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Fall 2019 Opening Speech

November 2019

The following is the speech given by Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr., to open the fall 2019 Board Advance meeting.  Attached, you will also find a student-produced video that was presented to begin the meeting.  This video was produced by TCU students Molly Brennan and Tim Coles of the Bob Schieffer College of Communication, Kyle Cartwright from the Neeley School of Business, and Eric Sasadeusz from TCU’s College of Fine Arts. We are proud of them and grateful for being able to share their talent with our Trustees and the TCU community.

Board of Trustees Fall 2019 Opening Speech

Welcome everyone and thank you so much for being here.  我非常感谢并珍惜您投入的时间和精力来支持我 of TCU.  我期待着与你们就战略问题进行深入讨论 在接下来的几天里，尤其是在我们思考和思考TCU的时候 future.

Margaret Mead once said…‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’ I love this quote!  It really says a lot about what we are trying to do at TCU.

I believe the Clark family embodies this quote. Their vision to co-educate men and women led them to open the AddRan Male and Female Academy.  Think about the conditions of that time.  尽管资源匮乏，障碍重重，但他们还是选择了男性和女性 College survived.

And as you know, this small, pioneering college eventually became Texas Christian University in 1902.  TCU现在还在这里，但在同一时期还有许多其他学校成立 frame did not survive. What was it that allowed TCU to endure the challenges and thrive?

Thanks to the Clark family’s vision and fortitude, TCU has become a top nationally-recognized university with a global reach.  Our continued success can largely be attributed to:

  • careful planning and setting ambitious, yet achievable, goals;
  • keeping a watchful eye and implementing appropriate strategies to mitigate challenges and market forces that could slow our momentum;
  • 以及一种全面的企业家精神，使我们能够抓住独特的机会.

In 2017, the TCU Board of Trustees developed the framework for our current strategic plan--Vision in Action: Lead On--by identifying four key goals.

在过去的几年里，我们在校园里进行了一些有思想的对话 these goals, resulting in proposed recommendations from our campus community that 是否进一步细化为对实现这些目标至关重要的关键优先事项.

STRENGTHEN ACADEMIC PROFILE & REPUTATION:

事实上，这些正在进行的规划工作正在为TCU的未来定位，创造 a stronger academic profile and reputation for the University.  这反过来又吸引并留住了一些最聪明的学生、学者， researchers and staff.

今年，我们欢迎才华横溢的新领导加入角蛙家族，包括:

  • Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, our new provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs;
  • Daniel Pullin, John V. Roach Dean and Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation for the Neeley School of Business;
  • Floyd Wormley, associate provost for Research and dean of Graduate Studies;
  • And Dr. Christopher Watts, who was previously chair of our Davies School of Communication Sciences & Disorders and is now dean of Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS PRIORITIES:

Dr. Dahlberg is building her academic team, and she is focused with the deans on creating 和支持策略，以最好地满足学生的需求和建立学术 profile and reputation of our University.

In fact, this summer, Dr. Dahlberg and her leadership team established eight priorities to support Vision in Action: Lead On. Each school and college has also been charged with aligning their efforts with these priorities over the coming years.

Last year, we strategically hired many brilliant faculty and staff across campus, ushering in 11 new full-time faculty positions across 10 disciplines.  We welcomed approximately 31 staff in new and reallocated positions who will support key University programs and initiatives.

More than 400 local clinicians from the Metroplex and beyond have been engaged to serve as School of Medicine faculty.  You will be pleased to know that many of these clinicians who are serving as preceptors and research mentors are donating their time to help create the physicians of the future.

STRENGTHEN TCU EXPERIENCE AND CAMPUS CULTURE:

多元化、公平和包容是我们战略计划的基本主题.  因此，它确实支持所有四个目标，但我想分享它是如何影响的 the goal of strengthening the TCU experience and campus culture, in particular.

Here are just a few highlights of DEI initiatives that are underway:

  • Our newly launched Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program offers faculty mentoring, 教学经验，研究机会和领导才能的优秀学者 communities traditionally underrepresented in higher education.
    • Our inaugural fellow— Hye-Jung Park—is hosted by the School of Music. 
  • This year we also launched the Provost’s Faculty Fellow and Inaugural Academic Affairs DEI Advocate. This position is currently held by Dr. Claire Sanders他是非裔美国人和非洲研究辅修课程的高级讲师兼联合主任.
    • 桑德斯将使教务长办公室能够支持DEI的实施 essential competency within the TCU core curriculum and will aid Academic Affairs in prioritizing, implementing and monitoring DEI initiatives.
  • The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award, which we launched in 2018, recognizes the challenging task of further transforming our community into one that not only celebrates our mission but also builds upon our heritage of inclusion. Individuals nominated for this award provide TCU with a critical voice to foster change. Their actions further a campus environment that advances conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion.

We are also examining the depths of our DEI efforts across the campus. This is important 这样做，因为我们寻求支持我们不断变化的校园人口统计在学生和 our workforce.

最近，多元化和包容性倡议主任艾莎·托里-索耶(Aisha Torrey-Sawyer)在 coordination with Dr. Dahlberg and Dr. Sanders, engaged Dr. Damon Williams of the Center for Strategic Diversity Leadership and Social Innovation to begin a DEI inventory of our campus, starting with academic units. This audit will identify how TCU promotes the active appreciation of campus members’ backgrounds, identities and unique experiences.

最后，我很高兴地指出，我们在DEI方面的努力得到了认可 receiving Insights into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award for two consecutive years. TCU is among a small select group of universities to receive this award.

在招生方面，牛津大学的申请人数创下了历史新高 and increasing enrollment for nearly a decade now.  This year, we welcomed one of the best-qualified, and most diverse, freshman classes in TCU’s history.

从19,000多名有才华的申请者中选出，这是一项一百周年纪念活动 Class of 2023 has an average ACT of 28.

This distinguished class represents 48 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and 38 countries, which contributes to a broader mix of cultures and perspectives essential to learning as well as navigating an increasingly diverse and complex world.  特别有趣的是，我们57%的新生来自国外 state of Texas.

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, THE FIRST YEAR:

We also welcomed the first class of medical school students to the TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine.  在第一年四周的申请期内，医学院 received 1,392 applications.  Even more remarkable is that there was a 6% acceptance rate.

这些才华横溢、非常多样化的学生来自不同的国家 不同的背景，48%的学生来自其他17个州和12个州 of the students are TCU grads.

Of course, all of the students are Dorman Scholars, thanks to a generous donation from Mr. Paul Dorman which covered their first full year of tuition.  The students have a 3.62 GPA with an average MCAT score of 508 (with 528 being the perfect MCAT score.)

Our incoming students join an impressive academic community, comprising, among others, 三名新的富布赖特学者，51名优等生和2650名优秀学者.

STRENGTHEN TCU’s ENDOWMENT:

This outstanding powerful academic community didn’t just happen by accident. Rather, it is evidence of our careful cultivation coupled with the judicious use of our endowment to arrive at the right mix of students, faculty, staff who can thrive at our institution.

TCU’s endowment is ranked nationally among the top 70 colleges and universities thanks 感谢TCU校友和朋友的慷慨支持和董事会的指导，以及我们 fabulous Chief Investment Officer, Jim Hille.

Now that is impressive! But we want to improve our financial position and continue to strengthen our endowment with our ambitious $1 billion campaign goal.

STRENGTHEN WORKFORCE:

我们的学生和我们的大学的成功是由我们优秀的和 dedicated faculty and staff – consisting of a multi-generational and multi-level community of leaders with vast experiences.

Even still, we are actively designing leadership offerings to strengthen our workforce 这样他们就可以继续加强我们的学术形象和声誉.

One such program recently initiated by Human Resources is the Manager Leaders Program.  它旨在帮助我们的新领导人加强他们的领导技能，以便他们 如何培养更好的管理技能，以加强和支持TCU强大的工作场所 culture.  This will help us continue to recruit and retain an excellent workforce.

Just like our workforce, our students’ success is at the core of our University’s purpose.

We strive to help them realize their potential and achieve their goals the moment they step on our campus.  Career planning is integral to all aspects and leadership development.

From choosing a major and getting involved on campus, to studying abroad and securing internships, career readiness requires a close partnership with students to help them engage in their professional development. 

负责“85项目”的工作人员监测一年级到二年级的保留率， 实施帮助困难学生的策略，使他们坚持到他们的 second year.  研究表明，如果学生能够坚持到第二年，他们就会成功 more likely to graduate from their home institution.

We are working now on an integrated student success model encompassing academic advising, student disability services, career services and tutoring.  这个支持网络对于确保我们的学生至关重要，他们来自各行各业 of life and with different life challenges, are able to persist and successfully graduate from TCU.

And as you heard in the video, Princeton Review has ranked TCU’s career services Number 8 in the nation for career service programs. But we do not intend to rest on our laurels.

最近，我们任命Mike Caldwell为BNSF的新任执行董事 Services Center.  Mike joins TCU from William & Mary and brings with him 15-plus years of experience in the career services field.

Among other initiatives, Mike is currently reinvigorating our career services approach by educating our students about the vital role career services plays throughout their collegiate career instead of right before they graduate.  

这种方法对于帮助TCU向家庭展示我们对这种类型的投资至关重要 of education can result in a lifetime of opportunities once they leave our campus.

A CONNECTED CAMPUS:

在过去15年左右的时间里，我们在实体店投资了大约10亿美元 infrastructure, renovating and constructing new academic facilities and residence halls to facilitate a strong foundation from which to continue investing in our people and programs.

Our new and renovated academic facilities include new faculty offices, enhanced classrooms and labs, as well as new and renovated residence halls and athletic facilities.

This work has resulted in a more well-connected campus which lends itself to a better TCU experience - none of which would have been possible without your guidance and generous donation of time and resources.

ATHLETICS – TCU’s FRONT DOOR:

我们的体育设施通常是TCU通往外部社区的大门.  TCU Athletics also is a window on our campus and is often one of the first attractors for incoming students.  Student-athletes strive to perform at the highest levels possible as evidenced by their many wins on and off the field.

PEOPLE AND PROGRAMS:

As we near our 150th anniversary, we know that it is imperative to turn our attention to our people and programs. 如你所知，我们的筹款活动，带头:为TCU开展的一项公开活动 launched on October 24th, is TCU’s most ambitious fundraising campaign ever.

Our $1 billion goal allows us to envision the next steps that will build upon our many achievements and propel our University toward greater distinction.  它将帮助我们增加收入来源，使我们能够在关键领域雇用新的教员 areas. And, it will help us increase our support for research, and expand access to underrepresented and lower-income students.

为了提供bc体育10亿美元目标的背景，只有不到10所大学 in the country the size of TCU that have launched a $1 billion campaign.  We are uniquely positioned to leverage our momentum to achieve that goal.

As I mentioned earlier, the use of our endowment helps us build our academic community. By strengthening our endowment through our Lead On campaign, we will:

  • ease the dependence on tuition;
  • ensure that resources are available to recruit talented and diverse students;
  • accelerate improvements in teaching, research, creative and entrepreneurial activities;
  • attract and retain pre-eminent scholars and rising stars.

Our current endowment is $1.7 billion, but you will recall that the Board’s goal is to grow that endowment to $3 billion.

This goal was discussed at 2017 Board Retreat and approved as part of the Vision in Action:Lead On strategic plan.

The current campaign that is underway will help us continue to find new ways to live our mission, educate our students and create the environment and the experiences that exemplify TCU’s values.

Our endowment was instrumental in helping us launch our School of Medicine collaboration.  You will recall that you directed $50 million to be invested toward this endeavor.  In turn, the school is allowing us to attract students who are interested in not just becoming doctors, but in becoming empathetic scholars who put patients at the center of care.

OUR CHALLENGES

Today, higher education is facing many challenges. In the coming years, we will see fewer high school graduates, creating increased competition.  Students interested in pursuing a college degree now contemplate whether the cost of obtaining a degree will lead to advantageous careers.

Like the Clarks before us, TCU will have to optimize and sustain its resources, identifying strategies, sometimes unpopular ones, to respond to the shrinking number of high school graduates and address concerns over higher and higher tuition costs.

包括我们在内的许多校园，继续面临着有这种倾向的分歧 to tear us apart instead of driving us closer together.

We must teach and encourage our students to develop the tools to have difficult conversations, respect differences and embrace diverse perspectives.  We must model civility.  没有这些技能，我们的学生将无法驾驭明天的世界 live up to the TCU mission. 

OUR FUTURE:

TCU is driven by the enthusiasm of those who study and work here and the generous 为那些相信高等教育使命的人提供经济支持 as the role TCU plays in that mission.

这种坚定的激情使我们有能力突破界限，达到新的境界 heights and stay on the leading edge. TCU invests in people, harnessing their potential 并装备他们成为一股力量，为更大的利益和不同 in the world.

From rigorous academic programs to innovative research, we are on an upward trajectory as we endeavor to fulfill the goals outlined in our strategic plan.  我们仍然专注于创建一个完全支持文化交流和文化交流的社区 diversity -- an atmosphere in which each of us is heard, appreciated and empowered 

This goal is central to our educational mission as we prepare the next generation of ethical leaders in a global community.  Navigating the complexities of our unique talents, experiences and perspectives, however, is not always an easy task, and we may not always agree.

It’s at these times when we must apply the same problem-solving abilities that we exhibit in our classes, our research and our daily work in how we interact with each other.

We must protect and nurture TCU’s culture—that sense of spirited belonging—as we live out our core values.

  • We will welcome different perspectives;
  • We will commit to continuous improvement;
  • 我们将继续坚定不移地探索机会和信念 part of the education process;
  • And we will take the lead on making TCU the best university in the country.

Especially as we look forward to our 150th year in 2023.

这就是为什么我们需要你，为什么我们如此感激你的领导和 hard work right now.  Because this work is not easy—it’s very big. It’s grand.  And it’s important for our future.

我很高兴在接下来的几天里与大家一起继续这一旅程 together to build a sustainable and optimal future for our University so that our University, and students who attend, can become a force for the greater good.

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我们觉得在一起的这段时光应该以 我们在10月24日竞选开始时与在场的人分享了我们的竞选歌曲th

It bears watching again as it’s a great reminder of our ambitions.

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