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Feb.
14, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) --
Molly Corbett Broad said an advertisement seeking
a leader of a major university in today's world might
read, "Walks on water; doesn't disturb the fish."
After
appreciative laughter from an inaugural convocation
audience of about 400 in UK's Singletary Center for
the Arts, the University of North Carolina System
president then presented an outline of ways she believes
the University of Kentucky can compete for a top rung
on public university research ladder.
First,
she said with a wry nod to UK President Lee T. Todd
Jr., "There must be a strong and growing fundraising,
Mr. President, from alumni, friends and corporations."
To compete
with the UNCs, Broad said UK also must:
-- Engage
in entrepreneurship.
-- Diversify
the university's sources of revenue.
"It is
no secret," she said, "that universities are supplementing
their state funds with private giving." She said UNC
system attracted $160 million in private giving last
year and now has an endowment of $1.1 billion.
-- Recruit
top professors through endowed chairs. She noted that
the gap between the salaries of professors in public
universities and private colleges is now $22,000 per
year. UNC, she said, received its first major private
gift for endowed professorships in 1997 and has now
grown that to 330 endowed professorships. "And we
want 200 more."
-- Demonstrate
to state leaders that support of the university is
imperative for both the university and the state's
success. Invest in innovative research in key areas
that could lead to economic growth in the state.
-- Seek
partnerships to enhance the university's research
and economic development efforts. As
an example of such efforts, she said UNC recently
partnered with IBM and is developing a "biogrid" that
combines the computing power of IBM and UNC to handle
the "massive" information being generated in the area
of genomics.
UNC would
also welcome a collaboration with UK, Broad told an
audience that included Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton and
Gordon Davies, president of the Kentucky Council on
Postsecondary Education.
To additionally
assure its academic success, UK should also promote
equality and promote a liberal education for the state's
citizens.
Lastly,
she advised, "Never lose touch with your historic
roots."
Broad's
convocation remarks launched a two-day inaugural celebration
at UK for President Todd that will include Friday's
formal inauguration ceremony in Memorial Coliseum.
Broad,
has been president of the 16-campus UNC system that
includes UNC-Chapel Hill, since 1997. She was introduced
at the convocation, following greetings from President
Davies, by Michael T. Nietzel, UK Acting Provost.
Other Thursday
inaugural activities included receptions, tours, literature
readings and music. The King Alumni House, Stuckert
Building (Career Center), Lucille Caudill Little Library,
and the UK Art Museum all featured special offerings.
An Inaugural
Gala Concert featuring faculty and students from the
UK Opera Theatre and the UK Symphony Orchestra was
held in the afternoon at the Singletary Center.
At 9 p.m.,
a Presidential Inaugural Student Gala was set to begin
in the Grand Ballroom of the Radisson Plaza Hotel
in Lexington.
More than
1,200 students, faculty and staff and the members
of UK's first family were expected at the semi-formal
event.
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