President Dean shares his monthly update

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

Welcome back everyone! I hope that you had a restful and peaceful break, and are feeling reinvigorated as we begin the new semester. It is wonderful to see everyone heading back to their classes and meetings during this first week of the new term.

The annual State of the University address is one of our long-time UNH traditions; it provides the president the opportunity each year to sum up the accomplishments of the previous year and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. This year the SOTU will be on February 14 at 12:40 p.m. in the Strafford Room in the MUB. It will also be available online. This year we are inviting everyone to submit questions ahead of time.

The Board of Trustees recently approved moving forward with a transformation of our business systems to a modern enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. This will be a multi-year effort. Planning begins this spring to deliver first capabilities in late 2024 and finishing during calendar year 2027. The extended time to complete this effort will ensure we are able to collaborate thoroughly with stakeholders across the university system on key needs, complete comprehensive system testing and make available detailed customer training. We will keep you posted on our progress.

The University System of New Hampshire (USNH) has submitted our two-year budget proposal to the governor, including a request for increased funding for UNH, Plymouth State University and Keene State College. This process will also involve the N.H. Senate and House of Representatives and will play out over the next few months. We are working hard to ensure that all decision makers understand the importance of increased funding to our students, faculty and staff, and to the many companies who depend on USNH institutions to produce graduates prepared to enhance the New Hampshire workforce.

UNH has joined over 100 campuses across the United States by becoming a member of the U.S. Health Promoting Campuses Network (USHPCN). Joining the USHPCN will assist UNH in successfully embedding well-being into the culture of our campus by prioritizing compassion, health and well-being, social justice, equity and inclusion as a part of our values and mission for our entire community. Kathleen Grace-Bishop, director of education and promotion and interim senior director of Health & Wellness, will serve as the UNH liaison to this group.  

To students: You may not usually click through the link below to view my reading list. But if Judge Broderick visited your high school when you were there, you may want to click through below to read about his book.

All best wishes for a successful semester,

James W. Dean Jr.

President

P.S.—If you are interested in what I have been reading, please click here.