State of the University Address: Response by Administrative Senate

Administrative Senate Chair Dorothy Anderson

We were pleased with the President's comments regarding the vitality and good spirit of the University community, despite continuing bad budget news from Columbus. Striving for excellence and continuing to build on Ohio University's strong student focus are absolutely essential to maintaining and improving Ohio University's national stature.

In the President's address and list of accomplishments, there was little mention of the names or positions of administrators; perhaps that is as it should be. By description of most of our positions, administrators work behind the scenes to facilitate and implement programs and activities, to provide students with the very best learning and esthetic environment possible and to support the instructional mission of the University. Yet we want it to be known that we are part of the "energized, progressive, positive, great people who are proud of the institution and who really care for our students." We are players on the Ohio University team.

Administrators are and will continue to be intimately involved in the successful achievement of each of the University's mission statements. Managers, researchers, librarians, directors, assistant and associate deans and vice presidents, facilities professionals, department administrators, IT personnel, financial administrators, medical professionals, coaches, lab technicians, development officers -- the list goes on, and each individual administrator plays an integral, meaningful role. Success in achieving the missions of our University will be realized because of a team effort.

Administrators' provision of services allows students to take full advantage of the climate aspired to in the mission statements. Our handling of numerous bureaucratic functions frees faculty to concentrate on the work they need to do to advance the University's mission. And administrators will continue their behind-the-scenes facilitation as long as budget reductions do not interfere.

Becoming known as a place for active, learner-centered education will require changes, changes that will not always be pain-free. Administrators on all the campuses will have responsibility for implementing these changes. We look forward to working with the other members of the Ohio University team -- faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, classified staff, staff represented by bargaining units, the senior executive officers, and the Board of Trustees -- in achieving all the very worthy goals set forth in the President's address.