Good morning UMass Dartmouth!

I have spoken to many of you at convocation and in my walks around the campus in the last few days, but to all a sincere welcome back to campus! We are always reenergized by the beginning of another academic year.

There is also a sense of renewal and optimism that comes from our continued growth.

We continue to attract very good students; our scholarly work and research is gaining well-deserved national recognition; our teaching remains a central commitment of our mission; and our physical infrastructure is expanding to match our needs and aspirations. We have our challenges for sure, but we have demonstrated that we can meet them head-on while continuing to make progress.

I am confident that will continue. Let me give you a brief update about:

New students and new faculty

More than 1,400 new freshmen, our largest incoming class, are working through their first week of classes. About 50 percent of this class is from southeastern Massachusetts, Ninety percent of Massachusetts cities and towns, more than 20 states, and a dozen countries are represented by the class of 2009.

We have recruited 32 new faculty from all over the country. They are excited about joining this learning community and extending our 110-year tradition of dedicated teaching, critical research, and meaningful service.

Please do all that you can to make these new members of our family feel at home.

Responding to Katrina

Though we come back to campus filled with hope, our thoughts are with people dealing with massive trauma.

We start the year with images of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina dominating our thoughts. We are greatly affected by the heartbreaking scenes of people struggling to regain their sense of dignity and control over their lives after losing everything.

This tragedy provides perspective for those of us who get too attached to material comforts and routines. The campus is already mobilizing resources to assist those victims who are being brought to Otis Air Force Base and those still in the Gulf Coast area. Please visit our Katrina Response web page to learn how you can help.

Adjusting to loss closer to home

We have had personal and community losses as well during the summer. I am very grateful to those who have expressed support and encouragement to me when my dad passed away a few days after commencement.

I know that you have done the same for Mrs. Kaput and her family when we suddenly lost our friend and colleague Prof. James Kaput. We are reminded in these losses of the significant influence that individual lives have on those around them.

Facility improvements

I urge you to stop by the new 1,200-bed apartment-style residence halls and the new Woodland Commons Center. You will be impressed. Also, take a look at the newly renovated classrooms in Group I.

On September 13 we will break ground on a 20,000 square foot research building behind the Violette Building. There has also been a lot of work this summer on important facility structure repairs and technological upgrades. Kudos to our Housing, Facilities and IT staffs for preparing the campus for a new year.

We will continue to improve our infrastructure, which is often unseen but still critical to sustaining our research, teaching and service work. You will hear more about this in the days and months ahead.

Progress on state funding

Our state budget is improved but not yet restored to the levels the Commonwealth needs to demonstrate a serious commitment to public higher education. In a separate memo, I will soon provide additional budget detail, but we are encouraged by movement in the right direction and we remain fortunate to have many advocates in the Legislature working on our behalf.

As we make the case for strong state financing, fundraising and innovative revenue enhancement from non-state sources will remain a necessary part of our activity.

We have an exciting year ahead of us. As events unfold, I will use this weekly email format to keep you abreast of what is happening. Enjoy the fall breezes and the opportunity to be renewed in starting again!

Sincerely,

Jean F. MacCormack
Chancellor
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth