Williams has "big dreams" for UC

President Gregory Williams rallied for moving the university forward at his first All-University Faculty Address Wednesday, Nov. 18, to an audience of more than 100 people.

After taking the stage, Williams took time to thank the University of Cincinnati’s faculty as well as former President Nancy Zimpher and Interim President Monica Rimai for their efforts in “thorny” situations.

“We need to stay the course,” Williams said. “In higher education, you’re either moving backward or you’re moving forward. There is no status quo.”

Williams then thanked the audience, which was mostly made up of faculty and staff from the 14 university colleges represented at the address.

“We do truly have a world-class faculty here,” he said. “Do we have the potential to achieve, on this campus, things we never dreamed of before?”

Marla Hall, UC faculty chair and an associate professor at the College of Engineering and Applied Science, mentioned the static between the Board of Trustees and the faculty regarding the approval of the funding of the Jefferson Sports Complex.

The funding, which was approved by the Board of Trustees Tuesday morning, did not have satisfactory faculty input, although UC’s faculty is instrumental in the progress of the university, Hall said.

“[Faculty] successes may not be evidenced on prime time or the big screen, but they are innumerable,” Hall said. “The success is largely in the hands of the faculty.”

While Hall and Williams might have clashed over the finalization of the funding for the Jefferson Sports Complex, the president said conversation with opposing opinions encourages better ideas.

Williams also outlined his plan for the future of the university, reminding the audience that UC also stands for “up and coming.”

“While the six goals of UC|21 are spectacular, do they need to be refreshed or revised?” Williams said. “How do we prioritize our priorities?”

The recent progress and semester conversion were also mentioned by the president, who said that his first two weeks at the university have been hectic. Meetings with UC leaders as well as state legislators have taken up a large portion of time, Williams said.

Williams also recounted his youth growing up in Muncie, Ind. and how its effects shape his dream-big attitude toward the UC presidency.

“I have no doubt that UC has the capacity and desire to be the best and to become a truly premier and national university,” he said.