An update from President Charles E. Young
In this holiday season, Judy and I extend our warmest wishes to you and your families. This is a bittersweet time for us, as I approach the end of my tenure as president of this wonderful university. UF is fortunate to have such outstanding faculty, staff and students who are committed to the academic enterprise. We shall miss you all.
It has been my privilege for four years to work with the faculty, administration, and staff to help the University of Florida become the next great public university in this nation. The progress UF has made during this period, despite sizable budget reductions, has been no less than incredible. The credit goes to all of you for this success.
Now, I have the privilege to welcome the next University of Florida President. Bernie Machen brings outstanding skills and administrative experience to guide this institution in the coming years.
Let me then leave you with a few last thoughts. First, have enough faith in yourselves, the administration and the faculty to give shared governance a chance to succeed. It is the goal of the faculty and administration to secure the University of Florida’s place among the very best public research universities in the United States. During the Spring semester, the Faculty Senate, the Board of Trustees, and President Machen will flesh out the shared governance framework developed this summer by a joint task force. This is a pivotal semester in UF history, and I encourage you to lend your support and participation to the full implementation of shared governance. A faculty union cannot provide shared governance; its absence at the best universities in this nation is clear evidence of this.
Second, look closely at UF’s role in this unique state. Florida has a burgeoning population, and a richly varied culture, which demands a dynamic, research university competitive with the best in the nation. UF must be that institution. There is no other in the state that can hope to be. So as you engage our students academically and intellectually and as you pursue your research, remember that you are helping to strengthen the outstanding university in this state and to build one of the great universities in the nation.
In leaving, I yield the pleasure of helping you achieve these goals to President Machen. But this does not diminish our enthusiasm and optimism for what you will accomplish, and Judy and I stand ready and willing to help in any way we can. We came to UF as transplanted Californians, but we leave as true Gators.
With warmest regards, I remain
Sincerely,
Charles E. Young
President