Education for Citizenship anchors President Carter’s investiture address

Education for Citizenship anchors President Carter's investiture address

Ohio State president wants to build on the university's expectation of excellence

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Chris Booker Ohio State News [email protected] 614.292.7276

Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. was formally installed as the 17th president of The Ohio State University and used his address to call on the university community to develop a 10-year strategic plan named for the Ohio State motto of Education for Citizenship.

Carter spoke to an audience of university students, faculty and staff, state and community representatives, and leaders in higher education. He delivered his remarks to a full ballroom in Columbus Friday afternoon as part of his official investiture ceremony.

As he approaches a year in office, Carter is ready to move from learning to action, he said. He encouraged the university to think big about everything from affordability to entrepreneurship to research and application of artificial intelligence - all to elevate Ohio State as a national model for higher education.

"As I take a look at where we are today … our reach, our impact is incredibly strong. But what made us successful in the past is not necessarily what's going to make us successful in the future," Carter said.

Carter observed that the next decade will be pivotal for both the university and higher education in the United States. He spoke to the need to boost confidence in the institution of higher education and pointed to the momentum at Ohio State.

The university welcomed the largest class of new, first-year students to start the autumn semester in August - more than 9,500 in total. Carter said Ohio State continues to excel in research with innovation that makes an impact across the state, nation and globe. The university remains one of the largest, and best employers in the state.

"The future of higher education is and will be here at The Ohio State University … we will be a model for the nation. Excellence is not a destination or a goal at The Ohio State University. Excellence is an expectation. With the team that we have built, that expectation will be a reality," he said.

Carter said the new strategic plan will be called Education for Citizenship 2035. The plan will focus on improving on six core themes:

• Academics
• Research and creative expression
• Health care
• Talent and culture
• Operations
• Collegiate athletics

Based on this framework, developed in collaboration with hundreds of stakeholders, Carter said Education for Citizenship 2035 will require Buckeyes from across the university community to help build out the initiatives and programs that make up the strategic plan.

"I want you to know these are the things that I will be working on with the board, with the community, and with all of you to achieve excellence in everything that we do. First and foremost, academic excellence. It is our North Star. If we are great at academics, then everything else will soon follow," he said.

Carter encouraged the Buckeye community to be bold in ideas and action. He suggested improving the career prospects of students through expanded internship opportunities and incorporating entrepreneurship into the student experience. Despite a rapidly changing landscape in athletics, Carter said the university intends to continue to provide scholarships in all 36 sports.

Carter challenged students, faculty and staff to share their ideas in shaping the university's strategic plan, including ways to drive down student debt, expand the university's online educational opportunities and elevate the regional campuses.

Carter said one of the most pressing goals is focused on AI research and innovation. He pointed to the university's strong connections in the artificial intelligence space and the commitment and investment by Ohio State's Center for Software Innovation. He said the university can be a leader in marketing, technical development, design and software to maximize what AI technology has to offer.

"The workforce of the future will demand that our students are not just articulate, but fluent in how artificial intelligence works … We will explore what it means and how to use AI in a cross-disciplinary fashion," he said. "We're going to be a model for the nation for artificial intelligence."

The university developed a website to help the campus community support the new strategic plan. Once the framework is built out, the plan will launch on July 1, 2025.

President Carter's first months in office and his vision for the university have been well received in the state. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine spoke about the importance of Ohio State to the region and how he has come to value Carter's leadership.

"A good leader must be a good listener. From the moment President Carter came to Ohio State, he and Mrs. Carter have been listening. He's explored Ohio State's campuses and communities, visited Ohio State regional campuses, listened to faculty, staff, students, alumni, and leaders from business and government," DeWine said. "He talked to doctors, staff and administrators at the Wexner Medical Center, and he will continue to listen."

Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education Mike Duffey echoed the sentiment.

"Perhaps now more than ever, it is crucial to have the right leader in place to steer a university like Ohio State into the future," Chancellor Duffey said. "Through my interactions with President Carter, I know that the Board of Trustees made the right choice for the university, for its students, and for our state."

Carter concluded his remarks confident in the idea that Ohio State would be successful in defining the future of higher education in the coming decade. He said he drew inspiration from the university's alma mater, "Carmen Ohio."

"'Time and change will surely show how firm thy friendship, Ohio.' How firm thy friendship, indeed. That is the element that makes our campus so special. God bless everyone who works, studies and supports The Ohio State University," he said. "As always and forever, go Bucks. Now, let's get to work."

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