TULANE TALK

April 8, 2011

Good Morning:

This was a “Washington Week” for me. It started Sunday at the Alumni Association Awards where we recognized several deserving individuals, including Phyllis Taylor, who received the Dermot McGlinchey Lifetime Achievement Award; Carol Squarcy Showley and James Ordeneaux, who were honored as top volunteers; and Newt Gingrich, who received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. The latter honor sparked a lot of conversation on our Facebook page and other forums.

But that’s the great thing about Tulane. We can welcome Newt Gingrich and James Carville, Ann Coulter and Gloria Steinem, George Bush and Bill Clinton and countless other people with opposing views, all in keeping with the university’s tradition of free and open dialogue. Each time we host or honor a politician or social commentator we’re accused of having either a liberal or conservative bias. We agitate enough people with our diverse guests that I think we must be doing something right. Or, should I say, left? Or correct? But not politically correct.

I spent much of the rest of the week in our nation’s capital, discussing Tulane’s research, community engagement initiatives and educational mission with Rep. Steve Scalise, EPA Administrator (and Tulane graduate) Lisa P. Jackson, Sen. Mary Landrieu, Sen. David Vitter, Rep. Rodney Alexander and Rep. Cedric Richmond.

Our congressional delegation, regardless of party affiliation, is focused on issues important to all of us, including coastal restoration, flood protection and the environment. They also appreciate and are willing to assist the higher education community. Of course, a primary topic of our discussions was the possible government shutdown.

I also discussed Tulane’s community engagement agenda with Patrick Corvington and Sonal Shah. Patrick is the CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that engages Americans in service through AmeriCorps and other initiatives. Sonal heads the White House Domestic Policy Council’s Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation. Tulane’s work in the community garners a lot of attention and respect and dovetails with ongoing efforts at the federal and state levels. We should all be proud.

Have a great weekend,

TULANE TALK

March 25, 2011

Good Morning:

It seems like CELT is everywhere. You probably have seen CELT flags, CELT banners and CELT t-shirts around campus. You may even have eaten a sno-ball, ice cream or other treat given to you in the name of CELT.

So what is CELT? CELT is the Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching, the newest center and concept at Tulane. While it is headquartered on the third floor of the Richardson Building, its presence is felt throughout the university in the culture of engaged learning we continue to build.

Through engaged learning, students actively participate in their education by helping to design courses of study and identifying ways to apply and complement what they learn in the classroom with real-life experience. Through CELT, students will have exciting research opportunities not often available to undergraduates, along with internships and the chance to use their knowledge and skills to find solutions to our most pressing social problems.

The SACS accreditation team will visit Tulane March 29-31, so if a team member asks if you know what CELT is, you will know the answer: CELT is Tulane’s newest venture in engaging the world.

At CELT, faculty will find the tools to help them incorporate engaged learning practices into their classrooms and students will find research opportunities, experiential learning ventures and resources to help them change their world. You can learn more about CELT by visiting http.edu/celt.

Have a great weekend,

TULANE TALK

March 18, 2011

Good Morning:

Like me, I know you have been closely following events as Japan struggles in the aftermath of the massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis. Disasters such as these remind us of how fragile and volatile our world is and how quickly everything we know and love can be forever altered. I am sure many of us see reflections of our own experiences with Katrina in the tragedy now unfolding, especially the initial hopelessness felt by so many.

When the earthquake struck, our first concern was for Tulane faculty and students traveling in Japan, as well as Japanese students and faculty here in New Orleans. Nine of our MBA students were in Japan, where they had stopped en route to Beijing to fulfill requirements of the business school’s global leadership program. Professor Ken Muneoka, who holds the John L. and Mary Wright Ebaugh Chair in Science and Engineering, was on a train headed to Sendai. We are grateful that Ken and all our students are accounted for and safe.

Our Office of Student Affairs is reaching out to members of Tulaneís Japanese community who may have family or friends back home directly impacted by these terrible events. Our Japanese students are currently working with Tulaneís Department of Asian Studies to organize a fundraiser for victims.

The law school’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy is partnering with both the Disaster Prevention Research Institute at Kyoto University and the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institute in Kobe to launch the Disaster Resilience Watch Project, which will assess and assist Japanís long-term recovery. The Tulane/Xavier Center for Bioenvironmental Research is a major player in this effort and is launching a multitude of other research, educational and transformational partnerships with our Japanese colleagues to confront this ongoing disaster.

These efforts, along with the personal contributions so many of you are making to relief agencies such as the http Japan Quake Fund, are in keeping with the motto Non sibi, sed suis: ìNot for oneís self, but for oneís ownî — a proud Japanese and Tulane tradition. We will continue to explore ways we can help our friends in Japan and welcome any suggestions you may have.

TULANE TALK

February 25, 2011

Good Morning:

Last Friday, a ruling by the Louisiana Supreme Court effectively ended litigation related to Tulane’s consolidation of its seven separate undergraduate colleges, including Newcomb, into a single college for all undergraduates.

This decision came as womenís education continues to flourish at Tulane. Currently, we are processing applications for a fall 2011 first-year class that will be approximately 56 percent female. In addition, the http College Institute continues to offer a unique, women-centered educational experience in a coed institution, ensuring opportunities for all undergraduate women at the university, not just those in the liberal arts and sciences.

We are pleased that Newcomb has evolved over time, with an eye always toward the future. As you may know, by the 1960s Newcomb College students were enrolling in coed classes with men and Newcomb and Tulane had combined their academic departments. By 1979 Newcomb and Tulane shared a single curriculum and in 1987 Newcomb and Tulane integrated their faculty for the liberal arts and sciences. Today, all Tulane undergraduate students graduate with a degree from Newcomb-Tulane College, which appropriately recognizes and honors the Tulane and Newcomb names.

Just as Mrs. Newcomb was an educational innovator, so, too, is the Newcomb College Institute a leader in educating undergraduate women for leadership in the 21st century. From creating an endowed chairóone of only a handful in the country designated for a women’s studies scholaróto awarding scholarships to outstanding women in the arts and sciences, to developing, offering and funding one-of-a-kind women’s programs, Tulane University continues to be a leader in womenís education.

As always, we invite and look forward to engaging with all who have a sincere desire to work together for the good of Tulane University and all of the women enrolled here.

Have a great weekend,