Editor's note: With this issue of At Guelph, we launch a monthly column by president Alastair Summerlee. The president welcomes comments on his column at president@uoguelph.ca.
When the idea for this column was first conceived, I envisioned what my first missive might say. It would include an upbeat New Year's greeting, a challenge to seize fresh opportunities and a serious discussion about the difficulties that most certainly lie ahead.
I am still extending my sincerest wishes for a safe, healthy and productive new year. But the catastrophic final week of 2004 requires me to make a few editorial changes. I am sure the unbearable grief from the earthquake and tsunami that occurred on the other side of the world remains foremost in all our minds. The response from people across the globe, including the U of G community, has been the only glimmer of hope.
The loss of human life and spectacle of suffering are immense. The University's challenges with budget constraints and aging infrastructure are trivial against this backdrop of stark peril and desperate tragedy.
Yet one of the poignant realities of life is that, even in the face of such monumental devastation, we must press on with the concerns and issues of local importance, while never forgetting the anguish of others across the globe.
With this in mind, let me begin by saying that the past year at the University has been peppered with contrasts. There were many things to celebrate, including the opening of Phase 1 of the science complex, the awarding of the Order of Canada to two of our senior faculty, the presentation of Canada's premier prize for literary excellence to one professor and a Genie Award nomination for another.
Our students also claimed a national record for the most amount of food collected in one night for the food bank, the University community surpassed its goal and raised more than $340,000 for the United Way, we revised our code of conduct encouraging ethical behaviour of U of G suppliers, and we released a groundbreaking report on accessibility to university education.
And, as you all know, the University was once again heralded in national surveys for its research, campus atmosphere, overall quality, public accountability and, perhaps most important, its reputation based on the opinion of its graduates.
All these accolades are the result of the considerable hard work and commitment of staff, faculty, students, alumni and friends of this institution.
But 2004 was also a year of tremendous challenges. We confronted and continue to deal with the effects of severe government funding shortfalls. They complicated our careful budget planning process and made it difficult to address pressing matters such as quality assurance and student financial assistance.
We had to make some tough decisions, and virtually no activities on campus were unaffected. We have endured classrooms, roofs, walkways and entire buildings being in need of significant renovation and said goodbye to numerous colleagues through an early retirement and resignation package.
I know the downsizing and financial constraints are difficult for some to fathom, especially with the widespread construction and disruption, the impending start of the new arts and social sciences faculty facility, and the extensive repairs to steam lines and infrastructure across campus. But these projects are important for the future as we seek to deal with the most critical of the deferred maintenance issues and make improvements needed to maintain and enhance quality.
Despite the challenges we have faced, I believe most of the University community is determined to embrace opportunities to innovate and to explore new avenues. That belief is based, in part, on the favourable responses I have received on two recent initiatives. Many have applauded the proposed strategic realignment of our academic leadership and organization, which will include considering the creation of a new college for management and business-related programs and further enhancing the University's international profile.
Our new code of ethical conduct for suppliers was also positively received. It is my belief that, by taking a leading role with this new policy, the University can encourage change in other institutions and, over time, this change will have a positive effect on working conditions around the world.
I am also heartened by the Rae review of post-secondary education and have spent a considerable amount of time this year working with the provincial government and on the University's submission to the Rae panel.
Although I am optimistic about this review and its implications, it is not clear whether there will be any changes effected in time to avoid a very difficult fiscal year for Guelph and the entire university system. I think we are all painfully aware of the consequences of another year of government funding shortfalls.
It is my hope, however, that as we move forward and assess where we stand as a university, we do so with a new appreciation for the gift of human life, and that our deepest humanitarian impulses will always enable us to place our problems in proper perspective.
