VICE PRESIDENT ENEWS MESSAGES

I was reminded recently of a quote from former U.S. president, Woodrow Wilson—then a college president: “The real intellectual life of a body of undergraduates, if there be any, manifests itself not in the classroom, but in what they do and talk of and set before themselves as their favorite objects between classes and lectures.”
 
Of course, I would add graduate and professional students as well, but there is a fundamental truth here—and an important mandate for us in Student Affairs. If we are to inspire students to grow intellectually, we need to challenge and support them to take on the important topics of the day, provide space for these challenging dialogues, and yes, encourage truly authentic engagement with each other. From the classroom across the student experience, what students “do and talk of” together has meaning and holds the bright promise of discovery and growth.