President’s Letter

In this edition of the magazine, we introduce readers to a major shift underway throughout Aurora University. There was a time when colleges and universities gauged their own quality in terms of assets and activities. Good institutions had large endowments as well as large, bound collections in their libraries. In a sense, everything was about counting and perceived status. Sometimes this kind of thinking produced an “academic arms race” as colleges vied to build ever-more elaborate structures and to offer increasingly esoteric curricula.

AU and George Williams College never were part of this world. Both were teaching institutions that valued the shaping of character and scholarship. They welcomed all and helped each achieve his or her full potential. Now we build upon this rich tradition in important new ways through our student success movement. Our goal in this issue’s cover story is to help you understand exactly what this means for the university we love and the students we serve. I think you will be pleased as you learn more about this work.

Like generations before them, many of today’s AU students arrive on campus filled with aspirations. The pandemic allowed us to see in bright light the challenges that many must overcome during their time at the university. The list is long, ranging from academic under-preparation to financial constraints to overly burdensome family responsibilities to mental health concerns. This often is as true for our graduate and online students as for our traditional undergraduates. As we confront this reality, we want to provide the right combination of support and counsel.

We never want to lower academic standards or to tolerate inappropriate behavior or to look away from injustice. And so we commit ourselves to “leaning in” with the kind of holistic strategies that long have characterized our work together. Then, when the work is complete, we measure results carefully and make improvements. The focus of this evaluative process is on student impact. What do we want our students to learn? Do they fulfill these expectations? To put it simply, we gauge our own effectiveness in light of our students’ success.

I hope that — like me — you find meaning in this purpose. The work is arduous, but when our students succeed … it is glorious indeed. In the months ahead, we will talk with you honestly about a large need of our own. AU desperately needs a new library. The current structure is badly out-of-date and must be replaced soon. We plan to locate a new building right next to the Kimberly and James Hill Center for Student Success at the front door of the institution. I look forward to asking for your help as we ensure that our students succeed for many years to come. The time is now.

Rebecca L. Sherrick, PhD
President