News Release

Excerpts from Dr. Lloyd Axworthy’s State of the University Address

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - SEPTEMBER 13, 2007

WINNIPEG, MB - The following are excerpts from the State of the University Address made today by Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, University of Winnipeg President & Vice-Chancellor:

On The University of Winnipeg's goals…
"Our ultimate goal is to create a truly sustainable campus - a campus that acts upon its local and global responsibilities to protect and enhance the health and well being of humans and ecosystems. In so doing, we will meet the needs of current generations in such a way that ensures that future generations can meet their needs."

On the challenge…
"The tasks I am proposing are large. However, the vision of an ecologically, economically, and socially healthy university community with a thriving culture of cooperation and a notable ability to adapt to the demands of the coming age is a vision dear enough to your hearts that you will come to use it as the lens through which all work undertaken on campus is seen.

"For sustainable development to take place, sustainability must exist on all these levels . . . ecological, economic, social, and cultural sustainability, and must be central to The University of Winnipeg."

On developing partnerships with the community…
"In a budding community that struggles with poverty and crime, The University of Winnipeg is gifted with resources that, if used appropriately and in consultation with community members, have the potential to provide immense benefit to those who live and work around us. The task is how best to combine resources with those in the community in a way that moves both the university and the community closer to its social and ecological sustainability goals."

On the university as an "Educational Precinct"…
"We cannot afford to waste the 'talent capital' and human potential that could help shed light on the challenges ahead. The need to respond to this discouraging reality has been the impetus of a significant number of initiatives currently underway at The University of Winnipeg… to tackle the growing and unmet demand for education of the urban Aboriginal population, who now number more than 70,000 in the City of Winnipeg, along with the large number of newly-arrived ethnic groups, especially from Asian and African countries. There is room for partnerships through joint efforts in research, housing, urban renewal, adult learning, writing and literacy programs, and athletic programs."

On accessible education for all…
"One of the important values of this university is being put to the test - making education an equal opportunity exercise. The recently-released Task Force Report on Access spells out how participation rates of students from low-income areas haven't altered in the past decade. We are mounting an action plan to set targets for substantially changing that condition."

On UWinnipeg as sustainability leader…
"Our university is leading Canadian universities in its commitment to sustainability and sustainable development - along with others such as University of British Columbia and University of Calgary. Commitment to bring social justice and human rights into the purview of our sustainability lens is unique. No other university in North America is seeking to establish a clear framework for socially-sustainable operations. Our new Vice President of Human Resources, Audit, and Sustainability position is unique - one which enjoys oversight and organizational authority."

On recent campus development projects…
"The future of our campus and our community is bright. The economic impact of new development will be significant and that will lead to new business opportunities and partnerships. So, as we transform this university, we are also reinventing this community, city and province. The new campus is just one feature of this transformation."

On research opportunities…
"The research opportunities are endless. But as an administrator, I can seek to create conditions in which engaged research is recognized and encouraged while continuing to support the basic research that acts as the backbone for the academic world. It is up to faculty to identify opportunities and communicate their findings in a way that is both thorough and accessible to non-specialists."

On cutting-edge research and discourse…
"Our new Science Complex will embody this; our older buildings need to change to reflect this too. Reducing the ecological footprint of this institution means demonstrating to students the challenges, successes, and realities of physically changing the way buildings are run and the way waste and energy are minimized and managed."

On the "learning community"…
"This community involves faculty, students, staff, administrators, and the residents, community groups, and business neighbours that make up the neighborhood to which we belong. We see our university as a living laboratory where everything from bricks and mortar to meetings and consultations to research to community engagement and report writing are processes whereby learning can take place - a culture of cooperation and partnerships can form."

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Located in the heart of downtown, The University of Winnipeg is a compact, diverse, multi-cultural academic community committed to access and excellence. Home to more than 9,200 full- and part-time students, UWinnipeg has been ranked by our graduates in the Top-10 of all Canadian universities when asked about their “Entire Educational Experience” (MacLean’s Graduate Survey, June 2006). The Globe & Mail Report Card 2006 gives the University of Winnipeg an overall “A” grade in the areas of quality of education, teaching quality, class sizes, faculty-student interaction and the availability of faculty outside of classroom hours. Find out why. Visit www.uwinnipeg.ca.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Naniece Ibrahim, Communications Officer, University of Winnipeg
P: 204.786.9939, E: n.ibrahim@uwinnipeg.ca