2008 Woodie Awards
Adler traces 'thread' of 15-year career at WCU
Nicole Fortuna
Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: News
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"There's a thread to be followed; It goes among things that change, though it doesn't," Adler said.
This officially began her last term as the University president in that she will retire after the 2007-2008 academic term.
Adler is now serving her sixteenth term as president at WCU.
According to Adler, two-thirds of the faculty at WCU have only seen one university president.
Beginning her presidency in 1992, as the thirteenth president of WCU and as the first woman to lead this institution according to "Reflections of Excellence: A 15-year report," Adler said that she brought a myriad of emotions-such as curiosity, enthusiasm and trepidation--but also ideas and experience on how she could enhance the university's future.
On Jan. 16, 2007 the School of Music and Performing Arts Center, "SOMPAC," officially opened marking one of Adler's plans of "benefiting this wonderful university."
Adler said that although the years have not been devoid of difficulty for anyone, they have brought "renewal, achievement and the optimism that comes from the best in quality and character."
"The past 15 years have been years of change--change that has led West Chester University to become a model for all regional comprehensive universities," Adler said.
Adler discussed three weaving components to the "tight grasp" WCU has in regards to its success: the mission as a regional comprehensive university, Strategic Plan for Excellence and the campus-wide distributive leadership.
WCU as a regional comprehensive University concerns the fact its "responds directly and broadly to our region," according to Adler. This includes local ties, cultural offerings and volunteerism.
Essentially, a regional comprehensive university concerns the issue of "learning to think in terms if community," Adler said.
It encompasses service projects to even "global initiative." For example, the campus has taken its steps to having green facilities such as its plan for geothermal energy which was introduced in the spring 2007 semester.
The attribute of regional comprehensive university is firmly intertwined to the second of the two, which is, the "Strategic Plan for Excellence."
According to the "Plan for Excellence" formed in 2001 and last updated in June 2007, the Strategic Planning Resource Council, which comprises members of the university from various disciplines, studies and professions exists to "strengthen the plan's relationship to budgeting and assessment." It ensures the effectiveness of distributive leadership throughout the campus on several levels and maintaining WCU as the main outlet for cultural arts in the area.
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