This coming weekend we celebrate Labor Day, a holiday that honors the work of the American people. I hope you all enjoy a much-deserved day off and spending time with family and friends over the long Labor Day weekend.
Labor Day marks the end of summer and the start of fall, a season of harvest. As I drive between our campuses each fall, I find comfort in seeing the farmers gathering in their crops – realizing the results of their planning and hard work while their preparation for the next crop is already underway. Recognizing that our work also involves harvesting, planting, and planning, this season is a fitting moment to think afresh about our plans for MGA.
At Convocation, I announced the formation of a new Strategic Planning process and an Ad Hoc Committee to develop a new long-term plan for MGA. That plan will be unveiled at our Convocation next August. I am grateful to the campus colleagues who will participate in the work of the Committee under Dr. Kevin Cantwell's chairmanship. Kevin will announce the members of the Community and its charge later this week.
For now, it is important we each think intentionally about our University’s future, remembering the extraordinary direction we have followed for nearly 10 years. We can face our next decade with confidence, and we have a community of great strength in our faculty, staff, and students that will grow this university in size, outreach, and reputation. Regardless of the conditions ahead of us, we can be assured of that outcome.
To arrive at that outcome we need many minds and voices to help navigate the future. At Convocation, we looked at the results of a survey on this issue that was completed by nearly 400 of our colleagues. This fall, as the Strategic Planning Committee begins its work, I wish to hear from you directly and ask you to inform my understanding as your president on the priorities you look for in Middle Georgia State University's future.
In the coming weeks, I shall hold at least two Town Hall meetings, on our Cochran and our Macon campuses initially. Together, we will plan and implement a very strong and compelling future for MGA. There is an inspiring African proverb that states, "tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today." The time has arrived for us to labor again for our future at MGA so that tomorrow can indeed belong to the current and future generations of students that we serve.
I hope your semester has started well, and I wish you a wonderful upcoming Labor Day!
Be well,
Chris
