You can't adequately describe the College of Charleston without mentioning its history and traditions. Part of what defines this institution are its staying power and perseverance. The College has endured through wars, fires, hurricanes, financial turmoil, political uncertainty and a host of other challenges.
This is an exceedingly important attribute in an age when so much in life, business and society is fleeting. In a culture obsessed with daily news cycles, Twitter, Facebook and 24/7 cable coverage of celebrity gossip and politics - it's no wonder some seek solace in permanence, traditions and longevity.
But lately, even longevity is no guarantee of survival. Look at the recent failures or near collapse of stalwart companies such as GM, Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers.
In higher education, we are in the business of creating things that last. Professors hope their scholarly papers and research inspire discussion and study for generations to come. They strive to make indelible impressions on the minds of their students in the hope that those they mentored will go on to perpetuate a cycle of learning and discovery.
Students form lifelong friendships and relationships that carry on over time and distance. This was apparent at our fall convocation in August when 50-year alumnus Bill Kanapaux spoke fondly about the Class of 1959. Seated in the audience and reliving the stories Bill shared with our freshmen were several of his classmates. There, too, was his College sweetheart, Martha Kelly '60. They married and sent two of their children to the College, and, more recently, a grandson. There are literally thousands of families carrying on this same tradition at the College.
But none of these things happen by accident. Creating permanence and longevity, whether it's by carrying on a family tradition or guiding an organization through the ups and downs of the economy, requires deliberate and careful planning.
One of my major responsibilities as president is to look decades into the future and to put in place today the people, programs, partnerships, facilities and resources that will ensure we get there - stronger and better than we are today. To that end, we initiated a strategic planning process in early 2008 to produce a vision for the College for the next decade - and beyond.
We sought input from every on-campus and off-campus constituency - everyone with a stake in the College's future. While time-consuming, this inclusive process resulted in a shared vision for the College.
I encouraged the Strategic Planning Committee - our deans, executive administrators, students and other participants - to envision the College as it can be, not as it is. I encouraged them to develop a vision that would ensure the success and quality of the institution and its graduates for decades to come. I also reminded them that the past informs the future, and I encouraged them to study the history, the traditions and the rich culture of the College and the city of Charleston. They did all of this and much more.
By the time you read this, we will have submitted the Strategic Plan to our Board of Trustees for approval. I am anxious to begin the exciting work of communicating our shared vision through a variety of campus, community and alumni forums in the coming months. But I'm even more anxious to execute the plan and to ensure that this very special institution remains strong and vibrant long into the future.
To read more from President Benson, visit www.president.cofc.edu.