President Keith T. Miller addresses LHU employees at the 2009 opening meeting.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Lock Haven University faculty and staff gathered in Price Performance Center on August 27 for the university’s annual opening meeting. As in years past, the opening meeting provided an opportunity to present awards, to recognize accreditation and agency recognitions, and to introduce new employees. A highlight of the meeting was President Keith T. Miller’s opening address.

Miller began his address by showing a short YouTube film entitled “Did You Know?” which showed the rapid rate of change fueled by technology. Following the film, Miller reiterated just a few of the points made in the film: There are 31 billion searches on Google every month. Today the number of text messages sent and received every day exceeds the total population of the planet. To reach market audience of 50 million, it took radio 28 years, television 13 years, and Facebook 2 years.

According to Miller, technological advances are the hallmark of the 21st century. As technology has transformed the world, the learning environment has changed. These changes, especially in the current economic situation, create huge challenges for higher education. Miller noted, “Of all the virtues I have learned, there is no trait more useful or essential for survival than the ability to transform adversity into an enjoyable opportunity. This is truly an opportunity for LHU.”

Miller looked forward to the year ahead, during which the university community “will be setting goals together.” “Goals matter," he said, because “they give shape and direction to our purpose. They will sharpen our vision, helping us to see beyond the boundaries and barriers we currently have.” He added “Goals are tools. With them we will build new opportunities. We will re-shape ourselves.” In addition, he said, “Goals are emblems. They are badges of confidence, a sure sign that we reject our circumstances and refuse to be victim of the past or of our problems, many of which were not caused by us. They are also a pledge, a promise to strive and move ahead.”

Miller cited many of LHU’s achievements “that set us aside from other institutions,” including institutional technology, the Celebration of Scholarship, the Center for Women’s Resources and LEED certification for the Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center. He concluded his remarks with an expression of confidence in LHU’s future. “In public higher education today,” he said, “there are a hundred reasons to cry, but for LHU there are a thousand reasons to smile. We have faced difficult times in recent years, but we will handle our present situation with confidence and we will prepare for the future without fear.”