On the positive side, we feel an excitement and optimism about the recent arrival of our new university president, Elder Merrill Bateman. Already, we sense a new vibrancy, and we look forward to his leadership.
And what of the department? As I look back over the year and then look forward, I can honestly say that I feel a sense of renewal here as well. I have really enjoyed interviewing our graduating seniors. Not only is it exciting to celebrate with them (albeit a little early), but I also pointedly and sincerely ask for their suggestions and insights about our program, and I appreciate their responses. Their suggestions have frequently left me scribbling on my note pad, listing new ideas or recording recommitments to previous dreams. As a result, I am anxious to share these ideas and dreams with the rest of the faculty and to begin making new plans to do things better.
One of our dreams is to strengthen our ties with you, our alumni and friends. I hope you notice our announcement of an evening (dinner and brief program) for you during Homecoming week this fall. We sincerely look forward to seeing you there. But we look forward to seeing you and hearing from you anytime, not just during Homecoming week, so please don't hesitate to drop us a note or e-mail or to stop in if you're in the area. For those of you web surfers out there, you can always call up our department web site for the latest news and information address: http://www.et.byu.edu/~chewww/CheDept.html. If you lose this address, just remember http://www.byu.edu for the university homepage, from which you can find your way to the department.
We are excited about some new dreams for our graduate program. Because of the enthusiastic support of Dean Douglas Chabries and an early positive response to the university self study, the university has made available to our department a significant increase in funds to support first-year graduate students. This will greatly increase our ability to provide new graduate students with secure financial support while they take those initial classes and choose a research advisor that first year. We also are thinking about better ways to communicate to undergraduates (at BYU and elsewhere) about the opportunities in our graduate program. We think that an even larger number of excellent students will consider a graduate degree in chemical engineering at BYU once they know about the program and about the financial assistance available.
We also dream about scholarships for our undergraduate students, and I can't adequately express how much we appreciate your help. So many of our undergraduates are paying their way through school by working late-night jobs (custodial, laundry, etc.), which usually negatively affect their schooling and their health. I have had to talk a number of our students into quitting their jobs in order to salvage their education (or health). In that conversation with the student, I usually learn that his/her family can't help, and there seems to be no way to pay for rent, food, books, and tuition. We talk about loans (the student usually already has one - or two) and long-lost relatives who might be able to help (you know how likely that is). It's a difficult conversation, and I always come away offering a silent prayer that things will work out for that great young man or woman. Then comes that day when a check arrives at the department from one of you, often with matching funds from an employer, and I can tell that student that we have a scholarship for him or her. I wish you could be there... More than words can say, thank you!
I hope this spring brings you renewal and new hope. May the Lord bless you and yours.
Kenneth A. Solen