The Rogers Report February 2018

As we close the books on another successful semester, students are in the midst of studying for final exams, preparing for commencement, summer courses, internships or other jobs.

Looking over your commencement photos and the memories you shared last month, I've been reflecting on my message to the graduating students. I believe that, as a public institution of higher learning, our success is measured by ensuring our graduates are empowered to control their destiny. Some call this "social mobility." We want our students to have the opportunity to achieve their dreams. As I hope you know, your success is our success. Keep BGSU close and know that we are always here to welcome you home. In just a few weeks, we will officially welcome more than 2,000 graduates into the alumni network, and I cannot wait to see what they do next.

Save the date on Tuesday, May 15, for a phone call from BGSU! That evening, I am hopping on the line to talk with our alumni, friends and supporters about the direction of BGSU and look forward to taking live questions. If you don't receive a call from us, you can dial in at 866-478-3358. You can also participate on Twitter by submitting your question using #BGSUCall.

Also in May, I will be introducing a video series to accompany my Rogers Report. It is my goal to highlight areas that make this University so special. You will hear directly from students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners and learn some interesting things along the way.

Until then, enjoy some of my favorite stories and highlights from this past month!

Regards,

Rodney K. Rogers, Ph.D. '81
President
Bowling Green State University

On April 3, BGSU showed the world the difference we can make in One Day. I want to express my sincere thanks to all those who gave during the campaign to raise $388,654 in support of our students! Not only did we surpass last year's total by more than $60,000, Falcons in all 50 states stepped up and committed to doing their part in changing lives for the world. Opportunities like One day advance our comprehensive campaign to support scholarships, named professorships and leadership positions, academic programs and facilities. Our priority is to position BGSU for better days to come.

Academy Award-winning actress Eva Marie Saint '46, '82 (Hon.) recently returned to campus for Bravo! BGSU, a celebration of the arts to raise student scholarship funds. Famed for her starring roles in "On the Waterfront" in 1954, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and Alfred Hitchcock's "North by Northwest," Eva Marie got her start in theatre at BGSU. It was so great having her back home. She spent several days visiting with students, faculty, staff and alumni and topped her visit by accepting BGSU's Lifetime Achievement Award. An honor held by only two other Falcons, it recognizes her commitment to her alma mater and to the future of BGSU.

This month, the College of Business hosted its annual Entrepreneurship Week focused on creativity and innovation through events like The Hatch, a "Shark Tank"-style format where students pitch their business ideas to a group of alumni investors. This year's Hatchlings represent two countries, four states and five colleges within the University. Their business ideas focus on everything from sports, childhood development and gerontology to nutrition, wearable technology and better animal care. To date, more than $500,000 has been committed to student startups.

BGSU has more than 175,000 living alumni, who have all had their own impact on the University and in our society. Every day, I get to meet them, and these outstanding individuals remind me of the role that BGSU plays in the lives of our students. This month, we honored 10 graduates, who were chosen to represent each of the University's colleges. In addition to going far in their careers, this year's honorees have contributed their time and talents to many worthwhile causes and organizations, leaving a positive and lasting impact on institutions and communities all around the country.

There will be a lot of construction occurring on campus this summer, starting with the razing of Harshman Quadrangle residence hall. Harshman, which has housed thousands of students over its 50 years, closed last May. While many alumni have fond memories of their time at Harshman, it no longer meets the needs of today's students. There are no permanent plans for the site. For the time being, the area will be landscaped and used as green space. University Advancement will be preserving bricks for alumni to purchase as a keepsake. Details on how to purchase a brick will be announced soon.