State of University address today

The chancellor's State of the University address today will focus on two of what he calls the three "P's" of every university - people, programs and places. Chancellor Walter Wendler will present the second annual address at 2:45 p.m. today in Student Center Ballroom D. Wendler declined to give any specifics about the speech but said it will also give more details about the University's "Southern at 150" plan, which is its long-range plan to become a top 75 public research institution by its 150th birthday in 2019.

Wendler said he plans to unveil several new initiatives regarding retention of both students and faculty. "It will have new ideas that I think will spur discussion in some areas," Wendler said. Last year, Wendler focused on "places" or many building projects, including the Troutt-Wittmann Academic and Training Center and the Health Complex addition to the Recreation Center. Wendler also said he will touch on the three "R's" that are important to the people category, which is recruitment, reward and retain.

Faculty publicly blasted Wendler and the provost at the recent March Board of Trustees meeting. Faculty asked the board to override the chancellor's decisions to deny 12 appeals for more promotion and tenure. The faculty said their chance for a legitimate due process is being jeopardized. They also said these actions will hurt the University's ability to recruit high-quality faculty. According to the Faculty Association, Wendler has seen 12 appeals in his three and a half years at SIUC. From 1990 to 2000, there were 20 appeals.