For the first time since commencement, Bemidji State University’s community of faculty, staff and administrators gathered together, in-person, to kick off the 2021-22 academic year at President Faith C. Hensrud’s annual Welcome Breakfast.

After an outdoor breakfast and coffee social, more than 275 members of the university’s faculty, staff and administration gathered in-person and virtually to review the university’s accomplishments throughout President Hensrud’s tenure and overview the six strategic priorities for her final year on campus.

“While we are not fully in person, and the breakfast has been scaled back, it is good to see so many of you on campus, interacting with one another and breathing life into these buildings,” she said. “Very soon we will also welcome our students back into this space with us.”

Commending the dedication shown by the BSU community to create a safe and healthy academic environment amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Hensrud detail her plans to guide campus toward two overarching goals for the 2021-2022 school year; to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the campus community and give students the support they need to continue making progress toward their educational goals.

“As a public institution of higher education, student success is our foremost purpose as we engage and educate young people every day,” she said.

Additionally, Hensrud shared the progress of her 2018-2023 strategic plan which seeks to elevate the university’s service to the state of Minnesota and its people. The five-year plan outlines institutional priorities that ensure BSU’s continued development toward student success, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and financial sustainability.

“Over these five years, I have gotten to know and admire you as a group and as individuals. I remain deeply grateful for your support, your confidence and your sincere commitment to our students and their success,” she said. “As each day passes, I am more convinced than ever that BSU is a remarkable place, with over a century of service to the people of Minnesota and the world.”

As she enters her sixth and final year as BSU’s president, Hensrud outlined her six priorities for the 2021-2022 academic year in addition to her two overarching goals.

• Focus on stewardship of place and community engagement.
• Invest in student enrollment & retention.
• Make progress on Equity 2030 goals.
• Prepare the campus for future BSU foundation campaigns.
• Complete the search for Bemidji State’s 12th president.

Dr. Allen Bedford, vice president of academic affairs, Travis Greene, vice president of student life and success, and Steven D. Parker, campus diversity officer, also presented their plans to contribute to Hensrud’s six 2021-2022 priorities.

“We have some work to do this year, and I look forward to your partnership to get this work done,” she said. “With that said, my final priority for this year will be for the successful search and smooth transition to your next president. As I reflect back to years past, I recall that first breakfast in 2016, when as a very new president, I stood before feeling amazed by the tremendous leadership responsibility I was taking on. Five years later, I can say I have been extremely proud of what we, as a collective, have been able to accomplish.”

Startup activities continue throughout the week in advance of BSU’s annual residence hall Move-In Day on Aug. 20. Fall classes begin Aug. 23.

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