The working framework for my presidency at Cornell University was established through a year-long process known as the "Call to Engagement." In my inaugural address, and in my state of the university address the next day, I challenged the community to deliberate together about a set of fundamental questions confronting the university as it approached its sesquicentennial celebration. Over the course of the next eight months, thousands of members of the community shared reactions and suggestions. I reviewed these responses with the senior academic leadership, the senior administrative leadership, and the board of trustees and then concluded the process in two parts: a "reflections" document synthesizing the responses received, and then a State of the University address that identified institutional priorities going forward.
Inaugural Address, October 16, 2003 (text and video)
State of the University Address, October 17, 2003 (text)
Announcement of Call to Engagement, November 20, 2003 (text)
Reflections on the Call to Engagement, October 4, 2004 (text)
State of the University Address, October 29, 2004 (text and video)
