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| May 4, 2011 |
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To: Faculty And Staff
From: V. Gordon Moulton |
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| Recently I was giving a group of area business and civic leaders a campus tour when one remarked, and I'll quote as best I can, "In times like these, it's great to know we have the University of South Alabama. USA will be here today, tomorrow and forever, leading our community forward in education, health care, economic growth and quality of life. We've never needed USA more than we do now." |
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| These spontaneous and heartfelt comments gave me a shiver of pride. I was reminded that in difficult times, people look toward those institutions that they trust and depend on to provide solutions to the challenges of the day. We can all take pride that our University has such a hallowed place in the hearts and minds of our many constituencies. |
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| As we take stock of another academic year, it is clear that through your determined efforts, USA's contributions in teaching, research, service and health care are making an unprecedented positive impact on the lives of the people we serve. Here are some highlights: |
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| * First and foremost, demand for USA's academic programs grew to record levels, as evidenced by a fall enrollment of 15,007, including 2,819 graduate students. Student quality set records as well GÇ" a direct result of the dedication of our faculty and staff and the strength of our academic reputation. |
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| * USA met the region's health care needs through more than a quarter-million patient treatment encounters through our College of Medicine physicians, USA Medical Center, USA Children's and Women's Hospital, and the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute. USA Health System highlights included groundbreaking on a major expansion of USA Children's and Women's Hospital, and a substantial increase in patients served by the Mitchell Cancer Institute. |
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| * USA's research and outreach programs advanced knowledge through scholarly activity and addressed a wide range of issues facing our global community, from improving health care to protecting our coastal environment to enhancing our public schools. USA faculty expertise was front and center internationally as the world turned to our experts for answers related to the Gulf oil spill. Our faculty's success at achieving external contract and grant funding and expanding our doctoral degree production led to the Carnegie Foundation advancing USA into the same institutional classification as Auburn University and the University of Alabama, "Research University: High." This is a compelling statement on the quality of our faculty and our institution. |
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| * USA enhanced student life with the opening of the Student Recreation Center and the Dining Hall, both of which have been popular among faculty and staff as well. Construction continued on our Bookstore/Student Center renovations and our new residence hall, which will increase the number of students living on campus to more than 3,000. Thanks to financial support from students, our young football and marching band programs continued to generate considerable new interest in the University. |
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| * USA's campus continued to improve with the opening of Moulton Tower and Alumni Plaza, our new glass arts studio and the Faculty Club. Progress continued on Shelby Hall, the future home of the College of Engineering and the School of Computer and Information Sciences, as well as the new specialized laboratory building. Our campus portals are almost complete, and visitors are already telling us that they give the University a much greater sense of place. |
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| * USA ramped up its efforts toward green living and sustainability through the new "Jag Smart" program, featuring enhanced energy conservation, improved recycling and a free bicycle use program for our students. |
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| * Finally, and most importantly, graduation will mark the conferring of 2,846 academic degrees for the year, bringing USA's historic total to 70,042. |
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| This quick tally of accomplishments is not comprehensive, but provides an impressive sampling of the successes brought about through your collective efforts. Equally significant is that USA has faced deeper funding cuts than most universities across the nation, yet we have moved boldly forward. We have done more with less and have been innovative in meeting the needs of our community, whether in the classroom or the clinic. |
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| There have been many high points this year, but one that gives me singular pride relates to attitude and how our faculty and staff have remained committed, optimistic and generous even in hard times. Just a few days ago, we learned that in spite of the recession, USA employees set a record this year in the amount of giving back to the institution in our annual faculty and staff campaign. Our employees were also among the community's most generous in the annual United Way Campaign. These facts speak volumes about the selflessness of our faculty and staff. |
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| Looking ahead, your University continues to maneuver through challenging economic times. Because we are losing federal stimulus funds, the coming academic year will bring the lowest combined state and federal appropriations for USA since the recession began. Even so, our highest financial priority will be to seek every possible way to reward and retain our faculty and staff, for it is only through your dedication amid difficult circumstances that we have been able to keep the University on the move. Hopefully this year will be the bottom of this funding cycle. The journey back will be slow and sometimes erratic, but I am confident we can stay the course to continue to build a great institution. |
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| With deepest appreciation for your vital role in the accomplishments of our University, I congratulate you on another successful year, and wish you a safe and productive summer. |
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