Chancellor Victor J. Boschini Jr. officially kicked off TCU’s 139^th academic year, telling faculty, staff and students gathered at Convocation Thursday that the university’s recent accomplishments also bring new challenges.

“It’s a great time to be a Horned Frog and I think that’s pretty universal,” he told the audience in Ed Landreth Auditorium.

He noted the university was recently named “Best in the West” by the Princeton Review, the “Hottest School in Texas” by Fort Worth, Texas magazine, one of the top 42 great colleges to work for by the Chronicle of Higher Education, and made U.S. News & Word Report’s list of the top 100 colleges and top 20 Up & Coming National Universities.”

“These recognitions and the moves they reflect to excellence are terrific, but exceeding our own expectations brings with it many opportunities and challenges,” he added.

TCU again welcomed a record number of incoming freshmen, adding 1,890 in the Class of 2015. Boschini noted the university has also added 99 new faculty members and 134 additional staff members over the last two years, keeping the student-faculty ratio at 13 to 1.

“We cannot become complacent. The moment we think we’ve arrived is the moment our journey to excellence ends, and that’s my biggest fear for TCU now,” Boschini said. “We’re going to get too caught up in ourselves, so I encourage everyone including me to be humble.”

He referenced the book The Art of Innovation by Tom Kelley, which tells the story of how bicycle manufacturer Schwinn, once the leading bicycle manufacturer in the nation — selling one out of every four bikes — became complacent and wrote off mountain bikes as a passing fad. Today, mountain bikes account for 70 percent of all bikes sold and Schwinn has lost market share to competitors such as Specialized, a company whose motto is “Innovate or die.”

Boschini said in today’s rapidly changing world, institutions have to offer something special to survive and thrive.

“TCU does stand for some extraordinary,” he said. “We must keep this university competitive and successful.”

With the annual cost of a TCU education topping $43,000, Boschini said that scholarships must continue to be a priority. So far, the Campaign for TCU’s Scholarship Initiative has raised $84.6 million of its $100 million goal.

“It’s essential that TCU increased need-based aid for talented and deserving students,” Boschini said. “We must ensure that a TCU education is accessible to all students.”

He also invited the greater campus community to be a part of TCU’s future by participating in the quest for “the big idea.”

“We’re calling on the campus community to come up with ideas that will enhance student learning and the theme of innovation and inquiry,” he said.

He said the university is entering a year of discussion and dialogue as it undergoes the accreditation process required by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

“What will my mantra be this year? It will be listening,” he said. “I’m really going to try harder to be a better listener this year. Winston Churchill once said courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. I hope to be a very courageous person this year as I focus a lot on listening and a lot on sitting.”

The chancellor presented the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar to Molly Weinburgh, (above left) William and Betty Adams Chair in Education and director of the Andrews Institute of Math, Science & Technology Education.

“I have to thank those colleagues from my college and others colleges who made me think things I never would have thought, pursued interests that I wouldn’t have even known I was interested in, and pushed me to be a little better,” Weinburgh said. “Thank you for walking with me and taking me with you.

 “And last, to those of you who keep sitting in the back row, the students, you are the ones who really allow our scholarship and our teaching to come forth, so thank you,” she added.

Geology Professor Ken Morgan, (above right) director of the TCU Energy Institute, was awarded the Wassenich Award for Mentoring in the TCU Community.

Immediately following Convocation, participants walked to the lawn in front of Jarvis Hall to witness the unveiling of one of four historical markers placed on campus to commemorate the university’s oldest buildings.

Bronze plaques also have been place in front of the Bailey Building, Erma Lowe Hall, and Dave C. Reed Hall as part of the Century of Partnership celebration.

After the unveiling, TCU continued the tradition of hosting a reception honoring TCU’s founders, Addison and Randolph Clark, on the lawn between Mary Couts Burnett Library and Winton-Scott Hall, featuring the TCU Jazz Ensemble.

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Photo gallery:
139th Convocation in pictures

From the archives:
138th Convocation – September 2010
137th Convocation – September 2009
136th Convocation – September 2008

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