The Linfield of the future is taking shape, but much remains to be done.
By Miles K. Davis, president
The past 22 months have been almost unimaginably challenging for many of us, both personally and professionally. The world seemingly stopped moving almost overnight, with businesses, gyms, retail stores, entertainment venues, houses of worship and so many other things – including schools and colleges – closing their doors. Later, as we began trying to figure out how to move forward again, we faced a whole different set of challenges trying to establish a new normal.
Our world and our region have had to adjust to new realities.
The times have forced us at Linfield to reflect and examine ourselves closely, asking what we can do better to ensure the success of current students and remain relevant for future ones.
During the pandemic, we became Linfield University, added master’s degrees, opened a new Portland campus, announced our first new athletic teams since 1997, broke ground on a transformational $37 million science center, created positions for two new academic deans, worked with a donor to install what was at the time the nation’s largest video screen at an NCAA Division III stadium and reconfigured our organizational structure to better serve the needs of changing student demographics. We added new lighting and security cameras and created updated Title IX training that is now required of all students, employees and board members.
You’ll read about some of these ventures on the pages of this magazine. What I want to impress upon you, however, is that we’re just getting started. The Linfield of the future is taking shape, but much remains to be done.
Two major initiatives this year will help outline what that future looks like. Many in the Linfield community have been working on the Forward Together Task Force since last spring, discussing and debating how to bring us all together around a shared vision of success. Many more are working to help us craft a strategic plan for the next 5-10 years.
We began that process with a meeting of more than 100 employees in late August and continued it throughout the fall. By April, we will have a new plan to guide the university into the future, thanks to the work of all these individuals.
The future, of course, is famously hard to predict. That is certainly true amidst the continued challenges we face as we enter 2022, and more true yet in the fast-changing world of higher education. Know, however, that we have no intention of standing pat; hundreds of dedicated faculty and staff members stand ready to face the challenges head-on. We will do our utmost to keep Linfield the kind of institution you are proud to call your own.
