January 22, 2007
Challenge to Students from the Dean of Student Life
Dear Ferris State University Students:
At the beginning of Fall Semester, most of you received a letter from me wishing you the best during a year that will be filled with accomplishments and a few new challenges. Interestingly, during the fall semester I was afforded the opportunity to see leadership in action and experience the heart and soul of many of our faculty, staff, and students.In the past six months, I've learned that "behind every student's face at Ferris there is a story." Through our University's mission, coupled with our programmatic initiatives and commitment to student development, we should all want to learn the stories behind the faces of our students. I am privileged and held responsible for understanding and effectively connecting with every face that I encounter. Take a moment and think about how you would feel if every faculty or staff member you encountered at Ferris made a positive connection with you and/or if you made a positive connection with every faculty or staff member during the Spring 2007 semester. I invite all of you to take on this challenge. I believe, the result of our efforts would reflect that each member of our community is valued. This would be demonstrated through our actions, interactions, leadership, teaching, and compassion. I guarantee that if you decide to take on this challenge, you will experience a positive, nurturing, and student centered environment, which is the basic foundation of my role as Dean of Student Life. The attitude of professionalism, respect, and efficient service permeates our campus from the classrooms to residence halls to the Big Rapids community. Striving for excellence in and outside of the classroom should mean striving to be a community that cares. As a member of the Ferris community you can and should expect openness, honesty, and trust in all your interactions. While you learn about your academic areas of interest in the college classroom, we seek to serve you as you choose how to live and make decisions in the classroom of life. In the Division of Student Affairs, we are called to instill in you such behaviors as character and integrity, learning to live in a community setting, respecting others, developing and growing through social interaction, taking responsibility for your own actions and decisions, and caring for and nurturing your mind, body, and spirit. Most of all, we want to serve you in developing and cultivating your relationship with others in the community, both individually and collectively. If you didn't do any of the following during Fall 2006, I would encourage you to take full advantage of the opportunities and experiences that are waiting for you during Spring 2007.
Go Bulldogs! Leroy Wright Dean of Student Life |