Second State of the University Speech

by Tom Westerman

At his second State of the University Address February 7, Adelphi President Robert Scott said "We are Adelphi people and in this era we must not lose sight that we are people and we educate people." The president also announced that he wants the university to have a balanced budget in two years. Such a feat would be a "success [that] will require efforts from all of us," said Scott. This address, like his last, stressed themes.

The three themes Scott discussed included "getting to know you, becoming one of you and creating a future together." Scott said he saw his first semester as a "getting to know you" exercise and told the audience that he met with faculty, students and staff to learn about what is going on at Adelphi. He also said that he was reading data about the university and higher education in general that was available through various surveys.

In the fall, Scott hired consultants to look at and update the master facilities plan. Scott said that a renovation of Woodruff Hall along with a new recreation center is planned for the near future as is a new residence hall. Adelphi has already gained some state funding for the renovation of Woodruff.

Scott's mention of a new residence hall prompted one student Campbell Kennedy to say after the speech, "Yes, they finally took action." As a peer assistant to a freshman experience class last semester, Kennedy said that one of the major complaints the students gave was the fact they were tripled in rooms meant for doubles. A new residence hall, according to Kennedy, will allow the University to attract more students and it will be "nice to have more people living on campus."

Scott also said that he was looking over data and having experts analyze the new national trends in professional schools so Adelphi can be at the forefront of those fields. Lastly, Scott mentioned the firm Applied Concepts that was hired to do a university-wide strategic plan. For this many students and faculty were interviewed.

Moving on to this second theme, Scott said "I am one of you." He said he has met with staff who have guided him and he has begun to represent Adelphi at various of organizations including the Long Island Coalition for Fair Broadcasting and Long Island Works among others. He has also represented Adelphi in Albany before government groups.

In the future - this third theme - Scott said he wants to introduce to the freshman curriculum programs that concentrate on the natural sciences, culture and ethics - thereby stressing the importance of a liberal education for all students. He also wants to strengthen the professional schools and promised that new New York State requirements that 51% of all Education courses be taught by full time faculty will be met.

Being the second address of his tenure, Scott is beginning a tradition of giving a State of the University address once a semester. It is his view that for the first few years this is appropriate but in the future once a year will more likely be the case.