Utah State University President Stan L. Albrecht addressed a large crowd gathered in the Taggart Student Center Sept. 15 for his first-ever State of the University address.

 

“This is the first time in four and a half years that I have chosen to use this kind of forum to address the university community,” Albrecht said. “There are several reasons for that. Most importantly, I have preferred smaller venues — college meetings, individual meetings with our classified and professional staff, meetings with student groups in smaller settings and one-on-one conversations with individual members of our university family.”

 

During spring meetings with campus groups and organizations, Albrecht promised a future update on the economic and budgetary issues facing the university, and his address provided the opportunity for the update.

 

In reviewing the budget cuts and actions, Albrecht said the process was intended to focus on strategies that allow USU to remain “an active, forward-thinking institution, even when that means leaving behind some of our more traditional ways of doing business. We have attempted to treat this as an opportunity to define the type of university that we will be for the next generation.”

 

President Albrecht reviewed the budget reductions that have faced the university and the university’s plans to address needed reductions in coming fiscal year budgets.

 

The university has gone through three rounds of state-imposed budget cuts, with a fourth round to be addressed and implemented.

 

“Our proposed approach will be to address this reduction through a combination of new revenues and additional budget cuts,” Albrecht said.

 

The proposed budget action includes applying new revenues from Tier II tuition over a two year period, from reductions in accounts controlled by the central administration, a proposed faculty and staff furlough and applying revenues generated by creating a split “pay out” from earnings from quasi-endowment accounts.

 

Following the budget discussion, Albrecht moved to a discussion of the university’s future.

 

“Over the next few minutes I would like to present what I believe is an optimistic, promising, progressive and forward-looking — but very honest — view of the university — a university that I assure you will come through this recession not only intact, but positioned to move forward to assume an even greater leadership role among America’s fine institutions of higher education.

 

Then, President Albrecht discussed what he called “nine key markers of progress,” including:

 

- Faculty and Staff

- Students

- Regional Campuses

- College of Eastern Utah

- Capital Facilities

- Campaign Progress

- Research

- USTAR

- New Revenue Opportunities

 

Albrecht concluded the address with a discussion of organizational changes, first considered by the university’s Executive Council, with further consideration by the Council of Deans.

 

“Over the summer, the deans identified a variety of ideas for consideration,” Albrecht said. “In fact, they identified a total of 26 unique changes to our administrative structure, from which they eventually advanced five recommendations for further consideration.”

 

President Albrecht discussed three of the recommendations, including the possibility of establishing a free-standing, independent academic college with programs from the Caine School of the Arts.

 

“We have developed strong programs in music, art, theater and design,” Albrecht said. “We have created an outstanding collection in the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art and recently constructed the extraordinary Manon Caine Russell Kathryn Caine Wanlass Performance Hall. Our programs in several areas are unsurpassed. But we also believe that we have the opportunity to further capitalize on our strengths and to create other programs of even greater excellence.”

 

President Albrecht told the crowd it was important to move forward quickly.

 

“This recommendation from the deans, I believe, has great merit,” Albrecht said. “It will enhance the visibility of this part of our academic program, it will create a full seat at our administrative tables for the fine arts side of our university. And it will, I am confident, enhance our development efforts and our ability to attract outstanding students and faculty.”

 

Albrecht noted the proposal raises questions and implications for the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning. The program has a 70+ year history at USU and claims an impressive number of alumni.

 

“Therefore, a second recommendation from the deans was that we initiate a conversation with the faculty of that department to determine where in our academic organizational structure their future success will be maximized,” Albrecht said. “Again, my intent is to initiate this conversation with the faculty, staff and students in the immediate future.”

 

 

“In closing, I would like you to know that each day I feel a great sense of humility and honor for the privilege of being at Utah State University — and, yes, I feel that even during these difficult times,” Albrecht said. “Together we will continue to build the kind of university that we aspire for this one to become, and that is a good thing.”

 

The full text of President Albrecht's speech is available online.

 

Video of President Albrecht’s speech is also available online.