The Griffon News

written by former MSWU president James Scalon

“This is an exceptional university!”  The chairperson of an accrediting team that recently visited the campus for five days used these words to describe Western.  He could not have said it better.  And as I prepare to “graduate” from Western on June 30, I can think of no better summary description of what soon will be my “alma mater.”

Western is “exceptional.”  Exceptional in the dedication of faculty and staff to students and their learning, both inside and outside the classroom.  Exceptional in the focus on applied learning for students through internships, student-faculty research and community service.  Exceptional in the results generated by students because of this dedication and this focus on applied learning.

In fact, Western is ahead of its time, leading the way for other universities to follow in its emphasis on the application of classroom learning to the world well beyond the classroom, leading the way in producing excellent results for students and the University.

Last year, for example, more than 80 percent of the students graduating from Western had at least one significant applied learning experience prior to graduation.  During the year, more than 2,000 of our 5,300 students were involved in internships, student-faculty research projects or service-learning activities.  Students applied what they learned in the classroom in business and industry, local and state government, human service agencies, schools, hospitals and research laboratories.  Last year alone, students presented the results of their applied learning more than 700 times in local, state, multi-state regional, national and even international competi­tions and conferences.  All of this places Western far above the norm.

In recent years, the results of applied learning for students have likewise been exceptional.  During competitions and conferences, many Western students have received top awards for the quality of their work.  These students come from the arts and humanities, sciences and social sciences and technical and professional studies programs.  Equaling or besting their peers from well-recognized universities across the country, from Harvard to Purdue to Berkeley, Western’s students have clearly demonstrated their quality, the quality of the faculty and staff who work with them, and the quality of Missouri Western State University.  Again, results that distinguish this university.

Students and university employees have also contributed significantly to our region through voluntary public service.  During the past two years, for instance, the people of Western provided more than 130,000 hours of service beyond the campus.  This exceptional level of service merited national recognition for two years in succession, when the Corporation for National and Community Service named the University to President Bush’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, calling Western a “Campus of Character.”
It has been my great privilege to be a part of Western during the past seven years.  My privilege to be one of you.  Thank you for the privilege of serving you.  I will always be proud to call this exceptional university my “alma mater.”
-Dr. James Scanlon