Photo by Rio Grande student Tammy Sharp

ThePresident’s
Message
Benjamin Franklin once said, “The only thing more
expensive than education is ignorance.” At the
University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community
College, we focus on investing in our most important
asset, our students. By investing in people, the future
is changed forever. As alumni, friends and valued
stakeholders, you are making a difference today which
will become a ripple effect for tomorrow, one student
at a time.
During the 2009-2010 fiscal year, great strides
were made on creating a measurable return on our
investment in people. While this annual report includes
some examples of the outstanding work of our
learners, faculty and staff, there are many, many others.
It is very safe to say that the Rio graduates permeate all
aspects of the employment landscape of southeastern
Ohio and beyond. You will find them in schools,
hospitals, power plants, art galleries, businesses, and
many other industries. Everyone responsible for these
graduates takes the education of these individuals very
seriously. We owe it to you and our region to provide
the very best possible experience which leads to
productive employment and satisfying lives.
I began my journey as president in October 2009.
Following are my observations about the great
institution we proudly call Rio Grande.
The Appalachian culture is the basis for the value
system of our university and college. Family values
are omnipresent in all the work done at Rio; in fact,
the institution operates as a closely-knit community
of those who watch out for each other. While there
are close to 1300 community colleges in the country,
there are few where everyone knows their classmates,
professors and administrators. There are even fewer
with a full residential campus and a university’s
full range of services. There are none with a public
community college partnering on one campus with a
private university, except Rio.
2010 Annual Report – Investing in People 1