As we continue to build momentum as One Team and strengthen the culture reflected
in our shared values, I believe this is the right moment to reflect on the heart of
our work: our purpose. Across the 蘑菇视频 System, our institutions are distinct in many
ways, but we are united by something deeper. We share a commitment to serving people
and creating opportunities in their lives that would not otherwise exist. That commitment
is reflected every day in the work of our faculty, staff, and leaders, and it is one
of the reasons our institutions continue to transform lives across Texas and beyond.
This moment serves as an important opportunity for us to come together as an enterprise and reflect on who we are, why we exist, and the impact we aspire to create. It is a chance to clarify, both for ourselves and for the students, communities, and state we serve, what makes 蘑菇视频 System institutions a destination of choice, and a force for opportunity unmatched in North Texas.
Over the coming months, we will begin an enterprise-wide effort to more clearly define and articulate our shared purpose as a system. This work is not about creating a new mission statement or revising the unique identities of our institutions. Rather, it is an opportunity to better understand and express the fundamental reason we exist, the difference we seek to make in the lives of those we serve, and the values that unite us in that work.
We will begin by listening.
The first phase of this effort will include targeted surveys and listening sessions with key groups from across the 蘑菇视频 System including faculty, staff, administrators, and students. These conversations are designed to gather a wide range of perspectives and experiences, helping us better understand what our work means to the people who carry it forward every day.
This process is intentional. We know that purpose cannot be developed in a conference
room or from a planning document alone. It must be informed by the experiences, insights,
and aspirations of the people who serve our students, communities, patients, and one
another.
If you are invited to participate in a survey or listening session, I encourage you
to engage fully and candidly. Your perspective matters. The goal of this work is not
to arrive at predetermined answers, but to learn from one another and identify the
common thread that connects the tremendous work happening across our enterprise.
Thank you for your dedication to our students, our communities, and one another. I am grateful for the opportunity to do this work alongside you.
Sincerely,
Michael R. Williams
Chancellor