Dr. Mary Cullinan

I was in Washington, D.C. this past week (January 23-28), visiting our Oregon legislators and attending the annual conference of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). It was sunny and even warm—no coat needed!

On Tuesday and Wednesday, I met with Senators Wyden and Merkley as well as with Congressman Walden and Congressman Schrader and staff members of Congressman DeFazio. Everyone was very supportive of SOU and public higher education as we discussed Pell grants and other thorny issues. They will help as they much as they can in D.C.’s  intensely difficult environment.

Then, starting Wednesday afternoon, I met with colleagues from the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) and attended sessions on the AAC&U conference theme of “Shared Futures, Difficult Choices.” It was refreshing, despite the financial quandaries we all face, to discuss issues such as increasing student success and retention, internationalizing our campuses, and strengthening partnerships with K-12.

As always, I came back to campus with lots of ideas—as well as a sense of what is happening in other states (a few good things, most not so good).

Presidents from around the country (and the Bahamas) assembled in Seattle this week for the summer meeting of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). The days and evenings were packed with sessions, roundtables, and intensive workshops.

I convened the annual retreat of female chancellors and presidents (women are still only 20% of public university presidents and chancellors). I attended a half-day workshop on legal issues in higher ed and a myriad of sessions on topics from leading a healthy campus to using technology for greater innovation.

Rebecca Costa, author of The Watchman’s Rattle: Thinking Ourselves out of Extinction, spoke with us about the characteristics that served humans well in our evolutionary history but don’t serve us well in the modern world—and what we can do about it.

Given our campus theme this coming year, I was particularly pleased to attend a session on “Strategies for Civility,” approaches to encouraging civil campuses and communities, led by Jim Leach, Chairman for the National Endowment for the Humanities.

It was a productive, useful conference. I only had time for a couple of nice walks (umbrella in hand) along the waterfront under moody grey Seattle skies.

Founders' Hall on the Augustana campus

I’ve been living out of a suitcase. A week ago Friday (June 17), I went up to Eugene for the quarterly Board meeting of the JPR Foundation. On Sunday I headed to Portland for the NAIA Council of Presidents’ meeting. And on Tuesday I flew to Canada for the annual meeting of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC).

COPLAC recently became an international organization when its membership expanded to include the University of Alberta, Augustana. Located in Camrose, Alberta, about an hour from Edmonton, Augustana is the liberal arts campus of the larger university. The drive from the Edmonton airport is beautiful: rolling prairie as lush as Oregon (since Alberta, too, has had a watery spring), with sheep, cows, horses, and even elk grazing in fields beside the road.

The setting was perfect for two days of academic conversation and exchanges of ideas. Presidents, provosts, deans, and faculty discussed issues pertaining to Honors programs, global education, undergraduate research, the digital environment—and the solstice. (In that northern city last week, it was bright daylight at 10 PM. . .  and again at 4 AM.)

It has been a productive and interesting week. But I was very glad to come home–and empty out my suitcase.

I spent much of last week (March 8-10) again in rainy Salem, meeting with legislators as they work their way through difficult budgets and challenging statewide issues.

Thursday was Medford Chamber Day in the Capitol. A busload of Chamber members came to Salem to hear from our Southern Oregon delegation members as well as key legislators such as Senate President Peter Courtney. Even Governor Kitzhaber paid us a visit. Liz Shelby and I also met individually with a number of legislators, including Senators Jason Atkinson and Alan Bates and Representatives Sal Esquivel and Peter Buckley.

On Wednesday, Liz and I also met with Greg Wolf, Governor Kitzhaber’s Intergovernmental and Regional Solutions Director. Under the governor’s direction, Greg is establishing Regional Solutions Centers in targeted parts of the state to deliver community-based projects that address regional priorities.

I am delighted that one of the Centers will be located at SOU. We are planning for seven regional directors to be housed on the Ashland campus. Jeff Griffin, Regional Coordinator for the Southwest Oregon Economic Revitalization Team, has already moved into Churchill Hall. This partnership, I’m sure, will provide exciting opportunities that engage SOU students, faculty, and staff in projects that benefit southern Oregon.

The sky was grey and the weather wet through our visit to the state capital. However, I am hopeful that work being done on a number of fronts will bring sunshine to SOU over the short and long term.

I spent two days in beautiful Vancouver, B.C., last week (February 24 and 25) with a few SOU colleagues. It was my first visit to Vancouver. Despite the snow in Oregon and Washington, Vancouver was clear and beautiful—ringed with spectacular white mountains.

The Official Portrait

The event bringing us to British Columbia was the annual conference for the Northwest district of CASE—the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. CASE is an organization primarily for higher education folks who work in fundraising, marketing, alumni relations and communication. Our district (District VIII) stretches over the Pacific Northwest states in the U.S. and a number of western territories and provinces and Canada.

I was at the conference to receive this year’s Leadership Award, awarded to a president or chancellor in the region. My colleagues had nominated me without my knowing—and they did a great job of creating a persuasive package of supporting materials! (See link to CASE website.)

It was fun to share good news about SOU with folks from all over the Northwest—and to have all of us at SOU recognized for the hard work of the past five years.

I spent much of Monday and Tuesday (February 21 and 22) in Salem. On Tuesday afternoon, I was scheduled to testify before the House Higher Education Subcommittee, along with President Minahan from Western Oregon University, so it made sense to visit with as many legislators as I could while up there.

We had a packed day-and-a-half of meetings. Liz Shelby and I checked in with a number of our southern Oregon legislators, including Representatives Buckley and Richardson, and newly elected Representative McLane, as well as Senators Bates, Atkinson, and Whitsett. And I also visited with Representative Brian Clem and Senator Chris Edwards, with whom I traveled to China last September.

The legislators I spoke with seemed very supportive of the OUS initiative to be a state university system but not a state agency. However, legislation is still being amended and discussed in the Senate, so we have no real news as yet.

Also, budget discussions are still preliminary. At this point, projections are not dire for OUS: many legislators understand the pain we’ve experienced and are supportive of the universities. However, it is all very early in the process—they haven’t yet made the difficult decisions.

The hearing before the Subcommittee went smoothly. I was delighted to provide lots of good news about SOU and our recent accomplishments in a range of areas—from new academic programs to student successes and regional partnerships.

I’ll be back in Salem early in March and may have more to report after that visit!

NOTE: We’re working on an informational campus forum scheduled for March 7 to focus on the OUS legislation. I’ll send out more information when I know more.

I spent much of last week in Portland. The Oregon State Board of Higher Education revised its meeting schedule a year or so ago to reduce the number of trips that Board members, presidents, and vice presidents had to make to Portland. Indeed, there are fewer meetings–but we’re up there for more days. (And last week it rained the whole time.)

At least I got to enjoy some of the last United flights between Medford and Portland. Coming soon: flying to San Francisco to get to Portland.

The meeting this week was a Board retreat focused on the probable financial challenges of the next two biennia—with Oregon still facing hefty shortfalls. Each OUS president reported on how we plan to help our institutions survive through several scenarios.

With strong enrollments and good planning, SOU is much better positioned than it was a couple of years ago. Nonetheless, like almost every other OUS institution, we face significant challenges if major cuts are combined with substantial cost increases.

The legislative session starts today (January 10). We continue to live in interesting times!

I spent most of last week in Portland—flying up Monday evening (October 4) and returning Friday evening. Friday was the regular meeting of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education. However, the Chancellor had scheduled a meeting for some of us on Wednesday, and our regular Presidents’ Council meeting was Thursday, so it made sense to schedule other Portland meetings with SOU donors as well as legislators and business folks.

I’m grateful to Steve Vincent, SOU alum and President’s Advisory Board member, for setting up some of these Portland meetings. For instance, we met with Wally Van Valkenburg, chair of the Economic Development Commission. (SOU Foundation Board member Anne Root serves on that Commission and was able to bring the Commission to SOU for a meeting last year.)

I also met with Don Krahmer, who serves on the Board of the Oregon Business Council and other entities focused on statewide economic development.

It’s important to help Portland-based people remember the contributions that SOU makes to the economic development and the professional workforce of southern Oregon. And I was particularly pleased to convey so much good news about SOU this fall.

Liz Shelby, in her role as legislative liaison, and I also took this opportunity in Portland to meet with Senator Mark Haas and Representative Mary Nolan. I could share good news with them—but also discuss issues that will affect SOU in the upcoming legislative session.

It was a busy week. Each day was packed. Hopefully, the various meetings increased the understanding of some key folks in Portland about SOU—and the significant contributions we make to the region and the state.

I was in China only once before, for three weeks in 2006, but I can see significant changes in the two cities I visited on both trips, Shanghai and Beijing. Of course, construction projects continue on a gargantuan scale—whole neighborhoods reduced to rubble, skyscraper apartment buildings, multinational corporate buildings, and hotels rising everywhere.

One striking change from 2006 is the way in which roads and highways have improved. Four years ago in Shanghai, I stood paralyzed at intersections while six lanes of bicycles, scooters, and motorized vehicles streamed by with no provisions made for pedestrians. Taking pity on me, but also laughing, Chinese pedestrians would hold my elbow and guide me, lane by lane, as traffic swirled around us. Terrifying!

This year, I could see that thousands of intersections have been upgraded in these gigantic cities. On the highways, too, directional signs and well-marked lanes have greatly improved chaotic, overburdened roadways.

Even on more rural highways, bicycles laden with food and construction materials are quickly giving way to (heavily laden) motor scooters and small trucks.

More and more bathrooms are now Westernized—and, even in more rural areas, residents seem used to seeing Westerners.

One truly striking change I can see is that the Chinese young people are growing. I can no longer see over the heads of a crowd. Many young city dwellers now cast their elders in shadow. I saw a team of female basketball players visiting the Shaolin Temple when we were there. They weren’t as tall as Yao Ming—but they towered at least eight inches over me.  Changes in the national diet are affecting the Chinese populace as much as the modernization all around them.

One area that hasn’t changed is the air quality. Grey pollution still hangs grimly over the cities and even the countryside. Coal remains the fuel of choice—and millions of cars are replacing bicycles.

If I return to China four years from now, I hope to see major changes in the environmental quality as well as all the other areas China has tackled in its tremendous push into the 21^st Century.

The full Oregon delegation to China

On Friday, we left the Fuzhou hotel at 6 AM to head to the airport. Our delegation split up today as the legislators had a meeting with delegation member Bob Cockell, and the remaining five of us headed to Hong Kong so we could fly home on Saturday.

The Hong Kong airport is on an island many miles from downtown, so we are staying out by the airport. When you get off the plane in Hong Kong, you can feel that this is a different place from mainland China—more cosmopolitan and, unsurprisingly, with a strong British influence.

As we had only a few hours to spend here, Irene Kai and I traveled on a spectacular tram up to a temple and giant Buddha sitting high on a mountain. The tram ride, lasting half an hour, takes you over lush mountains and wild waterways—and provides stunning views of the Hong Kong harbor.

The destination is an unusual blend of commercialism and spirituality—with shops and restaurants as well as Buddhist statues. The Buddha himself is tremendous. Irene and I climbed many steps to see him. He was definitely worth the visit. Again, my camera can only hint at his size and grand presence overlooking the region.

Upon return to the hotel, I began making the transition to home. No Chinese banquet tonight—just some soup and a good night’s rest!

I pause in my descriptions of our activities in China to record a few amenities we’ve encountered in Chinese hotels. As a frequent hotel resident, I can attest that American hotels just don’t provide the same level of service for tired travelers. I was particularly struck by this last night when I returned at 11 PM, weary from a very full day, to find that the “turn down service” at the Xiamen Yeohwa Hotel included sprinkling rose petals on the sink and bathroom floor. The lovely smell made me smile, tired as I was.

Of course, many American hotels don’t provide a “turn down service” of any kind. The service we’ve had in China includes not only turning back your bedcovers but also putting out your hotel-provided slippers and robe.

Other hotel amenities:

• Apples in the room
• A “magic kettle” that boils water in less than a minute
• Porcelain tea service and nice quality tea
• Friendly and polite staff who not only provide directions in these large hotels but walk with you to your destination.

On the one day I had time to use the hotel health club, the assistant brought me water and a towel and insisted on helping me program the treadmill. Actually, I needed help, as it turned out. She asked me for my weight and looked shocked when I told her—then she told me the machine wanted my weight in kilos—not a number I carry in my head. She, of course, knew how to make the conversion.

I don’t need to be pampered—but I do think American and even European hotels could learn a little about hospitality from the Chinese.

The long relationship between Oregon and Fujian Province helped to make this part of our travels particularly successful. In Xiamen, Representative Richardson was named an honorary citizen of the province, and in Fuxhou, we were welcomed by people from the Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) who have known him for a number of years.

View from the bullet train.

Thursday (September 9) we took the bullet train from Xiamen to Fuzhou—enjoying quiet, rapid progress between cities in individual coaches set up to be sleeper cars. The FAO in Xiamen had even arranged to have our luggage transported separately by bus so we wouldn’t have to deal with it on the train. (I took pictures of the industrial and residential areas of Fujian Province from the train, but the perpetual grey skies make it hard to get a good photo.)

With the assistance of Meiwen Richards back in Ashland, I was able to meet with Fuzhou leaders from the Chamber of Commerce, who introduced me to a number of people interested in education, particularly higher education.

The highlight of the day was the official signing of an agreement between Fujian Normal University and SOU. Representative Richardson and I were welcomed warmly by university administrators. Fujian Normal University has grown over a hundred years from a teachers’ college to an extensive university with 40,000 students and a wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs at the master’s and doctoral level. They have partnerships with other universities, but we are the first partner from the U.S.—and again the relationship between Oregon and Fujian Province is significant. I am hopeful this relationship will prove fruitful for SOU.

This was a very successful day!

(Wednesday, September 8) After the long day at our CIFIT booth, the Fujian Province Foreign Affairs Office hosted our delegation at a lovely banquet and then transported us to a fireworks event celebrating the first day of this highly significant investment and trade show for Xiamen and for Fujian Province.

From the bus, we walked in the tropical evening through a park decorated by lanterns and brilliantly lit city skyscrapers to an enormous amphitheatre.

“Fireworks” doesn’t really begin to describe the event. Yes, there were fireworks—fireworks considerably more spectacular than any July 4^th fireworks we see in the U.S. (and I’ve attended the ones in Washington, D.C., which are pretty darn spectacular). But this event, titled “The World in Jubilation,” used stunning fireworks as a backdrop to even more dazzling celebrations on stage and screen—with enormous screens that moved back and forth as needed.

Singers, dancers, gymnasts, musicians—all performed in sync with music, with dramatic video on the huge screens, and with fireworks complementing the performances. Performers included singers well-known in China from Broadway and opera around the world.

The jaw-dropping event, which lasted over 90 minutes, ended with a dramatic rendition of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” and, of course, sensational fireworks. I’m sorry my camera can’t capture the illusions created by the multimedia performances. In my photos, though, you can see the golden key, which is the symbol of CIFIT—and of China’s announcement to the world that it is a key player in the world’s economy.

Interestingly for us visitors, one of the themes of this event was bridges—China’s interest in bridging to countries around the world, but particularly to Taiwan, sitting just a few miles across the water from mainland China.

President Cullinan and Representative Richardson at the opening of CIFIT

Thursday (September 9). CIFIT is China’s largest investment fair. Our delegation arrived in time for the opening ceremonies, which included Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, representatives from the UN, and other dignitaries speaking to the crowd, emphasizing China’s economic growth, and urging foreign investment in China. (According to a UN report released at CIFIT, China is the largest destination in the world for foreign direct investment.)

The booth that SOU shared with Bill Dunn’s Oregon company was modest amid the splashy and aggressive marketing being done all around us. However, SOU’s International Director Gary Miller and I visited with a constant flow of visitors all day long.

We shared business cards, gave away SOU brochures in Chinese, and had our pictures taken with dozens of interested people—from agents wanting to place students abroad to business people with family members interested in studying in the US to representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce stationed in China. Plus, we met some American students studying in China who enthusiastically offered to assist SOU in our internationalizing efforts.

It was an exhausting day, but one that could well lead to interesting and productive collaborations for SOU.

Xiamen is a beautiful coastal city. The Oregon delegation is here for two days to attend the 14th annual China Investment Fair for Investment and Trade (known as CIFIT). SOU is sharing a booth with delegation member Bill Dunn, who represents his grass seed company (Oregon is considered the “grass seed capital of the world”).

CIFIT is an enormous operation. Like the World Expo, this event highlights China’s tremendous strength as an economic power, but it also emphasizes the individual economic strength of Fujian Province and the city of Xiamen. Xiamen is clearly positioning itself as a rival to Taiwan, which lies just across the straits.

While others toured on Tuesday (September 7) Bill and I traveled to the conference center with our trusty translator assistants—two student volunteers from Xiamen University. (CIFIT and the local Foreign Affairs Office are using hundreds of students as volunteers for this event.) Our two students, Li (majoring in Artificial Intelligence) and Frank (majoring in English) worked very hard for us to overcome all obstacles as we set up our booth—setting up a TV and DVD player, acquiring a second table, and so on.

We could see, even on this day before CIFIT had opened, that many booths were spectacular—some five times larger than ours with huge screens, ten-foot high posters, and multimedia presentations. Our booth was humble. But we’d been given a good position in the enormous trade show building—right across the aisle from the booths set up by Iceland and by Lithuania. All photos M. Cullinan.