Building and Cultivating Trust
Dear Colleagues,
Last week, I had the honor of meeting with the second cohort of participants in the Research Leadership Development Program within the Research Leadership Academy, supported by the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR). Our discussion centered on building and cultivating a climate of trust, an essential element to continue our mission to serve our Commonwealth.
As we cultivate — and maintain — a climate of trust, it is vital that we continue collaborating on issues such as shared governance and our collective goals to instill in each other a greater sense of trust.
The UK-PURPOSE, the university’s strategic plan to advance Kentucky, calls upon all of us to ensure greater trust, transparency and accountability in everything that we do.
And to demonstrate the importance of this strategic plan principle, we have expanded our efforts to communicate more openly with you and the rest of the campus community. Through these weekly Faculty Focus newsletters, we improve and strengthen the channels of communication between your offices and ours. Further, by holding our regular College and Chairs’ Town Halls, we strive to provide each faculty member the opportunity to discuss concerns and ask questions that inform the important work you perform every day.
It is through this demonstration of trust that true innovation springs — transdisciplinary collaboration allows us to focus on putting students first. Only by tapping into that well of innovation can we build upon our shared mission to be Kentucky’s university.
Thank you for all your efforts in advancing our Commonwealth.
Robert S. DiPaola, M.D.
Provost