Welcome to a New Academic Year

I encourage you to attend our Fall Convocation on Tuesday, August 27 at 7:00 p.m., in the Sandy and John Black Pavilion. Our speaker will be Arthur C. Brooks, best-selling author of “Build the Life You Want,” this year’s Common Reading Experience selection. The book focuses on four pillars that research shows matter for happiness: family, friendship, work, and faith. It offers practical wisdom to our new students who are beginning their legacy-building journey at Ole Miss.

Fall Convocation is also important because it marks the beginning of our students’ academic journey. During the event, we charge the students to follow the UM Creed, which honors respect, fairness, civility, integrity, academic honesty, and academic freedom. The charge is always meaningful, but perhaps no more so than during an election year, when it provides a valuable opportunity for reflection and thoughtfulness in discourse that benefits us all.

Another key date is approaching: the fall faculty meeting is Friday, August 30, at 2:30 p.m. in the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. We will share information on new programs, facilities, resources, and talent. For our faculty, I’m excited about the research you’ve been pursuing, amazed by your creative achievement, and confident you will continue to encourage and nurture our students as they grow academically and as leaders.

Before closing, I want to acknowledge the university’s ongoing growth in enrollment. Our growth gives us much to celebrate, as it reflects that we are a thriving institution and a prominent choice for a college education. While this growth brings challenges, it also offers opportunities to enhance our programs and broaden our impact. Your flexibility and dedication to our students will help us navigate this growth together.

I’m grateful for your commitment to our mission, and I’m inspired by how you uplift and shape our students. This fall, I encourage you to invest in your health and well-being, find new connections in our community, and enjoy all that Oxford and the university offer. Here's to a successful and rewarding fall semester!