Ceremony Remarks

Speakers

Invocation by Rev. Kevin Heckathorn

Creator God, through whom all things are made possible, we join together here today in remembrance of all those who have gone before us at Champlain College. We are thankful to You for the many great minds and hearts that have graced the grounds of this great institution. We are grateful for the innovation and learning, the increase in knowledge and service to others, and for the sense of community that have been nurtured here. We give You thanks for this establishment where, through guidance and discipline, one can be challenged to advance toward their fullest potential -- both professionally and morally. We are appreciative of the many educators, administrators, trustees, and specifically today, the presidents who have provided guidance, wisdom, discipline and care throughout the history of this college in an endeavor to fulfill the promises and visions set forth in its past.

Spirit of All Life, we pray for Your presence with us during this time. We give thanks for the vision that you have set forth for Champlain College and we give thanks for this new beginning. We pray a blessing particularly, today, upon this time and upon its new president, David Finney. We pray for strength of heart and for clarity of thought, and we pray that he might have courage and wisdom in times of challenge.

Today, as we gather here, may we greet one another with open hearts and minds, may we inspire and challenge one another in the search for deeper meaning and purpose, and may we always seek to cultivate and nourish wisdom and compassion. May all who are present here today feel welcomed in the spirit of Your love and grace. Amen.

Greetings from Governor James Douglas

Good afternoon. It's a pleasure to be here and to have the opportunity to extend my greetings and congratulations on behalf of the State of Vermont to President Finney and Champlain College on this very important occasion.

As I've noted many times, the strength and security of Vermont's economy is imperative to fostering our growth and development as a state, and to continually enhancing the quality of life for all Vermont families. A good job not only sustains us financially, it also creates a sense of pride, well-being and commitment to our community. The top priority of my Administration is to bolster Vermont's economy and to create more and better paying jobs for the working people of this state.

I've long believed that education is not simply a building block, but, in fact, the very cornerstone of economic success. Higher education, in particular, fosters the independence, personal growth, and drive to excel in the highly-skilled, highly-motivated workforce that is so vital to securing Vermont's economic future.

Champlain College is a wonderful example of a higher learning institution poised to keep pace with our state's evolving economic and employment conditions. At Champlain, professional development is fostered through innovative programs incorporating technical savvy, in-depth market knowledge, fiscal responsibility and a commitment to public service. This dedication to preparing students for career success is reflected in Champlain College's several pro-Vermont business initiatives.

One such program, the S. D. Ireland Family Center for Global Business and Technology, allows Champlain students the opportunity to work with Vermont businesses and non-profit organizations to create real-world solutions to challenges in the marketplace. Another venture, the Vermont Information Technology Center, which Champlain operates in conjunction with the Vermont Technology Council, is an invaluable resource for the expanding IT sector of Vermont's economy. In 2002, in fact, Champlain College hosted Vermont's first Governor's Institute on Information Technology.

Perhaps an even more obvious way in which Champlain is committed to Vermont's ever-growing economy is evidenced by the fact that the College employs more than 340 faculty and staff on its Burlington campus, providing good jobs for many Vermonters.

In addition to Champlain's emphasis on professional growth, the College exhibits a strong desire to make higher education accessible to prospective students who might not otherwise have had the opportunity available to them. Champlain created Vermont's first computer-based, online distance learning program in 1993. Today, Champlain College OnLine enables students to earn a degree online, an accomplishment which may have proved difficult in the traditional classroom setting, where studies must compete with work and family obligations. This innovative program, coupled with the College's strong continuing education initiative, has provided many Vermonters with the opportunity to achieve their academic goals, thereby expanding their career horizons and further improving Vermont's economic outlook.

It is this tradition of innovative business sense and deep dedication to accessible, high-quality education that President David F. Finney has inherited as Champlain College's seventh president. His 20-year career at New York University highlights an impressive record of leadership, ingenuity and vision. Through his work as Dean of NYU's School of Continuing and Professional Studies, and through his creation of NYU's Study Abroad and Office of Corporate Learning Services programs, he has demonstrated an uncommon commitment to expanding education and to partnerships with the business world that are so essential to success in today's global environment. I am confident that Dr. Finney is an excellent match for Champlain College, and that their shared philosophies will guide the College well in the years to come.

I am also confident that under Dr. Finney's leadership, Champlain's relationship with the State of Vermont will continue to improve. Champlain College, and indeed all higher learning institutions in the state, are in a unique position to attract, educate, and retain a dynamic, dedicated workforce for Vermont -- a relationship that will be a central component of our efforts to address Vermont's changing demographics.

Both Champlain College and Dr. Finney have been credited as having an "entrepreneurial spirit", and I think it's more than accurate to describe Vermonters in the same light. Known for being ruggedly individualistic and guided by common sense, when Vermonters want things done right, they know they can rely on themselves -- and each other -- to get the job done, and done well. By bringing these three entrepreneurial entities together, I believe we have the basis for an innovative and forward-thinking partnership: one well positioned to lead Vermont into the competitive and rewarding twenty-first century -- a century of tremendous hope and opportunity.

President Finney, once again, I offer you my most sincere congratulations on behalf of the State of Vermont. I wish you all the best in your new role, and I look forward to working together with you and Champlain College to achieve our shared vision of quality education and quality employment opportunities for all Vermonters.

Greetings from Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle, read by Robert Allen, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees

Mayor Peter Clavelle is in New Zealand today, visiting his son who is on an exchange program there. However, he did want to share in the festivities and sent the following greetings from the people of Burlington:

Congratulations to Champlain College and President David Finney on the occasion of President Finney's Inauguration. I am sorry that I am unable to join you this afternoon. I have had the opportunity to meet President Finney and to welcome him to Burlington. I know that he will contribute significantly to the ongoing success of Champlain College.

Burlington and Champlain College are interdependent in many ways. Each gains vitality, reputation and opportunity from the other. As Mayor of the City of Burlington, I acknowledge and reaffirm that interdependence. Together, we can make this city and this college even stronger.

Greetings from Robert Allen, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of Champlain College it is indeed an honor and a pleasure for me to welcome you to the Inauguration of Dr. David F. Finney as the seventh president of the College. I would like to personally thank Governor Douglas for taking time from his busy schedule to join us today and to Mayor Peter Clavelle for his words of support for the College. In the audience this afternoon we also are honored to have representatives from 41 institutions of higher learning from around the nation. I thank you all for taking the time to be with us for this most important event in the life of the College.

The history of Champlain began in the later part of the 19th century. The College opened its doors in 1878 as Burlington Collegiate Institute and soon was renamed Burlington Business College. For much of its history the College served mostly Vermont residents. It has been carrying out its mission to prepare students for successful careers for more than 125 years.

For more than a century the College fulfilled its mission as a two-year institution. In the early 1990s it became apparent to the administration and board of the College that in many fields of study a two-year degree was simply not enough preparation for careers in an increasingly complex world. In 1991, the College began offering bachelor's degrees and in 1993 it became a pioneer in online education. Champlain opened its first satellite campus in Israel in 1995.

Today, Champlain has established itself as a four-year institution with a strong financial base and a vibrant campus life. The College educates over 1,700 full-time students from 26 states and 28 different countries on the Burlington campus. Champlain now offers undergraduate degrees in more than 24 fields of study, including the one of the nation's first bachelor's degrees in e-gaming. We offer a master's degree in information technology and a recently approved master of business administration. We continue to offer more than 25 professional certificates. The College has been recognized for innovative programs of study in career disciplines chosen for their relevance to the needs of the marketplace.

Under the leadership of now President Emeritus Dr. Roger Perry and Provost Dr. Russell Willis, the College completed its first-ever formal strategic plan in the Fall of 2004. Champlain also recently finished a $31 million dollar campus expansion that included the Ireland Family Center for Global Business and Technology, The Main Street Suites and the IDX Student Life Center, where you are seated today. Dr. Perry's sound fiscal management and his commitment to a culture of innovation provided his successor with a solid platform upon which to move the College to the next level.

In a few moments you will have the opportunity to hear Dr. Finney's initial thoughts on the future direction of Champlain College. As a trustee with more than eight years of service to the College, I can say without hesitation that the most exciting years for Champlain College lie ahead. It has been a wild ride getting to where we are today, but I am confident that the next 10 years will bring even more change and innovation.

I have fastened my seatbelt and I am ready to go. I invite you all to travel along with us as we move rapidly into the next century of educational leadership.

Greetings from Dr. Russell Willis, Provost and Chief Academic Officer

On behalf of the students, faculty and staff, I bring greetings to all of our guests, and formally welcome you, President Finney, to the community we call Champlain College.

In many ways it seems absurd to treat this as a welcoming ceremony. Even before you took the reins on July 1st, you made yourself comfortable in our midst, participating in a myriad of events in the spring. You celebrated with students who were about to graduate, sharing with them your joy in their accomplishments. You also took the time to glean from them what the Champlain experience was all about, from their perspective. During the May Faculty Collaborative you listened intently to the faculty and began challenging them with some new ideas. You joined them at Shelburne Farms in their celebration of another successful academic year. You also began to interact with many of the offices on campus, putting names, faces and tasks together as you came to know the College's staff.

Once you officially hit campus your door swung open wide to receive visits from students, employees, trustees and friends of the College. In these conversations again you listened, but from the start you also engaged your conversation partners in discovering the essence of Champlain College, and in beginning to share your vision of what Champlain could yet become. You have also engaged us in town hall meetings and committees, many of which you created. In each of these venues you have expressed your energy, commitment and vision. But maybe even more importantly, you have shared your joy in being here with us.

Finally, but for one notable exception, we have also found you to be a trustworthy leader. Today we formally forgive you for promising us that you would make no major decisions during the first 90 days of your presidency. It wasn't long before you blatantly failed to live up to that promise. However, we profoundly thank you for that indiscretion, for you have energized us all by your probing questions, your decisive thinking, your drive to seek excellence and your willingness to share our vision of what Champlain is yet to become.

Greetings from The International College in Mumbai, offered by Victor Soares, visiting faculty member

On behalf of the students, faculty and staff of Champlain College's Mumbai Campus, we welcome President Dave Finney. The International College -- Champlain's satellite campus in Mumbai -- is not unlike the campus in Burlington, Vermont. There may be obvious differences. But it is amazing that when you speak with a student or a professor from the Mumbai campus, you will hear the same tone of excitement that you hear from a student or a professor in the Burlington campus. Undoubtedly, this is exactly what President Finney heard when he spoke with the trustees, faculty staff and students during the presidential search process.

The students of the Mumbai campus have made a DVD which will be shown at the Fireplace Lounge during the reception. As a token of welcome, our campus has a couple of gifts: a metal engraving of Lord Ganesh, who is a symbol of leadership, strength and joy; and a cricket jersey -- a pullover that symbolizes the Indian cricket team's recent taste of success through great leadership that has taken our country to match the best in the world.

We once again welcome President Finney. It is a pleasure to believe Champlain's approach to education has also been very successful in our campus in Mumbai.

Introduction of Dr. David Finney by Holly Miller, Trustee and Co-chairperson of the Presidential Search Committee

Good afternoon. This is a special, much-anticipated day.

This day is about vision, about a new era for Champlain College under the leadership of a man who has proven himself to be an exemplar of educational innovation.

This day marks the Inauguration of the seventh president of Champlain College, Dr. David F. Finney. As Bob Allen told you, I had the honor of co-chairing the Presidential Search Committee that yielded the selection of this extraordinary educator. It was an open, exciting process that began in January of 2004, and brought the College community together to collect its input on a vision for the future and on the new leader who would take us there. As he assumes his place in a succession of distinguished Champlain presidents, we look forward to working with President Finney to implement his vision for the College. I know that I speak for Bob and the other members of the Search Committee, the Board of Trustees and the entire College community when I say how confident I am that as David meets the challenges that lie ahead for Champlain College, he will forge solutions that will keep this institution at the forefront of educational innovation, student centeredness and community engagement.

This day we laud the College's enduring strengths: its ability to stay focused on the present while looking toward a future of possibilities; its resourcefulness, which springs from being agile enough to embrace change while maintaining a commitment to the principles of Champlain's mission; its willingness to take risks as an essential ingredient in continuing its role as an educational leader; and its charge to avail its students of the opportunities for growth both in the classroom and the working world. We look forward to building upon those strengths under the guidance of David Finney, whose years at New York University aptly illustrate his ability both to meet the needs of the University's students while taking the pulse of the future.

This day is about celebration. We are so pleased and so gratified to welcome officially to the Champlain College community a president whose purpose, vision and commitment will build upon the ideals that have made Champlain what it is today, and will transform it into an institution of even grander stature in the years ahead.

It is my pleasure to introduce the seventh president of Champlain College, Dr. David F. Finney.

Service of Investiture, performed by Robert Allen, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees

The Service of Investiture is the symbolic means of bestowing recognition, authority and moral responsibility for the office of President of the College. Dr. Finney, will you please come forward.

Dave, you are soon to be invested as the seventh president of Champlain College. You inherit a college with a rich history and a future full of promise. Though you have been very active fulfilling your role since arriving in July, today you symbolically accept the responsibilities of your office.

The material symbol of the office of the president is the Presidential Medallion.

This Presidential Medallion was the gift of the Skiff Family to mark the Inauguration of Robert A. Skiff as the fifth president of Champlain College in 1977. The Medallion carries the Seal of the College and identifies its wearer as the College's president.

David F. Finney, The Board of Trustees has chosen you to be the seventh president of Champlain College. You now have the privilege and responsibility to lead the College to the fulfillment of its great promise: to be a national leader in educating today's students to become skilled practitioners, effective professionals and global citizens in the 21st century.

So now, by the virtue of the authority of the Board of Trustees of Champlain College, I present to you the Presidential Medallion, the symbol of the high office which you now hold.

On behalf of the trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of this extraordinary college, I formally welcome you as the seventh president of Champlain College. We have confidence in you and will support your leadership in the fulfillment of our common vision.

Benediction by Rev. Mary Abele

As this Inauguration comes to a close, I'd like to read a poem by Edward Abbey.

May your trails be crooked and winding, leading to the most amazing view!
May your rivers flow without end, meandering through pastoral valleys
tinkling with bells, past temples and castles and poets' towers
into a dark primeval forest where tigers roar and monkeys howl,
through miasmal and mysterious swamps and down into a desert of red rock, blue mesas, domes
and pinnacles and grottoes of endless stone,
and down again into a deep vast ancient unknown chasm
where bars of sunlight blaze on profiled cliffs,
where deer walk across the white sand beaches
where storms come and go,
as lightning clangs upon the high crags,
where something strange and more beautiful
and more full of wonder than your deepest dreams
waits for you -- beyond that next turning of the canyon walls.

May your deepest dreams for Champlain College, and the highest purpose of its staff, administration and students be realized in your tenure as president. May the blessings of God and the Divine guide your thoughts, words and actions, and guide the path and purpose of the College with loving care in the years to come. Amen.