In this final "Report of the President," I begin by congratulating the Board of Trustees on the election of David Adamany as our new President, and pledge to him my fullest support and cooperation in the coming years.
On December 14, 1999, we set forth an agenda for my remaining 199 days
as President. Rather than repeating the global issues confronting Temple
and higher education, today’s report is a status report on that
narrow agenda.
1. |
More than $100 million in new potential endowments are in the pipeline. With President Adamany’s magical spell, there’s a reasonable chance of success within the year. |
2. |
"Virtual Temple": today’s Board’s agenda includes a "bridge loan" from the University, and describes VT’s plans for the coming year. |
| 3. | Today’s agenda includes a formal recognition of Ambler College as the 17th college of Temple University. At the Board’s meeting in December, President Adamany will report on plans to enlarge the offerings, programs and related features of Ambler College for Fall 2001. |
| 4. | Construction of the 1,000 bed Student Residence Hall on Main Campus is underway. Completion is scheduled for Fall 2001, 15 months from now. Planning for an "Arts Residence Hall" is continuing, as are a variety of options for the Board to consider in the Fall dealing with the unprecedented demand for student housing on the Main Campus. |
| 5. | We have not yet come to full closure on all physical and programmatic aspects of Tyler’s move to Main Campus. But, we’re close. Indeed, we have expanded the discussion to include physical, programmatic and technological integration of all Arts programs at Temple: Music, Fine Arts, Theater, Dance, Architecture, and Film. At the Board’s last (May) meeting, a video report on these developments was presented. It will be President Adamany’s pleasure to carry on with this glorious project. |
| 6. | The "Shops on Liacouras Walk" should enter the construction stage during the summer, with a convenience store, Pizza Hut, and dry cleaner opening in late Fall; and the 22-room Bed and Breakfast Inn, clothing store, bar-and-grille, and travel agency opening during the winter, 2000-01. |
| 7. | The 375-seat brew-pub restaurant ("The Draught House") on the Cecil B. Moore side of the I.B.C. Student Recreation Center at The Liacouras Center - - is scheduled to open in September. |
| 8. | In May, the Board approved funding for the design phase of a major new building for the Fox School of Business & Management. This addition will connect to Speakman Hall. |
| 9. | The long-awaited, massive Student Parking-Transportation Project is before the Board today, with a request to approve funding for the design phase. |
| 10. | Transformation of 13th Street into a campus pedestrian walkway has not yet taken place. When that event occurs, I suggest that the University consider naming this central walkway in honor of alumnus Bill Cosby, who grew up less than a mile from this area and has contributed mightily to the Temple renaissance. |
| 11. | Construction of the "Entertainment, Community and Education Center," the sixth venue at The Liacouras Center has again been delayed because of changes related to the presumed lead tenant. A request for final authorization from the Board is likely at the October meeting. It is expected, in addition to a jazz club and restaurant and the community education center, that Temple’s radio station (WRTI-FM) and Temple’s television station (formerly Channel 55) will relocate to this site. |
| 12. | President Adamany will review the "final plans" presented to me for "The Learning Center at Ambler College." Prior to a submission of those plans to the Board for approval, the President will insure that the plans for these new facilities are consistent with Ambler College’s newly expanded role and mission. |
| 13. | Also at Ambler: construction is underway for the New Headhouse and Greenhouse for Landscape Architecture & Horticulture, with completion expected in October 2000 and September 2001, respectively. |
| 14. | The proposed new Health Sciences Library on the Health Sciences Campus has not reached the design stage. |
| Beyond the December 14th agenda, we have moved to solidify and expand Temple’s presence in Center City Philadelphia, and in Harrisburg. New facilities on both campuses are in final stages of approval for the Temple University Harrisburg and Temple University Center City campuses. Both are before the Board today, with completion expected in 2001 and 2002, respectively. |
| Also before you today for ratification, is a 4-year contract between the University and TAUP, representing the bulk of the faculty. I extend my compliments to Professor Arthur Hochner and his team, and Robert Birnbrauer and Marty Dorph and their team for reaching a fair and successful agreement four months ahead of schedule. |
Finally, and with sincere appreciation, I salute administrators and faculty, students and alumni, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, friends of Temple, and you - - members of the Board of Trustees - - for carrying out this agenda with goodwill.
It will soon become President Adamany’s responsibility to lead Temple University to the next level of academic achievement.
I am confident he will succeed and that you will be his Rock of Gibraltar, as you were mine.
P.J.L.
###