONS OF EDUCATING STUDENTS TO THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL OF ACHIEVEMENT.
FOR NHPR NEWS, THIS IS ROGER WOOD.
