President Discusses Vision for Duquesne, Characteristics of the University as a Community

President Charles J. Dougherty shared his vision for Duquesne with more than 500 faculty, staff and administration at his annual State of the University Address on Sept. 9.

Dougherty, who began his 10th academic year here this fall, focused on community characteristics of the University—accountability, concern for others, academics excellence, national standards, Spiritan heritage and distinctions as a Catholic university.

During his remarks, Dougherty reminded those in attendance that, while they are accountable first to the students they serve and to those who are invested in the University, they must also be accountable to each other.

Additionally, Dougherty described Duquesne as a community of concern for others, citing the University’s work with the underserved and the care it demonstrates for students, for each other and for our campus neighbors.

Building a community of concern at the University is as critical as fostering a community of academic excellence. Dougherty emphasized the University’s commitment to the best in dedicated teaching and encouraged faculty to be scholars “who make a difference” in their disciplines.

“We want to be the professors who alumni remember for making a difference in their lives,” Dougherty said. “We want to be a faculty who motivates our students with intellectual insights and helps them find their way in life. Scholarship is the hallmark of a leading, mature university. We cannot be the great University we aspire to be without a very strong emphasis here and very strong results going forward.”

Dougherty also challenged the University community to be national leaders in all areas, from academic programs to student life programming to athletics, striving to be a community of national standards.

“We cannot be content with doing things ‘the way they have always been done’ or in trying not to ‘rock the boat,'” Dougherty explained. “In all of our choices, we must look to national norms as guides.”

Throughout his address, Dougherty emphasized Duquesne’s mission and Catholic identity as the foundation of the University as a community of the Spirit.

Citing Duquesne as the only Spiritan university in the world, Dougherty gave examples of what sets the campus apart as a community of distinction, including being the only Pennsylvania Catholic university in the national category of the U.S. News & World Report rankings and one of only 12 Catholic universities in the U.S. News national category. In addition, he mentioned that Washington Monthly listed Duquesne as No. 9 nationwide in providing social mobility to low-income students and among the top 75 universities overall.

Dougherty concluded his remarks with a reminder of Duquesne’s history and the obligation to the University’s future generations.

“In 1878, we became the first Catholic university in Pittsburgh,” said Dougherty. “Now this University is ours. We must preserve it and pass on to the next generation the very best Duquesne University that we possibly can.”

Read Dougherty’s remarks. Read the 2009-2010 University Accomplishments.