This has been a great opportunity This evening
To be here in Harrisonburg
To kick off our listening tour
It was a real privilege for me to get to hear
From all of the different constituencies  
Represented from around our community 
We had faculty, We had staff, we had alumni 
Community members who really care
About this university, about this community 
And to share their thoughts, their hopes
Their aspirations for where we can go
One thing when we talk about the educational
Process when people talked about being
Prepared for life long learning they came here
And were given opportunity 
I kept hearing that people at JMU don't
Say no, but they try and help people get to yes
They try to help people if they have ideas 
If they want to explore different areas
Start new projects they are told yes
We can find a way to do that
And we can help you
To hear that the attitude of the university is
One of look this is an educational institution 
That's a great idea lets see what we can do
To bring it to fruition even as we think about
How we can be more efficient and effective
And use technology that we cant forget 
That those human relationships and that 
Human touch is central to what we do
And its something JMU has done very well 
And I think its made us a very distinctive 
Institution 
