Welcome to the 2005–06 Academic Year

August 31, 2005

Dear Rutgers Faculty and Staff:

Welcome to a new academic year at Rutgers. I hope you enjoyed a rewarding and refreshing summer. My thoughts are with those of you who have family and friends in the Gulf Coast states affected by Hurricane Katrina.

As we begin the 2005-06 year, I wish you success in your work and appreciate your efforts to make Rutgers a welcoming place for all our new students, faculty, and staff.

Let me highlight two important events in September.

As you know, Rutgers has the pleasure of welcoming Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, for a public lecture on Sunday, September 25, at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway. Recipient of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, he will speak on the topic of "Peace, War, and Reconciliation."

I also invite you to attend my Annual Address to the University Community, which will take place on Friday, September 16, at the University Senate meeting. The speech, entitled "A Year of Transformation," will start at 1:10 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the Rutgers Student Center on College Avenue in New Brunswick. Come hear about the university's plans for all three campuses in the coming year and ask questions on any Rutgers topic. For those who cannot attend in person, my speech will be webcast live that day on the Rutgers website.

You have my best wishes for a great semester.

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey