An Open Letter to the Norfolk State University Community

The First One Hundred Days

October 13, 2006

Members of the Norfolk State Community:

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your president.  After one-hundred days in this capacity, let me state firmly that I am more convinced than ever that Norfolk State University is a special place - a gathering place for talented faculty, dedicated staff, resolute and bright students of all ages, a place worthy of pride from its alumni, a place that has continuously contributed to the well-being of the communities, and much more than all of these.

As you know a period of just one hundred days is not long enough to grasp the complexities that define Norfolk State University.  I’m still near the bottom of the learning curve but rising I hope, some days more rapidly than others, in my appreciation and knowledge of this fine institution.  There are not enough hours in the day to attend all of the activities to which I am invited.  There are not enough hours in the day to explore the dreams and plans of each constituent, division, or department.  So much that is absolutely terrific is going on here.  One thing and probably the only thing of which I am absolutely sure at this point is that a tremendous amount of learning, formal and informal, is happening at Norfolk State University.  Just Wednesday of this week I briefly toured the Career Fair and to my delight and I know to your immense pride, recruiter after recruiter commented on how well our graduates fare in the workforce.  Wednesday night I went to my first Student Government Association Town Hall Meeting where the students ‘wowed’ me with their thoughtful questions and budding professionalism.  And yesterday afternoon I “crashed” the luncheon for the Cluster just in time for a presentation on learning, an excellent and welcome respite from seemingly endless meetings.

During this one hundred days I have talked with many of you informally and a few of you formally.  One thing you might notice is that I am passionate about this business of education in which we are engaged.  And when an institution is resource challenged as are we, I believe that every action, activity, and program should be strategic and intentional, as well as should add value to the University and all of her stakeholders.  It befuddles and exasperates me that in some cases based on the information I have, these are not apparent from some, only some, of our programs, activities, and actions.  Hopefully as I continue to learn, the strategy, intentionality, and value added will be revealed to me. 

As far as hard actions of the president are concerned, I have deliberately done very little.  My plan for the first few hundred days hinges around listening and learning first.  Shared in writing with the Board of Visitors as well as with your Executive Cabinet, this plan is a common one endorsed by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and used successfully by new presidents around the country.  Immediate and uninformed actions are disrespectful and dangerous, respectively, in my opinion unless the welfare of the University stands to be compromised.  Then one has to act decisively with the information at hand. 

In closing, I am asking you to help me rise on my learning curve and most importantly, to assist in composing Norfolk State’s future – a future that reflects your best thinking – by completing the online survey.  The survey consists of open-ended questions in the hopes that you will think deeply and creatively as you respond.  

Again, thank you for affording me the privilege of being your president.
 

                                                  Carolyn W. Meyers, Ph.D.