A WORD FROM
President Richard Carvajal
President's Update
December 2023
Dear Blazer Nation,
With the holidays upon us, the fall semester is coming to an end. December sure got here fast! It is finals week, and I want to wish our students and faculty much success as they wrap up their classwork. There is plenty still happening on campus, and I have some big updates to share with you.
VSU 2030
We are hard at work on VSU2030, our strategic planning exercise. Several listening sessions have been held across campus, an expanded University Council Plus has been charged, we have gotten input from content experts, and the Cabinet and I have reviewed all ideas. Those efforts have led to four major Goals, which include:
· Create Career Ready Graduates
· Build on our Foundation
· Maximize Growth
· Invest in our Future
Please respond to the survey Chief Officer Melinda Harbaugh emailed out on Friday, Dec. 1. We are asking for input on these goals and suggested strategies on how to accomplish them. The survey closes on Friday, Dec. 15. Once that input is gathered, the expanded University Council Plus will convene in early 2024 to go over your ideas. Then a final VSU2030 plan will be completed.
Fall Commencement
Fall Commencement is this weekend, and I am incredibly excited to celebrate our students who have worked so hard these past few years. We are all here to get them to the finish line, and this is one of my favorite events each fall and spring. We are also ready to welcome all our families and guests to Valdosta and to our beautiful campus. For those graduating or attending, you can find ceremony details, the live stream link, the digital program, and other important information on our Commencement webpage. The link is below.
Blazer Football
Congratulations to the VSU Football team! They had a terrific season and made all of Blazer Nation proud. I am incredibly grateful for Coach Tremaine Jackson, his entire coaching staff, and his wonderful team of student-athletes. They worked very hard this season, and I know 2024 is going to be another fantastic year of Blazer football.
Happy Holidays
We had a great turnout this year at Lighting of the Palms, our official holiday season kickoff each November. It was a nice break from studying for our students, and I spotted many faculty and staff celebrating with their family and friends. There are many other community holiday events happening this month as well, and I hope you'll support our local businesses and enjoy this memorable time of the year.
In Closing
As 2023 comes to a close and we get ready to ring in 2024, I want to personally thank each of you for your support of VSU this year. Working together, we are overcoming a variety of challenges facing all of higher education, and VSU remains a wonderful institution because of you! I hope you have some time to relax, refresh, and enjoy time with your families this holiday season. I look forward to another great semester when we return in January.
Go Blazers!
Dr. Richard Carvajal
President