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President Allan Gilmour Wayne State University Inauguration Address Friday, April 15, 2011

Thank you, Governor Abbott. Members of the Board of Governors, students, faculty, staff, alumni, distinguished guests, and friends of Wayne State University: Thank you for being here today. I am honored by your presence, and by the trust you have placed in me. It is good that so many of us are here together. Because this day is not about just one person. It is about many people. People who teach. Who learn. Who discover. Members of our alumni who occupy every walk of life—and every corner of the world. Leaders of our country and city and state. People in this room. And others not here, but connected to this great enterprise. Today we celebrate the inauguration of a president. But this day is much more—in many ways it is the celebration of the University. Inaugurations are full of tradition and ritual. A cynic might think that this is all unnecessary. But tradition and ritual are important. They bring us together. They bind us with our history. And they give us something precious in our busy lives. A brief moment to pause, and think. About who we are and why we’re here. Where we’ve come from. And where we’re heading.

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Wayne State University, in some form, has been here for nearly 150 years. The world of 1868—the year of our founding—is a world beyond living memory. We would not recognize it. We know from history what that world was like, and we know all the change that has taken place since. And through all of that change—technological and political, social and demographic and economic—Wayne State has been here. Growing. Changing. Fulfilling its mission to discover knowledge, and pass that knowledge on. Today’s ritual reminds us of our history, and our duty to safeguard this mission for those with us now, and for those who will follow us. Today, it is our turn. We should never underestimate the importance of this duty. What we do here changes lives. And changes the world. This is not a cliché. Never let it become one. Not in our conversations. Not in our society. And, most importantly, not in our hearts. All honest work has within it nobility, but what we do here is different. It is a higher calling. This is why we do what we do. In my career I have always found it helpful to understand numbers. I have called myself a recovering financial officer. Numbers are objective. Numbers can measure inputs and outputs. Tell us if we’re on track. Or warn us of problems.

But I’ve also learned that some of the most important things can’t be measured. Ideas. Inspiration. Wonder. Discovery. They defy measurement, but they are at the heart of what we do here.

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Higher education is often called complex—with its technology and research; its buildings and organization; its faculty and staff and students. But its essence is simple. It starts with one of the most basic human needs. The need to know. The desire to understand something—just because we’re curious. The pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. This simple impulse is the root of all human progress. And the driving force of this University. This is why we do what we do. We should keep this in mind when people describe a university education as training. Or suggest that we focus only on subjects that will pay off in the job market. This sort of thinking has produced some well-trained specialists. But at what cost? Universities don’t exist just to prepare people for the world of work. They exist to prepare people for the world. With the ability to think beyond the confines of a narrow field of study. With the ability to see connections and correlations and patterns across many subjects. With the guts to ask questions. The tenacity to find answers. The wisdom to make decisions. And maybe, just when we need it, the genius to see things as they can be, rather than as they are. We live in a world that more and more seems to glamorize ignorance. That encourages idle consumption rather than active curiosity. Where pop culture sneers at “intellectual elitism”—or the pursuit of knowledge—as a waste of a good time. In such a world, our job is to nurture intellectual restlessness. To stand against this tide of pseudo-cultural nonsense. This is worth getting up in the morning for. And this is why we do what we do.

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And how do we do this? With balance. It’s not all books and facts and numbers. And it’s not all pondering and daydreaming. It’s both. Inspiration is hard to plan, and harder to teach. So we start with what is known. The foundation. The facts. The numbers. This is a lot of work, but there is no way around it. Because without this preparation, there is less chance for inspiration. Louis Pasteur said, “Chance favors the prepared mind.” This “prepared mind” is the fertile ground for imagination, and new ideas. It needs some cultivating—some poking and prodding. And it needs the luxury of time. To think. And search. And dream. These activities are often seen as wasteful. Universities don’t teach courses in dreaming, but the great teachers understand its value. I’m sure they would prefer it not happen in their classrooms, but they know this is when inspiration takes place—where “Eureka” happens. Albert Einstein seemed to know it when he said, ““I have no talents. I am only passionately curious.” In some ways, higher education, and this sort of thinking, is being challenged right now. Economic pressures are driving the need for more efficiency, and measurable results. I have heard these words before. If they drive accountability and sensible stewardship, they can be helpful. If they drive short-term thinking or the latest “quick fix” fad, they can be dangerous. Our job is to stay focused on who we are and what we need to do. Ultimately, we are accountable for the pursuit of knowledge and the education of our students. We must keep our eyes squarely on these responsibilities—even as we work to meet today’s challenges. 4   Allan  Gilmour  Inauguration,  4.15.11  

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Remember, Wayne State has faced many tests in the past 143 years, some of them bigger than today’s. We have done better than survive; we have thrived. Sometimes it’s easy to see our faults. But we should take stock of our assets. When I arrived here last summer, I did what any businessperson would do. I analyzed the numbers. I asked a lot of questions. I read a lot of reports. I dug in, to try to get a real sense of the place while I was still able to bring an “outsider’s” perspective. It was easy to tally up the issues facing us. We’re a big place with a lot going on, and there are always places to improve. But I found far more than problems. I found a vibrant University, full of the intellectual restlessness and curiosity that is the heart of any great institution. With activities that stretch from the labs to the athletic fields. From the stage to the studios. From Detroit to the world. I found a relentless pursuit of knowledge. We call ourselves a “research university.” But that term feels generic in relation to the enthusiasm I have felt from faculty and students—all across this campus—to know. Bernard Baruch, a businessman and financier from the last century, said, “Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why.” We ask why. We don’t just teach from the books; we write the books. I found a University that steadfastly maintains high academic standards, despite the pressure of outside influence. I found a University that graduates thousands of students each year, most of whom lead successful lives right here in Michigan.

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I found a University that is a crossroads of people and cultures—a microcosm of the real world. Diversity isn’t a slogan here; it’s reality. I found a University that is not afraid of a challenge. And will face it with the toughness and grit and pride that are hallmarks of its hometown. I found a University that is deeply connected with its community—the people, the businesses, the culture, the economic development. I found a University with the problems of any big organization, but with the will to pursue excellence. These are the ingredients of greatness. And the combination of all of these makes us unique. We’re not like other universities. We should celebrate this uniqueness, and let it take us as far as we can go. And so I ask you, how far do you want to go? To answer that question, we need to remember our roots. And we need to envision our future. We know the facts. So let’s dream a bit. What is Wayne State University—at its best? Wayne State University has always been, and will remain, a place of intellectual pursuit.

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We ask questions. We discover knowledge. We pass it on. We do these things well, and we must keep doing them well if we are to be accountable to our students, and ourselves. We don’t just teach. And we don’t just do research. We do both. And the combination makes us better. Wayne State University is in Detroit, and we are here to stay. Our extension centers and our online programs extend the boundaries of our campus, but we are part of this city, and this city is part of us. This fact alone makes us unique. And it provides students with a unique education. For those who insist on predicting Detroit’s demise, I invite them to visit Midtown and Wayne State’s campus. There is a spirit in Detroit, and Wayne State, that gives our students an edge. We’re not surrounded by rolling hills. We’re surrounded by cultural institutions, and businesses and hospitals, and people and neighborhoods. Our campus is diverse—it’s called Detroit. Our classrooms extend beyond our buildings and labs—to the real world around us. Our research has practical applications in health care and businesses. Our educational programs spill out into the community. When students leave here, they have academic credentials. But they have real world credentials, too. They can apply book smarts, and street smarts. Employers tell us our alumni are ready to “hit the ground working.” They show initiative. They think for themselves. They solve problems. They can spot an open parking space at 500 yards. They don’t need a long orientation program. They just need an opportunity.

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Wayne State is often called a university of opportunity. But let’s define this term. For much of our history, we have been a stepping stone for people with the talent and the will to succeed, but perhaps not the background required by other universities. One of the pleasures of this job is speaking with alumni. I never tire of stories that begin with, “If not for Wayne State I could never have…” and finish with a personal story of hard work and eventual success. Thousands of our alumni were the first in their families to attend college. Thousands of our alumni didn’t meet the requirements of more exclusive schools. They came to Wayne State. They persevered. And they succeeded. This is opportunity. Not all high school students are ready for college; some will never be. We do them no favors if we admit them—then see them fail. “Opportunity” cannot mean an open door for anyone. But we must leave the door open wide for those who can succeed, and support them in their efforts. If we don’t, who will? This is opportunity. “Opportunity” doesn’t mean lower academic standards, or lowered expectations. That would simply diminish the value of a Wayne State degree. “Opportunity” does mean the chance for a wide range of students to get an excellent education at a first-rate research university. It means that students from our neighborhood study with students from all over the world. It means the chance for students to experience the world before they’re thrown into it. This is what we mean by opportunity. And yes, Wayne State is, and will continue to be, a university of opportunity.

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We really know what we are, don’t we? We are an academic institution dedicated to teaching and research. We are a diverse community of faculty, staff, and students – from down the street and across the globe. We share the spunk and spirit of Detroit, and refuse to be cowed by the naysayers. We give our students an experience that blends the academic rigor of a research university—with the readiness that comes from living in the real world. We should stand up and be proud of all these things. This is Wayne State University. But is that enough? Are we satisfied—or are we still hungry? Have we reached our potential—or a plateau? We are a great institution, but with any great endeavor, there is always more we want to do. It is tempting to paint a grand new vision for the next century. But we must be true to who we are. Be great at what we are. And before we look too far down the road, there are things we need to do in the near future: •

First, we will get through this financial problem coming from reduced state support. It won’t be easy. We’ve been working hard on this—and we’re about to start the really hard work of deciding how to allocate fewer resources.

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Next, we have some things we need to fix in our own house—fewer resources or not. Graduation and retention rates. Student service. Eradication—once and for all time—of the “Wayne Way.” We are hard at work on

these as well, and we all play an important role in that work.

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We must continue our focus on our core missions—teaching and research. We must be great at this, or nothing else matters.

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We must look in the mirror, and assess ourselves relentlessly. Our goal is to be first-rate at everything, and great at some things. This, too, is difficult. It requires hard choices. But resources—time, money, people—spent supporting activities where we are average or less-than-average are resources that could be spent elsewhere becoming the best.

Finally, let’s be proud of who we are and what we do. I said earlier that ours is a higher calling. Sometimes that’s easy to forget in our daily work. It can start to feel like “business as usual.” But what we do is not business as usual. It certainly isn’t to our students—who count on our best. And it can’t be for us. It would do us good, from time to time, to see the world through the eyes of our students. To remember what it was like to have the first taste of freedom. Or walk on to a college campus for the first time. To remember what it was like the first time you mastered a difficult concept. Or connected with a professor. To remember a world of opportunities in front of you, and the optimism to think that anything is possible. We need to keep that optimism alive in us. That drive. That’s where our students are. And that’s where we must be.

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I have remarked on a number of occasions how impressed I am with the people of Wayne State—the intelligence, the talent, the enthusiasm. Such people could be successful in many endeavors. They could make more money. Achieve more fame. But they decided on a career in higher education. To devote themselves to something bigger than themselves. Ours is a higher calling. Remember that—every day. It is in our nature to aim higher. But we don’t need to reinvent Wayne State University. We need to be great at those things that make us unique. We need to understand what we have, appreciate what we have, and build on it. I’m fond of a quote from George Bernard Shaw that says, "Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not." We deserve to be proud of what we are. But we must imagine how great we can be— and ask, “why not?” In a few weeks, this campus will be in bloom. Another group of students will receive their diplomas, walk across a stage, shake my hand, and begin a new chapter in their lives. They carry with them all that they experienced here—the preparation, the relationships, the memories. And all the dreams and possibilities that come when great milestones are reached. We all contribute in some way that experience. It is a solemn responsibility. One we must remind ourselves of—often. When I shake the hands of our new graduates next month, and look into their eyes, I will remember why I am here, and why we do what we do. Thank you.

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