Campus Life

Open Mike - Welcome to the Fall 2018 semester

As we begin our first full week of classes for the Fall 2018 Semester, welcome back to everyone returning to campus and welcome to all new faculty and staff who have joined our University community.

I want to say a sincere thank you to Laurel Corbiere, who left her position as Director, President’s Office, over the summer, and wish her the best as she returns to her hometown of Red Deer. I also want to welcome Mike Whipple to our office, who is assuming the Director's role beginning Sept. 17, and whom I look forward to working with in the days ahead.

Walking around campus I’m always invigorated by the energy of our students and am looking forward to what the 2018/19 academic year promises for our University. We have very good enrolment numbers once again and we continue to show strong growth in a number of targeted areas, namely in the number of graduate students and Indigenous students who are making the U of L their choice for a quality education.

I thank you, the staff and faculty who are the heart of our community, for continuing to create an unrivaled academic experience for our students. There is no denying the economy has continued to challenge all aspects of our province, including post-secondary funding, and I am tremendously appreciative of the efforts you have all put in despite the barriers we are facing.

The result of your work shows itself every day in our students and more broadly in our reputation locally, nationally and beyond. Our product, the experiences we provide, the research we produce and the students we send out into the world, continue to excel on all fronts. It is a testament to our values and our ability to deliver on our promise that continues to set the U of L apart.

Just the other day I was having coffee with two new students from Calgary and they expressed their excitement over the impending opening of the new Science and Academic Building and their opportunity to be among the first students in the doors. It struck me just how important it is for us as a University to be continually growing and evolving and how that resonates beyond our walls.

We have much to look forward to in the coming year and I invite everyone to come to the Welcome Back BBQ on Thursday, Sept. 20 to reconnect with each other and learn more about what’s in store for 2018/19.