Thank you, Vince and Rita for those kind introductions. And thank you faculty, staff, students, and friends for coming today to hear the 2005 State of the University address.

Before I get started, I’d like to mention a change I made in the scheduling of this speech. The State of the University address historically was presented during the Academic Council’s fall faculty assembly each November. This year, and in future years, I will deliver my address in September as a kick off for our academic year. I’d like to thank Dr. Vince Robinson, the current vice chair of Academic Council, the previous vice chairs of the Council, and the faculty for their past sponsorship of this event. Vince, we’ve now freed up that fall assembly for much more important work!!

The new year is traditionally a time for reflection and commitment to goals, aspirations, new directions. At the nation’s colleges and universities, fall ... not January the 1^st ... marks the beginning of our year. And this beginning is heralded by the influx of new and returning students to our campus.