President's Message I AM DELIGHTED and honoured to be appointed the seventh president of the University of Guelph, and I look forward to meeting and working with alumni and all members of the University community, past and present. Over the last decade, U of G has established a strong reputation as a leader in Canada. It is this reputation that attracts some of the best faculty, staff and students to this campus. They, in turn, provide the foundation for our future.
Guelph is known for its outstanding research, teaching and innovation. It is also known for its friendly and committed atmosphere. The values and attitudes that created this caring environment- focused on innovation- are priceless and must be fostered and nurtured. U of G is ideally poised to take a leading role on the international stage. A number of discrete areas of the University already command an international reputation, but recent developments in all aspects and disciplines of the University in teaching and research
open the prospects of new horizons. Over the next five years, l will work with the University community to realize the potential offered by these opportunities. The University of Gu~lph has a rich inheritance that must be promoted. Our roots in agriculture, veterinary medicine and home economics and social conditions provide a pioneering spirit in which intellectual drive is permeated with a sense of creating knowledge that can be applied and used in the community. This concept now radiates from every aspect of our research and teaching. Our inheritance also comes in the form of a beautiful campus. We must find ways to preserve the intellectual essence and physical manifestation of that history. The campus master plan developed by the Board of Governors in the past year will be an important blueprint for campus development. The progress of our university has benefited from a commitment to interdisciplinary study. Our community has shown that some of the best ideas can be generated by working collaboratively between disciplines. We have a number of strong interdisciplinary programs in the arts, sciences and social sciences, and it's clear that this approach must be maintained and developed to keep Guelph at the forefront of research and teaching. As society faces a number of complex issues involving development in the sciences, our willingness to explore the social, cultural and environmental effects of such developments will be vital. In research, teaching, student services and service to society, the U of G community has shown time and again its willingness to experiment with new ideas and take risks. To remain in the vanguard of teaching and research, we must continue to foster this approach. And to remain as Canada's most caring educational community, we must continue to welcome the voices of our alumni in all areas of campus life - inside and outside classrooms, laboratories and boardrooms -mingling with today's students, faculty and staff in the spirit of shared learning. The University of Guelph is the place to learn and work. I want to continue and contribute to that spirit, and r look forward to serving the University over the next five years.
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