If you haven’t returned to campus for a number of years, you may not recognize your alma mater by the end of 2012; but I hope you will be inspired.
This is an exciting period of development at the University of Windsor with construction about to begin on the Innovation Centre and parking structure, the opening of our Centre for Engineering Innovation this fall, and the plans to expand to the downtown core well underway. Also, Cody hall and the former drama building will soon be demolished to make way for future development.
Amid the heightened activity and complex logistics, there are a multitude of details to manage; but at UWindsor, they all fall under one category. Every detail is aligned with our Strategic Plan. This is the lens through which we view all of our efforts to position the University of Windsor as a place of excellence and innovation.
Our steadfast focus on the student experience is reinforced through our efforts to rebuild the campus and invest in what is important to us, and prospective students are taking notice. The number of applications for our upcoming fall semester has increased by more than six per cent, compared with the province-wide increase of two per cent.
UWindsor is attracting more attention as we create new spaces where our students, faculty and staff, can not only be engaged in learning and discovery, but also partner with industry, the arts and social agencies, combining teaching and research in ways that can make a difference in our community.
By giving students opportunities to connect with the community through these new spaces, we cultivate entrepreneurial thinking and give them that sense that they can go out into the world and contribute and make a difference. That’s what a university education is all about, inspiring minds to be prepared for whatever lies ahead.
One source of inspiration comes from celebrating the achievements of others. This issue of VIEW features our commitment to new student support services that are helping to ensure that students have the tools they need for success. You will get to know an alumnus who followed his dream to become Canada’s top ‘weather geek’, and a student who journeyed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help rebuild a community. We also celebrate the outstanding milestone of the graduation of the first class from the Windsor program of the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. This program truly exemplifies the power of community and educational partnerships that are fused for the betterment of society.
By embracing connections to the world we live in, UWindsor strives to be a place that inspires people to achieve their very best. It is our duty to create services and spaces where people can feel connected and supported, in an environment where the pursuit of knowledge and discovery can flourish. It is our privilege to be able to celebrate the efforts of those who make this happen, and the achievements of those whose lives have been touched by it.
Alan Wildeman
President and Vice-Chancellor
VIEW Magazine is produced by the University of Windsor Office of Public Affairs in tandem with the Office of Alumni and Donor Communications. Our goal is to connect and inspire the UWindsor community through news and stories that build pride in our alumni, current students, faculty, staff, donors and friends.
