Feliz Christmahanukkwanzaa!

For those unable to attend our FAS Holiday Party last week, I want to share some thoughts and news from that event.

I’d like to be the first one to wish all of you a “Feliz Christmahanukkwanzaa!” That’s my way of saying Happy Holidays to you and that no matter what or how you celebrate, I hope that you enjoy the time spent with your family and friends and even your colleagues on campus.

We have had another terrific year in the FAS division. I am very proud of our accomplishments – our vision and our constant energy towards finding new ways of growth, improvement, and national recognition. If I haven’t had an opportunity to speak with each of you individually during the past year, I want you to know that I am very aware that it takes EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU to make this division what it is today (and what we will be tomorrow), and you are greatly appreciated.

With the close of this year, I would like to acknowledge Shirley Brady, Aaron Woodard, and Tanis Brown who are retiring and leaving us to enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle (or so they think). Each has made significant contributions to this University and to the FAS Division. A common thread to their tenure on the campus is that they have stepped forward when they were needed, sometimes as leaders, sometimes as mentors, sometimes as advisors, but always with service to the campus community as their focus.

As we go into 2007, we have much to look forward to. Here are a few changes that will be taking place at the beginning of the year:

*On January 1, Risk Management & Safety will be reporting to Human Resources and Equal Opportunity
*In January, Tracey Richardson will be joining FAS as the campus’ first University Events Scheduling Manager
*Sri Renganathan, our new Associate Vice President for Finance and Business Services, coming on board on
February 1
*We expect to have a new Chief of Police Chief early in the new year

Also in January, there will be changes in our Student Financial Services area coinciding with the opening of our student one-stop shop, Cougar Central. In order to best serve the students and with a “university first” attitude, the employees in the different departments serving on the front lines in Cougar Central will be cross-trained, including some of our folks in SFS who will be moving to Enrollment Management Services within the division of Student Affairs.

This in an exciting and innovative approach to putting service to our students first and is certainly another step towards blurring the lines between divisions when it makes sense to do so. While this is viewed as a positive and very progressive change, we will certainly miss our colleagues from Student Financial Services, but know that they will be in good hands and that we will continue to work with them on a regular basis.

Wishing you a new year filled with joy, laughter, hope, and promise.