Orientation

Welcome Fellow Students and Colleagues!

We begin this school year a little later than is the custom. In many ways that is just as it should be. It is often said that we're never too old to learn, a saying that I entirely agree with. I would only add that we should never fear that we have waited too long to begin our learning.

I've been privileged to attend several institutes of higher learning before becoming dean of this fine school, and I have to say that I'm so glad to be back in an academic setting. Though there are many down sides to academia--roommates, professors with over-inflated egos, assignments that end any hope of a social life--there are many more positives such as the creative spirit that thrives in this environment of free thinking, the idealism and hope of a better tomorrow, and the fun and excitement of learning something new, making mistakes and sharing ideas with friends.

These we will hold as our ideals:

1. Learning, though often painful, can be fun and inspiring. As we learn we gain energy and enthusiasm becoming young again with our minds and hearts open to a world of possibilities.
2. Mistakes, set-backs, and even complete duds are all learning experiences. We will not let these trials or errors keep us back. Instead we will press forward with faith in ourselves believing that eventually, perhaps in ways we've never before envisioned, we will succeed.
3. As a Community of Learners we're stronger together than we ever were alone. Every learner deserves respect for the courage they show in trying to reach beyond their known. Many of us don't need a teacher so much as a facilitator, a mentor, or a friend to guide us through our own thoughts and point us in new directions.
4. Every Subject, however trivial it may seem to others, can have some worth and value. Intellectual snobbery is the result of a lack of imagination and/or true understanding. Though we will not choose to focus on every subject in the known universe, we will be respectful of all.
   
5. Lastly, learning is like growing a tree, the utmost limbs can only reach as far as the trunks and supporting branches will allow them to go. We start learning from where we are. That is all that we can do. We will not be ashamed of who we are now. We are only trying to be the best we can be by learning all that we can.
   

Here at the University of Lisa we will explore many subjects. Courses on classics such as Shakespeare, Jane Austin, John Donne will take place along side more contemporary topics such as Manga, Mystery in Children's Literature, and the works of David Wiesner. At the same time, this is very much a university where Underwater Basket Weaving would have a place, because, after all, a hand-crafted basket can be a work of art.

Our curriculum will begin by focusing on several basic topics, including:

• Literature
• Writing
• Science
  
• Cooking
• Sewing
• Crafting
  
• Self-Improvement
  

These few topics are only a beginning, a starting point.

Every class, whatever the subject, will have certain requirements, goals, set by the student. Through these goals, we hope to encourage students to do and learn more and to give students a high reaching aim and a measure by which they may eventually evaluate their progress. Making such goals is also a learning process, however, and so we will give students the opportunity and means to amend and change those goals as need requires, without penalty.

The last point that I want to make is perhaps the most important. Here at the University of Lisa, we're all students as well as teachers. As dean, I love to teach and share what knowledge that I've gained, and I hope in turn that each of you will share with me so that I too might grow. I take responsibility for my own learning and for knowing how I learn. Writing and tracking my progress helps me to reflect on my successes and failures and ultimately to learn more and learn better.

This then is the ultimate purpose of the University of Lisa--to help me learn.

Enjoy the semester, and please feel free to stop by my office any time you'd like to chat about your academic endeavors!