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VP for Information Services and CIO
cio@uoregon.edu
In his autobiography My Past and Thoughts, Alexander Herzen reminisced about his youth and time as a university student. "Youth is the fullest, most exquisite part of life," he wrote, "the part that is most our own, and, indeed, almost the most important, for it imperceptibly shapes our future."
Much of course has changed since Herzen was a student at Moscow University in the 1830s. But the opportunity to have your life impacted by a university experience is one thing that has thankfully not changed.
For those of us who have dedicated our lives to the academy, the beginning of the academic year is an exciting time. We watch new freshmen arrive on campus, knowing that they are entering an environment where new ideas will be shared, new friendships made, and futures shaped. Like attending a performance of our favorite symphony, we eagerly anticipate what is to come, knowing that if everyone performs their part the experience will be enjoyed by all.
Yet things don't always go according to plan. For some, their time at a university is not "full," let alone "exquisite." Why? Student Affairs professionals might hold the answer to this question. They indicate that there is a window of time after new freshmen arrive when they seem to be most receptive to the university experience. Everything is new, emotional barriers are down, and students are eager to embrace all that the university has to offer. Yet for others, that window stays open for only a brief period, perhaps as little as a couple of weeks. If new friendships are not formed and new experiences reinforced, the window closes. Students then seem to fall back on old patterns and also seem to be closed to new ideas and intellectual growth.
The key to success in the university, and indeed to realizing the bliss Herzen describes, is to keep that window of possibilities open as long as possible. This often requires patience and the understanding that some things take time to develop. It also requires reaching out to others who are willing to help.
The Information Technology resources and services described in this Back-to-School issue of IT Connections are a good example. Behind this list of resources and services are professionals willing to help you get started or help you when you encounter difficulty. These individuals may be in Information Services, our central information technology organization, or within your school or college. Get to know who they are and what they can do to help you, and utilize them as a resource throughout your time at the university.
I hope that your time at the University of Oregon will be an enjoyable one, filled with new ideas, friendships, experiences, and opportunities.