Alabama State University News August 15, 2012 Faculty Welcomed by Outgoing and Incoming Presidents by Tina Joly Outgoing President William H. Harris and President-Elect Joseph H. Silver Sr. greeted ASU faculty members during the annual opening conference. *** Nearly 300 faculty members attended ASU's annual faculty opening conference held in the Ralph D. Abernathy Auditorium on Wednesday, Aug. 15. The theme of this year's conference was "Improving Academic Quality and Accountability." Dr. Sharron Herron-Williams, interim associate provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, delivered opening remarks and told the 25 new faculty members present that she is pleased they chose to join the Hornet Nation. "You could have elected to be anywhere else and you chose us. This year, we want to focus on improving academic quality and accountability. We have new programs, we have new faculty, and now we need to re-examine what we have to do to make sure we are giving our best to our students and make sure we are ready for the challenges that are presented in this new global market," Herron-Williams said. Dr. William H. Harris, who will retire as ASU's president next month, received two standing ovations when he delivered the President's message. Harris began by welcoming president-elect Joseph H. Silver Sr. and congratulating him on his appointment. Harris then told faculty members that they hold the future of the University in their hands. "We have, during the last two decades, been involved in making the University a new place, and we have stepped the pace up during the last four years. We have added new programs and facilities and brought in new ideas and a lot of those new ideas come from you," Harris said. "I request that you dedicate yourselves to making sure the future is bright for our students because of what you do on a daily basis." Silver, who begins his term as ASU's 13th president on September 17, told the faculty he will need their help in order to move the University forward. "I believe in shared governance. I am not Superman, and I cannot do this by myself. I wouldn't even attempt to come here and think that I can move this University by myself," Silver said. "This institution is a community, a family and a group of people that has insight beyond any comparison that we know of. If we are to continue to move the needle, we have to move it together." The faculty also received an academic update from Dr. Alfred Smith, who recently retired as interim provost and vice for Academic Affairs, as part of an inaugural portion of the opening convocation called "The Last Lecture." Each year, a retired faculty member will be asked to address former colleagues during the faculty opening conference. Later in the day, Silver had scheduled two "listening sessions," offering faculty and staff an opportunity to hear from their new president and to share their thoughts about the University. Silver also will host sessions with the community and alumni: Thursday, Sept. 6 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. Business and Community Session 7 - 8:15 p.m. Alumni Session For more information, call 334-229-6795. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.