Officers of General Alumnae(I) Association

Dear Colleagues:

The next academic year should be especially exciting. We'll have major "openings" (e.g., Tuttleman Learning Center, new Student Residence, Park Mall), convocations (e.g., Fox School of Business and Management), a large and academically strong and diverse undergraduate freshman class, additional revitalization of the Ambler Campus, spectacular concerts and exhibits by Temple's performing and fine artists, and a top-ranked men's basketball team.

Academic programs are the raison d'etre for a university, with everything else in support of students and faculty. The Deans and Faculty are focused on producing the finest graduates in America. The sciences, in particular, are being re-tooled to insure Temple's Carnegie Research I level of external funding. The Board of Trustees, through its Strategic Planning Committee, is overseeing a process to insure thoughtful, progressive and prompt adjustment within Temple to the extraordinary changes in the marketplace of higher education. The process of reexamination and adjustment in the continuous pursuit of excellence involves all of us, and is ongoing.

For every year, we also set specific goals and timetables. In the spirit of shaping common goals and working together to achieve them, I am listing ten challenges for 1999-2000 and respectfully request your support in achieving them to insure Temple's greatness in the next decade. These ten challenges are not meant to be exhaustive, but they do represent my priorities for the next year.

Please e-mail or call me with your comments, criticisms, suggestions.

Again, thanks for making 1998-99 a very good year with renewed Temple pride.