Purdue is a university focused on helping students, faculty, and staff reach their goals and full potential. It is a university focused on research that will impact the lives and health of people around the world. It is a university focused on moving its discovery out of laboratories and into the marketplace where it can power a high-technology economy, especially in our state of Indiana. Purdue is a university focused on leadership and building a new model for higher education in the 21st century.

Our highest priority at Purdue is excellence in education for our students. This includes world-class faculty members who are accessible to students. It includes classrooms, laboratories, technology, and libraries that foster learning. It includes connecting the liberal arts, science, and technology in innovative ways. It includes experiential learning opportunities such as internships and community service. It includes entrepreneurial learning, undergraduate, and graduate research experiences. It includes broadening horizons through a campus that is not only a leader in bringing people from around the world together, but also encourages students from this country to pursue study abroad opportunities. It includes not only the promotion of a diverse culture, but the celebration of diversity and its vital role in a learning community. Purdue is a university that not only teaches, but inspires.

Faculty define the quality of a university and at Purdue, quality is paramount in all of our land grant missions for learning, discovery, and engagement. At Purdue, faculty members are recognized and rewarded for teaching, scholarship, research, and public service. Basic research within disciplines advances along with large-scale, interdisciplinary discovery that brings faculty, students, and staff together to explore new worlds of possibilities. Our Discovery Park with more than 10 centers offers interdisciplinary opportunities ranging from the study of learning to nanotechnology, biosciences, information technology, and new fuels that can power the economy while enhancing life on earth.

Purdue is the pole star that sets the compass for our state of Indiana. Purdue energizes Indianas economy. Our faculty, students, and staff assist existing businesses and create new ones. Purdue agricultural extension is active in every county and community in our state. Our land grant mission goes beyond agriculture. It is a spirit of giving back to communities in which every college, school, and department at our university transfers its learning and discovery to improve the economy, quality of life, and culture for people.

Purdue is tomorrows university. I welcome you to join us today.