CHANCELLOR'S ADDRESS CHARTS MAP FOR THE FUTURE

Annual excellence awards punctuate speech to U community

by Mary Lindsley

UM-St. Louis Chancellor Blanche Touhill reviewed the year's highlights and outlined future goals in her annual State of the University Address on Wednesday.

The event, held in the J.C. Penney Auditorium, included the presentation of the 1997 Chancellor's Awards for Excellence and the UM-System Thomas Jefferson Award. In her speech, Touhill focused on how current initiatives would further the school's future development.

"I believe that we are shouldering a critical responsibility and that we are building a foundation from which new generations will succeed and prosper well into the new century and beyond," Touhill said.

Touhill cited new student housing and the construction of the new Student Center as examples of improved service to students. She also emphasized the support of cultural diversity programs to serve minority students.

"We derive much of our strength from diversity. It is a campus priority, and it is one of my priorities," Touhill said. She said the addition of the office of Multi-Cultural Relations/ Academic Affairs would aid in the development of diversity-building programs.

Touhill also addressed ways that land purchases and the building of new facilities would benefit students. The acquisition of property on Florissant Road is slated for a new entrance and the location of the St. Louis Regional Education Park.

Touhill said the Communication Arts Complex would serve to give students a strong cultural foundation.

"It will be a factor which differentiates our students, our graduates, from the students and graduates of institutions throughout the region," she said.

Key to the University's growth will be a proposal for $74 million in state funds to be distributed throughout the UM-System over the next five years. Touhill said the funds would be used to create new programs, enhance existing programs and promote faculty research.