Walk Like a Duck, Talk Like a Duck

Rewind the tape to last June, 2013. I was laying on my back after a recent back surgery when I received an email from a lady in the Admissions offices at Oregon University requesting me to join their Admissions Advisory Board. I was skeptical at first...I get a bunch of random junk-mail requests. After a few back and forth emails it was apparent they had recruited me (among other west coast principals) to the Admissions Advisory Board where I serve a 3 year term. The term includes 2 all expenses paid visits to OU a year to learn about their school and to share perspectives on college -readiness, student needs and ideas for the future.

Fast forward to last month (April, 2014). The weather was rainy but the hospitality was warm and inviting. I had the opportunity to hear from current Oregon University students during a luncheon, which included 3 former Huskies. They loved the family atmosphere of the school. They told me the professors really take the time to get to know the students and they are always accessible. Dorms are very close to classrooms and athletic facilities (the campus is actually very small in acreage). 

The staff members I met were very interested in how they could serve students better. All the principals on the board (most were from Oregon with a few from California, Hawaii and Colorado) were able to ask questions and share ideas--which was very refreshing. 

One highlight of my trip was hearing from the dean of their Honors College. He is an archeologist known all over the world as a leading researcher in Easter Island. Most of our questions were about Easter Island, as you can imagine, but he did go into great detail about what they are looking for from potential students to their program. They want students intellectually curious, who are problem solvers, good writers and can work with others. 

So if any of our students want to walk like a duck and talk like a duck...there you go...straight from the mouth of the Honor's College Dean of Oregon University. I look forward to my future visits to OU along with bringing home more OU gear for me and my family members (ha-ha).