Academic Convocation

Dear Orange Friends:

Two weeks ago, we welcomed several thousand new students to Syracuse University in a moving academic convocation. Many faculty, staff, and students (including orientation leaders, RAs, graduate assistants, and others) helped make the event special for our incoming students and their families.

Stephen Barton, a 2012 graduate of Syracuse University, gave the best alumni talk I have ever heard at an academic event. His talk put a lot of things in perspective for me about Syracuse University and why its people matter (and are different). I have included a video link to Stephen’s talk here . I encourage you to watch it. He represents the best of Syracuse.

One of the things I have been told by many people during my time here is that when all the academic and administrative parts of the University come together to get something done, Syracuse does it better than anywhere else. With this in mind, we will be holding a series of OneUniversity events for all faculty and staff over the course of the next year. The goal is to bring together small groups of faculty and staff from across a range of academic and administrative units to meet, talk, and get to know each other a little better. The first event will take place later this month at the Chancellor’s House.

Kent Syverud's signature
Chancellor Kent Syverud