Dear Colleagues,

Here we are. Can you believe we have already reached mid-July? It seems hard to believe after all we have been through. This past academic year was extremely difficult for all of us. The effect of Katrina and its aftermath placed an indelible mark upon the university and the City of New Orleans. As we now face the resulting challenges, we all will need an extended period of recovery. I need not remind you that because of Katrina-related issues, every university in this area, including Loyola, will be operating with fewer students and reduced resources. As a result, life here will not be as we have known it, perhaps, for years to come. And yet, there is reason for optimism. There is opportunity for us to stand back, assess our new reality, and make the best use of whatever resources we have to keep Loyola a strong, vibrant university and to make it even more so. I am exceedingly hopeful. I am hopeful in part because of the Board of Trustees' foresight, wisdom and leadership in directing the university this past semester to make some fundamental changes in the way it hopes to do business going forward. Those changes are largely captured in the Board-approved Pathways document. I am well aware that not everyone fully appreciates all the changes, but I can also assure you that had those changes not been made this university's future would not look as bright today as it does. I say so with a heavy heart and in full recognition of the pain a few of those changes have wrought upon some of our colleagues. I am hopeful also because of the people who are here -- faculty, staff, students and administrators. Over the past three years, I have come to know individuals extraordinarily dedicated to this university and its success.

We will have opportunities to observe further that dedication and, more importantly, to see it in action as we move forward with implementing Pathways. Implementing Pathways will mean change, and change is hard. Change makes us very uncomfortable. A common reaction is to manufacture reasons why change should not occur. Often then, what happens is that individuals choose to sit back and do nothing. Loyola University New Orleans cannot afford for us to do nothing if it is going to remain that strong, vibrant university I spoke of earlier.

I am convinced that our campus community will pull together to ensure Pathways' successful implementation. To that end, I am pleased with a number of things already underway. A Pathways Implementation Task Force, with half a dozen or so subcommittees totaling nearly 40 campus individuals, was formed several weeks ago. Those subcommittees have been tackling the incredible array of technical and logistical issues for moving Pathways forward. They have done a fabulous job of raising questions and formulating solutions. The larger task force has been pared down now to a continuing oversight committee chaired by Bret Jacobs. The oversight committee will be both monitoring and facilitating the short-term, mid-range, and long term activites that must be accomplished over the next twelve months. In addition, some of the deans have had an opportunity already to move forward with their internal implementation strategies and to set a wonderfully positive tone with their faculty and staff for getting things accomplished with Pathways. They are actualizing that dedication I alluded to earlier. I am deeply appreciative to their efforts. There are many, many other positive things happening. Over the next several weeks, I intend to highlight things academic on a regular basis for the common good.

As stated earlier, I am extremely optimistic regarding the future of Loyola. Given the new reality of this region and especially the university, we, you and I, have a special obligation to make that future as bright as possible. I know we can do it. I welcome our moving forward together to achieve most effectively what is needed for Loyola.

Walter Harris, Jr., Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs