Chancellor Motley Kicks Off New School Year With Convocation Address
Chancellor J. Keith Motley today marked the beginning of the 2008-2009 academic year with a convocation address that called for increased attention to public higher education and outlined his vision for the future of the University of Massachusetts Boston. The chancellor’s address led a day of convocation activities at the campus, including remarks by UMass President Jack Wilson and Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville, a cookout and entertainment for students, and an evening community reception.
In his second convocation speech as chancellor of UMass Boston, Dr. Motley outlined the challenges and important role of public research universities in an environment often favoring private higher education.
“We are facing a new frontier in the United States and in Massachusetts…. The challenges on our frontier have to do with global economic and technical competition, global warming, crumbling physical infrastructure, fossil fuel scarcity, unprecedented diversity, increased private and public debt, and a public education system that is starved,” said Chancellor Motley. “We must commit ourselves to a system of education – led by public research universities – that produces the best basic and applied research on terms equal to the best at any private university, link that research with the best teaching, and link teaching and research to the mission of transforming societies into more wholesome environments for human social, moral, and spiritual habitation.”
Chancellor Motley also highlighted accomplishments over the past year, including growth in student enrollment close to 14,000 and increases in research funding exceeding $45 million. Even in difficult economic times, UMass Boston has made progress in serving the most economically, racially and ethnically diverse student bodies in New England, increasing its need-based financial aid allocation by over 15 percent to $4.8 million. In addition, 2007-2008 saw the university raise a record $17 million in private donations, $3.3 million over the previous year.
For a complete transcript of Chancellor Motley’s speech, visit http://www.umb.edu/chancellor/speeches.html