UA President Robert N. Shelton addresses members of The University of Arizona campus as well as the greater community during his second State of the University address on Thursday. (Photography by John deDios)
UA President Robert N. Shelton highlighted numerous university-wide achievements from the last year, saying that such accomplishments are signs of a strong institution. (Photography by John deDios)
The University of Arizona may have come from humble beginnings 123 years ago, but its trajectory has and will continue to be nothing less than "extraordinary."
UA President Robert N. Shelton gave that message during his State of the University address Thursday afternoon.
"Our obligation today – the debt we owe those who dared to think a world-class university could blossom on a speck of desert land – is to dream big," he told a room full of local and statewide community members and supporters at the event, which was held at the Student Union Memorial Center.
During his address, Shelton affirmed that the UA would continue to do groundbreaking work relevant to the state of Arizona and to communities elsewhere. He also said the UA would become one of the 10 best public research universities in the United States.
Members of various parts of the UA community attended the afternoon luncheon and event, as did current and former Arizona Board of Regents members, local and state elected officials, alumni, University supporters and media representatives.Three former UA presidents also attended: Peter Likins, Henry Koffler and John Paul Schaefer .
Shelton highlighted a number of the University's accomplishments in the last year, such as:
Shelton also highlighted achievements faculty have led in the areas of astronomy, anthropology, climate change, English, mathematics, water sustainability, tree-ring research, optical sciences, engineering and geography and regional development.
"The impact and reach of The University of Arizona extends beyond our classrooms and labs, around the earth, as well as beyond it," Shelton said.
He also noted that the UA saw a 10 percent increase in international students this year, had its largest freshman class ever and its most diverse incoming class.
Also, the UA introduced its Arizona Assurance program, a financial aid program supporting nearly 600 qualified student who come from households with adjusted gross incomes of $42,400 or less.
"The facts here are clear: Students and families in this state place a high value on a University of Arizona degree. Parents want their children here. Employers want our graduates," Shelton said.
"I now need everyone who is hearing my voice to make sure that all the people of Arizona understand how important it is to keep this institution viable, to support the quality difference that makes a University of Arizona education so cherished," he added
Shelton said that work is duplicated in other areas, including border and water issues, renewable energy, arid land studies, rural medicine, and more.
"These are issues that can only be addressed by a public research university like The University of Arizona because of our interdisciplinary breadth and depth of expertise," he added. "Never in the history of our state has our role been more important. And, the solutions we provide to the state are clearly translatable nationally and internationally."
Shelton also spoke of the strength of the faculty and talked aboutways in which University staff were creating a "safe, clean, healthy, and nurturing environment."
But he also talked about what he said is a challenging budgetary period for the UA, the state of Arizona and the nation, referencing the Transformation Plan as a solution.
"The timing of this year's address is propitious. It comes at a critical juncture in the history of our University – a time of budget challenges and growing pains, when some are questioning whether our greatest days are behind us," Shelton said. "Let me assure you: Our best days lie ahead."
Shelton said the Transformation Plan is key; that it is enabling the University by "focusing on those things that ultimately define us: our land-grant heritage, our unique location in the American Southwest and the interdisciplinary nature of the work we do."
The UA, he also said, is defining the modern example of a land-grand institution.
Evidence is in the UA's focus "not merely on the historical land-grant areas of agriculture, mining, and engineering, but on all the new and innovative ways that we can improve the life of the people of Arizona through our research and outreach efforts."
He cited the the UA's pediatrics department, which recently received a six-year, $44 million contract to participate in the National Institutes of Health's National Children's Study, investigating conditions such as autism, birth defects, diabetes, asthma and obesity.
"I don't want anyone here to lose sight of the exciting change that is occurring on this campus," Shelton said.
"Will there be challenges? Yes. Will it be tough at times? Absolutely," he added. "But this is The University of Arizona, and we can do anything we put our minds to."
