Our mission is to pursue each student's potential, to make it real

The early weeks of the fall semester are exhilarating. At this time of year, blue crystalline skies seem to touch bright green trees that reach for the horizon. The semester is fresh, and everything from novel classes to new college roommates holds promise.

To students, new and returning, I want to reiterate a key fact: We are glad you are here. Also, I want to emphasize an underlying truth: We want you to succeed.

It is, as always, important to define our terms. By “student success,” I mean that we want all students to pursue a course of study that they love, to graduate in a reasonable amount of time, and to apply their new knowledge and honed skills in satisfying civic and professional lives. That’s success.

In the coming year, I will distribute regular communiques to expand and expound on this idea. Among the topics I hope to address are the following:

• Top-notch research is our forte, but excellent teaching is our mission. All members of the college family—faculty and staff—must work together to advance and support student success. 
• Students should be aware of the plethora of options they have to customize their education to meet their needs and follow their passions. Each year, more students add a second major, a minor course of study in a complementary field or a certificate for marketable skills and knowledge. Our obligation is to help students identify and pursue these options.
• We hope at least half of our students will pursue opportunities for undergraduate research. We hope this because students who perform undergraduate research have higher graduation rates and, later, life success. 
• Diversity is our­­ strength, and inclusion is our calling. We are particularly keen to support and expand those efforts—such as the Miramontes Arts & Sciences Program—that help all members of our college community realize the potential benefits of higher education. 

Like a stunning autumn day, each student has unique promise. Our mission is to pursue that potential. Let’s make it real.

James W.C. White is interim dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.