Meeting our responsibilities through CMU 2010
By Michael Rao, CMU president
The CMU community continues to follow its CMU 2010 vision toward national-caliber achievements that will benefit the region and state. This shared vision helps focus our excellent team of faculty and staff to meet the varied responsibilities of a large public university with an increasing focus on the needs of our people. While our team is achieving many nationally significant goals, noted below are a few recent priorities to improve our main campus climate.
Creating a safe, comfortable environment
A major responsibility related to the first priority of teaching and learning is to ensure the safety and functionality of CMU’s physical learning environment on campus, which includes residence halls. Our primary investment always will be in academic programs. The university also needs to connect with the on-campus living and learning needs of new generations of students and their parents if it hopes to continue attracting motivated and well-prepared applicants.
When weighing the merits of one university over another, students and their parents consider factors like residence hall amenities and technology capabilities alongside traditional concerns like safety and academic support services. Computer access, varied and nutritious dining choices, functional furniture, and a well-maintained campus attract the interest of prospects with strong academic preparation.
Though these are important factors of student life, safety programs continue to be a critical priority. Steps are being taken to improve emergency communication measures on campus, including installing emergency notification telephones in each classroom.
Striving for environmental responsibility
Another of the university’s responsibilities is to the people of Michigan. One of the ways in which we are addressing CMU 2010’s fifth priority – integrity – is by pursuing environmental responsibility and sustainability in our operations.
“Going green” has helped CMU save millions of dollars. The use of woodchips as a renewable fuel source saves $2 million annually in costs. Fixtures have been modified to use less water. Cleaning products used on campus are environmentally compatible. Meanwhile, on-campus recycling has doubled to 38 tons of materials per month. In addition, all new buildings and major renovations will follow the U.S. Green Building Council guidelines and earn LEED certification.
Sustainability is an important way of thinking that affects ways the university makes purchases. A Sustainability Advisory Committee will study and address issues like energy conservation, local buying practices, and CMU’s carbon footprint to ensure that the university is ecologically sound, socially just, and economically viable.
Exploring a possible medical school at CMU
To help fulfill its responsibility to improve the quality of life in Michigan – particularly central and northern Michigan – CMU has moved into the second phase of planning for a new medical school to address growing health care and economic development needs. A medical school would expand the university’s current rural health care mission and help address the growing national shortage of physicians while strengthening the quality of health care available to our region. In addition, a medical school could increase clinical research on diabetes and related illnesses that affect residents of the region, particularly Native Americans.
Current activities involve engaging a senior executive from the Association of American Medical Colleges together with academic faculty to develop a vision for a CMU medical education program.
Promoting diversity
CMU decided long ago that diversity is an important part of the learning experience because it is fundamentally important to the educated human experience. Wisdom tells us that understanding and embracing differences helps to achieve civility and honesty. We recognize our obligation as a public university and as individuals to welcome all of the people who make up the human race. We strive to achieve this CMU 2010 priority by promoting our message of respect for everyone.
Our world seems to face a great challenge in determining how people will live together without harming or intimidating each other. While there is a regrettable human tendency for some to harm others based on differences, there is also a human ability to rise above this by using our intellect to understand the differences that ultimately will help us succeed together.
The university community is well prepared to engage in important discussions regarding diversity in the curriculum, diversity education for employees, and opportunities to engage and educate our local communities. These discussions are aimed toward helping us all enjoy more fulfilling lives as humans with vital differences.
Earning your continued support
As its community of support grows with greater-than-ever involvement of alumni and partners, the university continues to expand its reach to improve the quality of human lives. Thank you for your interest, involvement, investment, and voice of support for your university and its important mission. •
