St. Cloud State Spring Convocation was held Jan. 2-6 with a focus on individualized student success, a focus of It’s Time – the University’s strategic frame for the future. President Wacker welcomed back faculty and staff for the start of spring semester with her Convocation address on Jan. 5. She gave some highlights of key accomplishments for the 2022-2023 academic year so far and thanked faculty and staff for their efforts to innovate and develop new processes in support of students as they progress to meet their educational goals.
St. Cloud State President Robbyn Wacker, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kim Green and Student Government President Arslan Malik addressed more than 150 faculty and staff attending in person in the Atwood Memorial Center Ballroom and more than 200 virtual attendants.
Dr. Greer opened the convocation address by introducing herself and expressing her excitement over her time at St. Cloud State as our interim chief academic officer. Dr. Greer emphasized her plans to serve as a support to campus leaders, faculty and staff as the search for permanent leadership is underway.
“There is a deep care for students and a deep care for the community (at St. Cloud State),” said Dr. Greer. “I want to help bring those together and serve through teaching, through research and through service here at the University. I really look forward to working with all of you and getting to know you as quickly as possible.”
In his welcoming remarks, Malik provided a student perspective on the many innovations and student focused efforts underway on campus. On behalf of students, he expressed high praises for the hard work employees are doing to ease registrations and other processes to better serve our students.
“Faculty and staff, on behalf of all students, I would like to say thank you. Thank you for playing an integral part in our time at St. Cloud State,” he said. “Your work is nothing short of amazing. I hope you are all proud of your work and ask that you take a few minutes to connect on what you have accomplished over the last semester. Your continued leadership and support to the students at St. Cloud State is exemplary.
“Through your hard work and dedication, we are able to achieve goals and continue to make our community a place of excellence. Thank you for all that you do.”
At the start of her address, President Wacker welcomed faculty and staff back for the semester with praise for some key initiatives of last fall and excitement for future developments as faculty and staff innovate and improve the student experience.
“Spring Convocation is a great time to look back on fall semester and take a few minutes to identify some of our accomplishments,” President Wacker said. “This gives us the chance to acknowledge the great things that are happening here at St. Cloud State. And, they are happening because of you.”
President Wacker went on to look ahead to spring semester, discussing some values and goals for the University including elevating the reputation and visibility of St. Cloud State, investing in opportunities for program and faculty innovation, embedding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion values and practices into the fabric of the institution and campus community, investing in action that make both immediate and long-term improvement to enrollment and retention, and working towards long-term fiscal stability and investments that benefit everyone.
President Wacker continued by giving an update on the University’s It’s Time work while shaping the future of St. Cloud State behind a bold, innovative and focused approach, the University’s strategy to support individualizing student success, and more. She concluded by thanking faculty and staff for their commitment to St. Cloud State as the University looks ahead to another successful semester.
“Every Husky matters. What you do matters. I don’t want us to ever lose sight of what a difference we make,” President Wacker said. “We do change lives and we give people opportunities that they would never have without your support and without us doing what we do every day.”
At the conclusion of the address, an open forum conversation was held in the Atwood Ballroom discussing the year ahead and the ways the University can continue to be innovative and creative while serving students.
