"In the next few days thousands of students will fill out classrooms walkways and residence halls, some will return to a place they already know very well. For others this will be their first semester as Ragin' Cajuns.
Every August renews our purpose and gives us yet another opportunity to change lives. That’s the magic of higher education.
Over the past year as you know we've had many conversations about this university it's past and its future. Some have been difficult, all were necessary. Today we look forward with momentum already at our backs you each and everyone of you is involved in building what comes next. Our future will not be defined by circumstance alone, it will be defined by intentional choices we make today and going forward.
As a public research university we prepare students for meaningful lives and careers create knowledge and put our expertise to work for our Louisiana. That public purpose must guide how we organize how we invest and how we measure success this year ahead begins with the university that looks very different.
Every division starts this academic year with new leadership we have realigned our organization around what I’m defining to be our priorities, I thank every single leader who stepped forward to lead this university through this period of transition and transformation, across the cabinet and throughout the university.
This time last year when we gathered for the state of the university we were facing substantial financial pressures, the months that followed required difficult choices to be made and sacrifice on behalf of everyone across this campus.
Earlier this month New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees reflected on what storms teach us. He said our greatest treasure are the people we love and the way we show up for one another. Over the past year I watched you do exactly that. You kept teaching you kept conducting research you kept serving our students you stepped into gaps, and believe me there were a lot of them, supported colleagues and kept this university going and moving, even when the path forward was not always clear, because we had a storm that we were facing. You showed up for one another and you showed up for our university..."