Concordia Journal Home > Archives > September 3, 2009 issue >

A Message from the President 

Dear fellow Concordians,

Welcome back as we begin another academic year at Concordia! As I enter my second year as President, I reflect with pride on what we have accomplished together and look forward to the exciting year ahead. With your support, I am determined to maintain the momentum.

The official opening of the beautiful new JMSB building is only weeks away. Not content to rest on our laurels, however, we are forging ahead with new projects. We are in the process of erecting the Stinger Dome, an air-supported structure allowing the university to run athletics and recreational activities year-round on the south playing field at Loyola. And, as you will note from the temporary disruption to pedestrians, motorists and cyclists, work continues to enhance the downtown urban landscape that is Quartier Concordia. Our Grey Nuns project, too, will be moving forward and we will soon be announcing the construction of three major research facilities on the Loyola Campus, funded by the federal and provincial governments.

We anticipate many more important announcements concerning new programs, academic initiatives and successful fundraising efforts.

As always, it is our vibrant campus life that makes the fall so special. Student Orientation kicks off an action-packed month that includes Homecoming, the 20th anniversary edition of the Shuffle followed by the annual President’s barbecue. Stay tuned for a myriad of social and academic activities that contribute to the dynamic atmosphere of our university. New this year is an initiative from the Dean of Students office – the We Value campaign – which you will be hearing more about in the Journal and online.

Last year, we adopted Reaching Up, Reaching Out [PDF], a strategic framework to guide growth and development at Concordia over the next five years. Now, we are turning our attention to its implementation. Forty-four senior administrators met for two days on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 to set priorities and ensure that the initiatives of all key areas of the university are in line with the overall framework. I look forward to sharing our ideas and proposed actions with you in the weeks to come.

Thank you all for your support and contributions to the success of Concordia. I wish you all a productive and satisfying year. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to newcomers to the university community.

As always, please feel free to write to me (President@concordia.ca) or to stop me on campus to share your thoughts in person.

Judith Woodsworth
President & Vice-Chancellor