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President's Letter |
You are probably aware that these are challenging times for Michigan universities as the state’s economy transitions from one primarily based upon manufacturing and agriculture, to one that more and more relies upon technology with its need for knowledge workers. Our students certainly recognize this need. 2007 saw Ferris State University have its fourth consecutive record enrollment for Summer semester with 5,358 students attending classes system-wide. State lawmakers recognize this need, too. Both the governor and legislators have called for a doubling of the number of college graduates. At the same time, however, funding of Michigan universities continues to decline. As a member of the Ferris community, you know that our University is an exceptional place of higher education with a long and successful history in 2009 we will celebrate the 125th anniversary of our founding. To maintain and increase our stature even in these trying times, we have embarked upon a strategic planning process to assure that we honor our traditions as we set the best direction for Ferris’ future. The Strategic Planning and Resources Council, comprised of a wide cross-section of the University, will steer this important mission. Within the SPRC, a Distinctiveness Task Force will identify the things that make Ferris unique, while a Governing Ideas Task Force will help focus our core values, review our mission statement and clarify our vision for the future. The entire University community will be called upon to help identify the most important aspects of who we are and what path we will follow. I want to thank everyone involved in this endeavor, especially Languages and Literature professor Robert von der Osten who has generously agreed to head up this task. (See the “On Campus” section for more about Robert’s interests and his participation in the inaugural Department of Languages and Literature Faculty Colloquium Series.) As our strategic plan takes shape, the SPRC will present our ideas to the University and other communities through a series of forums for review, comment, addition and revision. There will also be the opportunity to respond online. Participation is vital in crafting the best possible future for our University. Recently, many of you participated in the life of the University by sharing your memories of attending Ferris in response to a survey by your Alumni Association. 1974 College of Technology alumnus David Hodson sent this remembrance: I was the first one in my rural family to go to college. I had worked during my last two years at high school to bank enough money to attend. When the acceptance letter came it was like a door opening to the future and all of the possibilities I had worked so hard for. Ferris was a small city of varied ideals, hope for the future and most of all...dreams. What will our city of dreams look like in the future and how best can we keep the door to that city open? I look forward to hearing your thoughts and feelings on these important questions. Sincerely, David L. Eisler |
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