Big thinking starts here
Issue date: 11/13/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
11/13/09 - As the University of Rhode Island's Big Thinkers Series' newest "big thinker," President David Dooley is busy traveling the United States in an effort to introduce himself to alumni.
To begin the Big Thinkers Series, Dooley spoke in Boston on Sep. 24. His next appearance for the series is scheduled for Nov. 19 in Washington, D.C.
And while it is important to maintain relations with alumni, Dooley has not done enough to communicate with the URI's current students.
In his blog entry from Oct. 28 regarding Homecoming weekend, Dooley wrote that strengthening the sense of community on campus would make URI more successful.
He can start doing this by speaking more on campus.
While Dooley has been making public appearances for alumni, he has used the Internet as a main source of communication with students, by updating his blog and addressing students via e-mail.
E-mail and blog posts are efficient ways of reaching a mass amount of people, but do not convey the same message as speaking in person does.
In the same blog entry, Dooley wrote about the accomplishments made by alumni, but made no mention of the successes of current students.
He wrote, "[Alumni's] stories - their testimonies - are, by far, the most compelling evidence to the quality of the University of Rhode Island and the great value of an education here."
Dooley should not judge the value of education solely by what alumni have done, but should also recognize the accomplishments of current URI students. He can do this, strengthen the URI community and maintain alumni relations at the same time by speaking to students and former students together.
In between speaking in Boston, Washington, D.C. and New York City for the Big Thinkers Series, Dooley should speak right here in Kingston, R.I.
Uniting alumni with current students would build upon the sense of community that Dooley seeks. And collaborating the ideas and thoughts between both groups would further increase the overall success of URI.
According to the Big Thinkers Series' page on the URI Web site, Dooley will "share his vision for the future."
URI's future begins with its current students on campus. And though it's important to inform alumni of where the university is going, current students should be spoken to in person as well.
To begin the Big Thinkers Series, Dooley spoke in Boston on Sep. 24. His next appearance for the series is scheduled for Nov. 19 in Washington, D.C.
And while it is important to maintain relations with alumni, Dooley has not done enough to communicate with the URI's current students.
In his blog entry from Oct. 28 regarding Homecoming weekend, Dooley wrote that strengthening the sense of community on campus would make URI more successful.
He can start doing this by speaking more on campus.
While Dooley has been making public appearances for alumni, he has used the Internet as a main source of communication with students, by updating his blog and addressing students via e-mail.
E-mail and blog posts are efficient ways of reaching a mass amount of people, but do not convey the same message as speaking in person does.
In the same blog entry, Dooley wrote about the accomplishments made by alumni, but made no mention of the successes of current students.
He wrote, "[Alumni's] stories - their testimonies - are, by far, the most compelling evidence to the quality of the University of Rhode Island and the great value of an education here."
Dooley should not judge the value of education solely by what alumni have done, but should also recognize the accomplishments of current URI students. He can do this, strengthen the URI community and maintain alumni relations at the same time by speaking to students and former students together.
In between speaking in Boston, Washington, D.C. and New York City for the Big Thinkers Series, Dooley should speak right here in Kingston, R.I.
Uniting alumni with current students would build upon the sense of community that Dooley seeks. And collaborating the ideas and thoughts between both groups would further increase the overall success of URI.
According to the Big Thinkers Series' page on the URI Web site, Dooley will "share his vision for the future."
URI's future begins with its current students on campus. And though it's important to inform alumni of where the university is going, current students should be spoken to in person as well.
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