Welcome from Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Allow me to welcome you to your new position in the first year of your career at Purdue University Calumet.  This will be a journey we all take together.  Our journey here in Northwest Indiana will undoubtedly provide us challenges, opportunities, and new experiences as we work to fulfill the University’s vision and mission.  As we grow in our roles, I expect our years here to be filled with discovery, achievements, collegiality, fulfillment and, hopefully, some fun.

I have the same expectations of myself as I have of each of you as we meet the challenges of our strategic goals.  We are expected to provide our students with the tools they need to become the educated workforce and the future leaders of our society.  Our students are expected to fulfill the future needs of our region and nation to compete in a global community.  We will engage with employers and community leaders to enhance knowledge and improve skills to stimulate much needed economic growth in our region.  We will incorporate an ethical approach in our teaching activities as we instill integrity, respect for individuality and quality in all activities. 

A major responsibility not to be overlooked as you are immersed in the challenge of educating your students is your own personal and professional development.  I absolutely encourage your commitment to provide our students with a learning environment and experiences that offer high quality academic programs second to none.  However, I expect that you will also develop and pursue engagement with your disciplines beyond the classroom including research activities and scholarship; publishing in peer-reviewed publications, presentations at conferences, and working with outside groups and communities where your expertise in your discipline can be applied.  I anticipate your involvement in professional and public service as you pursue constructive collaborations within our campus and external community.

As you go forward and look over the landscape of expectation for faculty that are associated with teaching, discipline engagement, and service, please remember that these elements are complementary and reinforce each other.  These are some of the parts of the whole that make a university faculty member – but not all.  A faculty member’s passion for their discipline is the ingredient that enables a faculty member to be greater than the sum of the parts. For that reason, I urge you to let your students and colleagues see and hear your passion for the subjects you teach and discipline you love.   If you are passionate and excited about what you do, others will be, too. 

I look forward to working with you as we embrace our goals and move forward to many productive years.