Trauth cites progress in key areas at convocation

University News Service
August 21, 2007
“The goals (of the strategic plan) have been embraced so enthusiastically by those responsible for meeting them that in many cases we were able to reach intended outcomes sooner than we had forecast,” said Trauth.
Delivering her State of the University address at the annual University Convocation and General Faculty Meeting, Trauth examined the progress in five key areas of the strategic plan:
· Expanding the number of faculty in order to improve the student-faculty ratio. When Trauth arrived at
· Establishing competitive salaries for faculty and staff. Faculty and staff salaries are up from a year ago, and more funds are being identified for increases in coming years.
· The development of an
· Diversity. Trauth said that both African American and Hispanic student enrollment has grown. African Americans and Hispanics currently make up 26 percent of the
· Doctoral programs. The Coordinating Board approved a seventh doctoral program – in physical therapy – for
“Of course, the strategic plan is not our only plan,” Trauth said. “We also have a master plan. You know that by the construction fences and rerouted traffic. The campus itself is changing.”
Funding approved by the Legislature in May has allowed planning to begin on the new
“In all, 18 Campus Master Plan projects with a total value of $240 million are under way in one form or another,” said Trauth.
Trauth said the past year has been a notable time for fund-raising at the university. She cited a $5 million gift from Bruce and Gloria Ingram to establish a school of engineering in their name, a $1.5 million gift from Paul Bulmahn for a student trading lab in the McCoy College of Business Administration, a $1.1 million gift from Jerry and Linda Fields for a chair in business ethics in the McCoy College and several gifts to help establish a nursing school.
“The $6 million gift from the St. David’s Community Health Foundation along with the $2 million from the Legislature and gifts from Scott & White and
The university has been experiencing “phenomenal growth in endowments” and Trauth predicted, “These private gifts will competitively position us to recruit the best and brightest faculty and students.”
Trauth said the university is in the final stages of its strategic plan for athletics, and that the plan will guide the university in its mission of recruiting and graduating student athletes who meet the university’s academic mission.
“We are proud of our student athletes. The fall and spring semesters were the two highest semesters in our history for student-athlete grade-point averages. Our football team had the highest GPA in Division I in