End of Semester Greeting

Dear UMD Campus Community:

I enjoyed seeing many of you at the End of Semester Buffet and Town Hall meeting yesterday. It was great having so many faculty, staff, and student leaders gathered together. Again this year, you were generous in your donations at the buffet. You contributed $836.63 to the Union Gospel Mission, 95 pounds of food to Champs Cupboard, and 317 pounds of food to the CHUM Food Shelf. Thank you for your generosity to our students and community neighbors in need.

2013 brought a number of opportunities and challenges to UMD and to all of higher education. Our accomplishments far outweighed the challenges, and you responded in ways that will ensure our ongoing growth in quality and stature. Change is difficult for us all, but as President John F. Kennedy said, "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." We have the capacity to create an exciting future for UMD, as we work together to address our budget issues and to remain focused on what we do best - educating students to be leaders and globally engaged citizens.

I wish you all a happy holiday season and a peaceful and joyful new year!

I look forward to great things in 2014, and I am proud to be your Chancellor and your colleague.

Sincerely,

Lynn Black