UM-ANN ARBOR or UVA?

K9Leader
Sun, 11 May 2008 12:04:48 +0000

This was in my local paper this morning and has an interesting relevance to this discussion:



For UD, a bold plan to achieve first rank
Harker outlines vision of a school on par with best public universities
By RACHEL KIPP, The News Journal

NEWARK – Standing before more than 1,000 alumni and friends Saturday, University of Delaware President Patrick Harker announced a bold new agenda for the state’s largest public university, the first step in a plan designed to stake a claim as one of the nation’s best colleges.

Few comments irk Harker more than hearing that UD is a “hidden gem” or a “best-kept secret.” His proposals are designed to raise the school’s image in the minds of students, parents, legislators, donors and businesses.

His vision includes construction of top-notch research and academic facilities; more cutting-edge research; a larger and more vibrant population of graduate and professional students; innovative financial aid programs to help qualified Delawareans more easily pay for their education and a campus that embraces “green” technology in thought and practice.

In achieving these goals, the university will follow paths taken by schools with reputations to which they aspire – including the University of Virginia and the University of Michigan – and it will become more aggressive about marketing the school’s strengths. A year from now, Harker intends to kick off a major fundraising campaign.



President Harker came to UD last summer from UPenn, where he was Dean of the Wharton School. Just thought it interesting the two specific examples were UVa and Michigan.