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S O U T H E R N
O F F I C E
U N I V E R S I T Y
S Y S T E M
NEWS
Volume 2, Issue 1, Summer 2010
O F
T H E
P R E S I D E N T
President’s Message Dear Southernites:
These are 4mes of transi4on in public higher educa4on. Diminishing state support, underprepared high school graduates, the push of certain segments of the popula4on toward community colleges, compe44on on a global scale, and open ques4oning of the con4nuing relevance of historically Black universi4es are among the challenges of our 4mes.
Southern, as the only historically black university system in America, has an extraordinary responsibility. The University has been a leader in serving the underserved. At one 4me it was the largest ins4tu4on of its kind. It is s4ll the largest Black business in the State of Louisiana. However, like other universi4es, par4cularly HBCUs, much work is necessary to secure our future. We will have to redesign and redefine ourselves in order to compete in an increasingly compe44ve environment. Today, the compe44on is great even for the students who have been our tradi4onal enrollment base. They and their families are telling us that we have to be and be seen as be5er than we are. The process will not be easy. We must rebuild in the face of debilita4ng budget cuts. We must restore confidence in our business despite meager funds for opera4ons. We must increase enrollment in New Orleans and Baton Rouge despite be5er funded compe44on in both ci4es. We must raise money in the face of a teetering economy. In other words, we will have to rely on our ability to be twice as good with half as much. I believe that the history, tradi4on, and future of the Southern University System are of the highest importance, for Black people, for Louisiana, and for America. I believe that they are also of the highest importance to the Southern family and our community. If we are to emerge as a model for the next genera4on of higher educa4on, we will all--faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends, have to share a common vision, serve a common cause, and a$er God and family, adopt as our highest priority the preserva4on and growing presence of Southern. If you have ideas, 4me, or resources that can help, please let me know. My e-mail is Ronald_Mason@sus.edu. I look forward to serving with you in this worthy cause. Sincerely, Dr. Ronald Mason Jr., J.D. President
“I believe that the
history, tradi4on, and future of the Southern University System are of the highest importance, for Black people, for Louisiana, and for America. I believe that they are also of the highest importance to the Southern family and our community.”