Message from the Chancellor

Message from the Chancellor

November, 2007

One of the primary missions of the University of Arkansas is to prepare our students for success after graduation. What is the recipe for a successful college experience? Certainly, well-rounded, well-prepared college students ought to pursue a rigorous course of study - one that expands their minds and captures their imaginations. They should learn from top-notch faculty, learn to work on diverse teams and have the opportunity to conduct leading-edge research. And, without question, they should participate in a wealth of civic and social activities. Ideally, each of these college experiences will build upon the others to help prepare students for whatever life holds for them.

We're committed to presenting all these experiences to our students. Very few universities combine the variety and quality of course offerings, world-class faculty, research opportunities and engaging extracurricular activities that the University of Arkansas does.

However, there are other, more intangible ingredients in the "recipe for success." One of the most important, and often overlooked, aspects of a successful college experience is the opportunity to forge a more developed system of values. Our diverse campus community - students, faculty and staff - hold a broad range of viewpoints, opinions and beliefs. The exposure our students receive to all these different ideas challenges them to think more critically and develop a deeper understanding of right and wrong.

Last spring, the University hosted David Callahan, author of the bestselling book, The Cheating Culture: Why More Americans Are Doing Wrong to Get Ahead. Callahan argues that cheating and acceptance of cheating have become so widespread that our nation faces a moral crisis. This issue of Research Frontiers features a fascinating story on the groundbreaking research conducted by our own Tim West, associate professor in accounting in the Sam M. Walton College of Business and holder of the BKD Lectureship, on cheating among college students. I don't want to spoil your read, but suffice it to say that his findings are eye-opening.

We've all had to make choices between doing "the easy thing" and "the right thing." At times like these, we've drawn on our life experiences - many of them from our own college years - to make our decisions. At the University of Arkansas, we are committed to preparing our students to be successful in life and doing so "the right way" - through intellect, hard work and a commitment to the greater good.

Sincerely,

John A. White
Chancellor