As the semester begins there is information the campus community may find both useful and informative.

DR. ROY WILSON'S DEPARTURE
As many of you know, Dr. Roy Wilson will become President of Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in June 2003. Roy has been a tremendous asset to the University. His commitment to diversity, enhanced research and quality education has added significantly to the strength of Creighton's health sciences programs. The search committee is presently being formed. Wayne Barkmeier, D.D.S., Dean for the School of Dentistry, will chair the committee.

FINANCIAL ENHANCEMENT PROCESS
As I mentioned earlier, an information session on our Financial Enhancement Process is scheduled from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Rigge Science Room 120 on Tuesday, January 21st. The session is open to the Creighton community. Dan Burkey, Vice President for Administration and Finance, will present information on the University's finances, describe the Financial Enhancement Process and answer related questions. Please plan to attend.

STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE
After many months of process, we open the second semester with the "final draft" of a Creighton Strategic Plan which will guide our efforts over the next five years. The Plan articulates the vision that Creighton University will be a national leader in preparing students for responsible leadership, professional distinction, and committed citizenship. The Plan has been reformulated to identify five strategic priorities to which Creighton must direct its efforts in order to realize its mission and achieve that vision. In addition, goals, objectives and tactics are noted for each priority, to which accountable units and deadlines have also been assigned. The Plan will be available on the website shortly. The key elements of the plan will be presented at the Founders Week Convocation on Tuesday, February 4th at 4 p.m. in St. John's Church.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS AWARD
On January 9th it was my honor to accept, on behalf of Creighton University, the first annual Champion of Greatness Award from the Special Olympics Nebraska. The award recognizes the University's long-standing support of Special Olympics. We have housed and hosted the summer games on campus for nearly 30 years. Thank you to all of the women and men in the Creighton community who assist in making the Nebraska Special Olympics the success it is for some of our very special citizens.

SCIENCE EDUCATION BUILDING
The new Science Education Building is functional. There will be ongoing "finishing" touches for a month or so. The general consensus is that the building will work! There is an open house scheduled during Founders Week. The landscaping and finishing touches to the exterior of the building will progress through the spring.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION
I urge you to attend our annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at 3 p.m. on Monday, January 20th in the Kiewit Fitness Center. Joan Lanahan and Prof. Larry Raful chaired this year's all university planning committee and they have done an outstanding job in planning the program. Our program will include a reenactment of the famous 1963 March on Washington. It will begin with recreating the speakers and singers of that day in 1963 and leads into the 11-minute recitation of Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech, performed by Rev. Darryl Eure. We also will recognize two Creighton students who will receive the Martin Luther King Jr. 2003 Student Leadership Award for their exemplary leadership over the last year.

John P. Schlegel, S.J.
President