ECU chancellor speaks at convocation

GREENVILLE, NC   (Aug. 23, 2004)   —   In his first official address, Chancellor Steve Ballard outlined his vision for East Carolina University Monday (Aug. 23) at the annual faculty convocation.

The chancellor shared his impressions of the university since taking the helm in March and articulated his goals for the future of East Carolina’s 96th academic year, which included the development of “great and bold visions.”

“Visions help us establish our self-identify and they communicate to our friends what we stand for,” he said. “They can provided the compass for our decision and guide us in the most difficult of our choices.”

Ballard outlined a path of success by defining the university through its own model of greatness. “We need not define ourselves by the definition of others,” he said. “Indeed, we should feel free, if not challenged, to create our own models. Our aspirations cannot depend on the US News and World Report rankings or the Carnegie Foundation classifications.”

The chancellor noted several factors, which will aid the defining process, including a growing student population and the university’s service to the community.

“We make a difference for the people who depend on us because of the quality of our programs and because we are engaged with constituents,” he said.

Ballard noted four challenges in the path to the future: financial support of higher education, public accountability, intellectual and demographic diversity and wise growth.

“While we recognize our challenges, we also know that they are exceeded by our opportunity,” he said. “We are an important, vital university in a knowledge-based economy. Together we can both meet these challenges and realize the possibilities for our future.”