Dan Nadler said President Perry was thoughtful about Eastern’s past when shaping Eastern’s future.

Nadler, vice president for student affairs, said the priorities listed in President Perry’s campus-wide email were bold and appropriate for the university. Perry sent out the email on Jan. 15 that detailed the goals he wants the university to achieve during his time as Eastern’s president.

“President Perry did an excellent job of capturing the culture and future needs of the university,” Nadler said.

Nadler and the other vice presidents of Eastern met with their respective departments earlier this month to discuss and plan for the priorities listed in Perry’s email.

Perry’s priorities listed in the email are: to enhance excellence in faculty scholarship and teaching, to enhance service and leadership opportunities for students, to enhance fine arts programming, to enhance study abroad opportunities, and to enhance honors programs.

The overall goal Perry wants achieved is to become best of class in integrating the academic and personal development of students.

Best of class is when a university is regarded as best in the nation in terms of what the university values most.

Nadler said he discussed the priorities listed in Perry’s email and the best of class goal with the student affairs department. He added, in regards to the priorities, enhancing service and leadership opportunities for students garnered special attention during the discussion.

“Discussions are underway, and ideas are emerging,” Nadler said. “We are focusing on the planning process and will be ready to move forward with plans for the Fall 2008 semester.”

Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, had been in conversation with Perry about his email before the drafting of the letter took place. He said, during that time, he met with the Council of Deans to discuss the overall direction the email was likely going.

Lord added the overall goal and priorities listed in the email were already taking place within the academic affairs department prior to the release of the email.

“.We focused our discussions on how to refine what we are already doing to advance them,” he said. “Specifically, the five priority areas have seen and will continue to see significant effort from the deans and the academic leadership team.”

The strength of the Honors College, the growth in Study Abroad, the emphasis on undergraduate scholarship, and the planning for the Doudna Fine Arts Center are all ongoing initiatives, Lord added.

Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations, said her department is committed to helping the campus achieve Perry’s priorities through the department’s interactions with donors, alumni, legislators and friends of Eastern.

She said the discussion within her department centered on how the department can support every priority listed in the email.

“His plan to invest in marketing and fundraising will directly impact our ability to successfully support the five priorities,” Nilsen said.

She added Alumni Services is coordinating an alumni service day with Eastern alums throughout the country that will coincide with Panther Service Day in April. The event supports Perry’s second priority, Nilsen said.

University Marketing and Communications are designing the promotional materials for Doudna, which supports Perry’s priority to enhance fine arts programming, she added.

“His letter captured the heart of what we do so well at EIU, and set a direction to move us forward in the future,” Nilsen said. “It is an exciting time for our university.”

Jeff Cooley, vice president for business affairs, could not be reached for comment.

Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or at sdibenedetto@eiu.edu.