Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / May 19, 2018, edition 1 / Page 3
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COMMENCEMENT SATURDAY MAY 19,2D18 looking BACK AT PRESIDENT BOOK’S FIRST SEMESTER ii IBook looks forward to her next [year as president, moving forward [with Elon’s Master Plan [Maggie Brown I Politics Editor I @fTi3ggieabrown_ lust 65 days into her presidency at Elon University, Connie Book still maintains the same positive energy she showed on day one. 1 Since March 1 — her first day as presi dent — Book has met with dozens of stu dents, affinity groups and community members, ranging from LGBTQLA-identi- fied students at Elon, to the board of trust ees to local children at Elon Elementary. And to top it off, she traveled to Phil adelphia to support the [womens basketball team at the Colonial Athletic As sociation tournament and participated in fundraising [events in Charlotte, Atlan ta and Raleigh. 1 Book says she loves the high-pace action of the job and makes sure mentally, physically and intellectually ready to perform. To do that, she 'keeps up with her fitness ■routine and sets aside time every morning to read Jlocal newspapers — in- Icluding The Pendulum on Wednesdays — and The [Chronicle on Higher Edu cation. She takes this role seriously, and in order to do that, she said she has to be prepared. “You have to be consistent and keep physical and emotional energy up,” Book said. “I need to have enough awareness about ail of these issues that impact higher education that I can think about Elon and whats our position.” In March, Book told Elon News Network she would “be doing a lot of listening” in her first semester to reacquaint herself to Elon after she spent almost three years as provost of The Citadel. Now, as the semester comes to a close, the summer and fall will be her action months. She’ll be attending a workshop at Har vard University this summer, which is de signed to help newly appointed university presidents. She hopes the relationships she forms here will help make decisions and for mulate ideas for the future. When Book returns for the summer, she will continue to maintain and improve Elon University’s strategic plan in the com ing years. The goals outlined in Elon’s plan are projected to be achieved in the next 20 years. Book won’t be working alone to achieve these goals for the university. In strategic planning, you don’t often have the answer and how to achieve it,” Book said. “You just know this is an area you need to focus on, and then you get a group of smart people around the table and devel- WEWANTTO MAKE SURE THAT ITS A GOOD MATCH WITH THE STUDENTS, THAT ■ THEY EMBRACE ';0UR MISSIONING OURVAEUESASAN INSTITUTION CONNIE BOOK PRESIDENT OF ELON UNIVERSITY The plan implemented by former pres ident Leo Lambert shows a 5-percent in crease in diversity since 2010. Book wants to be able to gradually in crease diversity at the school, starting with recruitment. For undergraduate enrollment of the class of 2022, Book said the goal of the university is to offer more opportunities for financial aid and to recruit students from more diverse cities. “That’s the new plan. So where do we go from here? Where do we need to be? That will be an ongoing critical part of Elon’s future because of the cost of private educa tion,” Book said. Ail revenue beyond operating costs made by the university’s new hotel, “The Inn at Elon,” will fund scholarship opportunities for students. Book said she expects more people will want to attend the hotel knowing it benefits students directly. “I do think people will — knowing it goes to scholarship support — people will say, ‘Okay, let’s all stay there rather than stay at the Hilton or the Hampton Inn,”’ Book said. Donors are one of the most important parts in building the university. Book said she hopes to prioritize growing en dowment of the univer sity in her presidency without taking her eyes off the students. But Book said the key factor in the university’s success overall has always been students — both prospective students and current students. “I will need to prioritize ... that we are recruiting students and that they are our fu ture,” Book said. “We want to make sure that it’s a good match with the students, that they embrace our mission and our values as an institution.” MAGGIE BROWN 1 POLITICS EDITOR Above: President Book in her offie, discussing her goals for the future. Left: Book is wel comed by faculty members and fami lies at a tailgaite in Jordan Gym. Below: President Book, accompanied by Vice President Emerita Jo Watts Williams ’55, and freshman class President Cam Vladdell, plants K«r oaksapfing. ' GRACE MORRIS I NEWS DIRECTOR Op a strategy with objectives on how to do that.” Because of Book’s previous experience ffie university, she feels more obligated to finish Lambert’s mission. It was very nice to have had relation ships in place from that work and leave 3nd come back and see how the work was progressing and to hear people talk about 'vhere they want to go next,” Book said. JESSICA RAPFOGEL | ELON NEWS NETWORK
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