Murray State University

The Commonwealth and the country are looking to us to be about addressing these problems—it is part of the public covenant we share with the larger society which serves as our steward and gives us our ways and means to not just exist, but to thrive.  And as I’ve already implied, I believe it is the special mission of the regional comprehensive institution to disseminate knowledge, skills, treatments, interventions, best practices, and new approaches—and the far west region, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and places literally around the world need us to do this work.

It’s becoming such that even more so than the land grant and major research institutions (except maybe for the extension services of the land grants and medical research at the institutions with medical schools)--in this day and age, it falls to great regional schools like a Murray State University to translate new knowledge created at these nationally pre-eminent doctoral-granting institutions—where many of us earned our own doctoral degrees—for application in such a way that can change someone’s life. 

For those who were there, you know my inauguration speech was dedicated to talking about some key initiatives under my imperatives of fostering excellence, creating community, and building partnerships—all of which will aid us in providing the outreach that this University is called upon to deliver.  I won’t re-describe all of those initiatives—if you haven’t heard about all of them yet, you will in time—whether we’re talking about building a new library; instituting a comprehensive campaign to dramatically increase scholarships, endowed professorships, and to improve our facilities; expanding our presence in Paducah; better supporting graduate education and faculty research; mining for public/private partnerships; or a host of other things many of us need to be dreaming about.

But let me take a minute and share with you some examples of what I am talking about that we already are doing—and must do more of:

• Dr. Matthew Wiggins has dedicated himself to building the Exercise and Cancer Recovery (ECR) program which serves a population of cancer survivors in our region, giving personal attention to the individual needs of each survivor and working with them to improve their physical fitness, strengthening their bodies as well as their fighting spirit. Dr. Wiggins has forged partnerships with local doctors, securing donations and in-kind gifts to expand the program. He continues to pursue new partnerships to meet this important need in the region.
• BPA’s Small Business Development Centers have worked with thousands of small business owners and employees over the past 25 years and have won full accreditation—with no qualifiers or contingencies—from the National Association of SBDCs—very few similar programs in the nation come through totally clean for this accreditation. 
• MSU Health Service and other members of the University community have created partnerships in the community to reduce underage and high risk drinking.  This partnership has grown significantly in the last few years and Murray State has received financial support from the Calloway County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention. This funding has provided student training to reduce the incidence of risks associated with alcohol use and heighten awareness of the effects of alcohol use.
• MSU has successfully written a grant to support a partnership between the City of Murray, Calloway County and the University to collect and bale cardboard for recycling. This partnership helps MSU in its own role of environmental stewardship but goes beyond that to extend that benefit to the community.
• The College of Education is sending preservice teachers to Belize to do an international student teaching experience—a rare opportunity in teacher preparation in this country.
• MSU’s Dietetic Internship Program is a partnership with Western Kentucky University that provides post-baccalaureate dietetic training program with more than 900 hours of intensive training in food service management, clinical dietetics and community nutrition.
• Agriculture Dean Dr. Tony Brannon is chairing the statewide task force that is rewriting the Commonwealth’s strategic plan for agriculture and ag policy that will impact Kentucky for years to come.  And Breathitt Veterinary Center continues to do some of the leading diagnostic work in the country on avian flu and related poultry diseases—as well as in other areas. 
• The International Telecommunications Education and Research Association (ITERA) selected Murray State’s Program of Distinction in Telecommunications Systems Management (TSM) the recipient of the inaugural Best Undergraduate Program in the country. MSU has taken a national leadership role in this area and is responding to industry needs for a professional workforce.
• MSU recently joined the Kentucky Mesonet network, conducting high-density environmental monitoring for the Commonwealth—and contributing to the fight against global warming.

Of course, I could go on.  All of these points of pride for MSU exemplify what I believe our University has to do as we plan where to direct our efforts in the coming years.  This is at our core and the state of this University is strong and will continue that way if we can optimally respond to this special charge that is given to us. 

This is work we are already doing and doing well, as reported to us over and over by the Council for Postsecondary Education and the various rating agencies that recognize our good work, such as U.S. News and World Report. (On the literal eve of the public release of the 2008 U.S. News report, I’m not at liberty to give you detail as the information remains embargoed, but, I can assure that our good results will continue.)  Others that have recognized MSU are Kaplan’s, The Princeton Review, Kiplinger’s, geteducated.com (and here, I guess I should mention here too Outdoor Life that just listed Murray as one of the ten best campuses in the nation for outdoor enthusiasts) and others. So, our challenge isn’t to make fundamental change in what we do just for change’s sake, but, instead to constantly and continuously consider how we can extend that good work to improve and better the region, the state, and beyond.

What will it take for us to achieve these ends?  

We must take a more entrepreneurial approach in deciding what we do and how to do it. MSU operates in a changing competitive landscape where students can choose from a growing list of providers—Mid-Continent, the University of Phoenix, our community and technical colleges and other delivery options exist—online learning, accelerated adult learning programs, weekend programs. In the face of these competing options MSU must be the dominant choice for high school graduates in our region.  Our University’s outreach helps us to be that default—we must be.  And also, to reach that goal, we rely on you and your creativity to develop ideas, new courses, and novel approaches to delivery methods. As faculty and staff you know best—you’re closest to the action and have the best ideas. Bring those ideas forward, make your pitch and we’ll work to find the resources to put your ideas into action.  (Won’t we, Dean Todd?)

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