Looking ahead to the year of academic momentum
Dear Lumberjacks,
Thank you to all who joined in person and online yesterday morning for our annual University Convocation. I am inspired and invigorated by all that we have accomplished at NAU together—building on a 124-year legacy of leadership at this noble institution—and look forward to working alongside each of you to continue this crucial work in the year ahead.
I encourage you to view the full recording of the University Convocation online.
In addition, I am pleased to share with our university community the first report of the University Strategic Planning Advisory Board (USPAB), which documents the many actions undertaken at all levels in support of our strategic plan, NAU 2025 – Elevating Excellence. Clearly, the list of accomplishments is impressive and gives us a strong foundation for academic year 2023-24.
Building on this good work, I shared during Convocation my challenge to our NAU community: together and as a necessary step toward awarding high-value credentials to more than 100,000 people by the year 2035, we must structure and prioritize our work such that over the next three years we increase the number of students earning at least 30 credits per year by at least 10 percentage points—contributing to the academic momentum of the students we serve.
As the year unfolds, I will share more about academic momentum and its critical role in ensuring we deliver equitable postsecondary value. The President’s Cabinet also is committed to infusing this priority throughout their work.
We have much to celebrate, and I cannot wait to advance this priority and welcome back our students for what will surely be another phenomenal academic year. I am so proud to be a Lumberjack!
In partnership,
José Luis Cruz Rivera
President