Jennifer Jackson
Staff Writer
During her State of the University address Wednesday, President Devorah Lieberman highlighted the University’s progress and also addressed some of the biggest concerns and challenges.
“The purpose of the State of the University was to have another way of communicating where we are and getting us together as a group to look at a snapshot of where we are in time in an effort to communicate as much as possible,” Lieberman said.
Lieberman quoted from the novel “The Leopard” by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, which inspired the theme for the discussion “For things to remain the same, some things must change.”
“There are some things we have to change so that we remain competitive, distinct and unique,” Lieberman said.
She compared the values and curriculum from Lordsburg College in 1891, to La Verne College in 1953, to present day.
The values have remained consistent throughout the history of the University whereas the curriculum has changed.
In 1891 founders said that education is recognized as one of the most important means of advancement. There were only eight majors, 76 students and one campus. Today, there are 94 majors, 8,453 students, and 11 campuses.
“We are changing by design to remain the same,” Lieberman said when introducing the University’s 2020 Strategic Vision and Campus Master Plan.
The four strategic initiatives in the 2020 vision are achieving educational excellence, strengthening human and financial resources, heightening reputation, visibility and prominence and enhancing facilities and technology.
Lieberman proudly announced a few of the University’s recent accomplishments.
The University has been ranked seventh as one of nation’s top 50 colleges for Hispanic students by bestcolleges.com.
The U.S. Department of Education ranked the University sixth in the country for graduation rate for Latino students.
“Always remember we are four colleges, one university, one mission with one vision,” Lieberman said.
The address was followed by a discussion on “What it Means to be a Federally-designated ‘Hispanic Serving Institution,’” facilitated by Associate Provost Beatriz Gonzalez.
“I encourage every one of you actively engage in these campus conversations and that you approach them with an open mind, with respect and a willingness to listen to different points of view because that’s what makes up a community,” said Joy Lei, chief diversity and inclusivity officer.
“Together we are able to meet the common goal that we all have which is to be able to provide the support and education to our students so they can be successful, however they define success.”
Gonzalez said Hispanics are the largest, fasting growing minority group in the U.S., but they are underrepresented in college.
HSIs are 8 percent of the nation’s colleges and universities and 54 percent of Latino students attend HSIs.
“If we strengthen HSIs, then we are strengthening the economy, we are strengthening the country, we are creating a country that is good for all,” Gonzalez said.
The U.S. government has pledged $1 billion over the next 10 years to reform, renew and regrow Hispanic Serving Institutions.
The University is comprised of 40 percent Hispanic/Latino students and 30 percent Hispanic/Latino employees.
“The government has set a goal that by 2020 the United States will proportionately have more college graduates than any other country in the world,” Gonzalez said.
“To achieve that then we have to look at populations who are currently underrepresented in college.”
Jennifer Jackson can be reached at jennifer.jackson2@laverne.edu.
