President to discuss his nine-point plan

President Lester Lefton will give his second “State of the University” speech at 4 p.m. today in the Kiva.

“In his address, he’s going to discuss his nine-point plan for this academic year and beyond,” said Tom Neumann, associate vice president for university communications and marketing.

Neumann said the plan includes increasing enrollment and retention, building a welcoming environment and helping students graduate.

Lefton will also talk about new issues, including making the campus more environmentally sustainable and implementing Responsibility Center Management.

“This speech allows the president to share his vision with the university as we approach our centennial,” Neumann said.

In his 2007 speech, Lefton announced plans to simplify scheduling and transferring to different departments and colleges within the university.

He also said he wanted to make Kent State more conducive to diversity. That goal led to the president’s Commission on Inclusion, which meets with focus groups to develop a strategy to make the university more welcoming.

In addition, Lefton said he wanted to add interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and increase research grant applications.

The speech today will be broadcast live on the university’s Web site at http://stream.kent.edu:8800/telestream and will air on WKSU-FM 89.7 at 7 p.m.

Contact administration reporter Ben Wolford at [email protected].