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News Release

Oblinger Delivers State of NC State Address; Announces Energy Initiative

Media Contact(s)

Keith Nichols, News Services, (555) 515-7159

Sept. 27, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

North Carolina State University Chancellor James Oblinger called for the university community to continue delivering leadership and "relevant solutions" to the biggest issues in North Carolina and beyond in his State of NC State address today.

"Someone has to take a leadership role in helping the world deal with the technical, ethical and societal changes - sweeping changes - coming at us," he said. "I can think of no better place to move strongly and positively into that future than at NC State. We will not let the future define us by its dilemmas. We will define the future with our solutions.

"As we look ahead today, we see a future driven by the transformative power of innovation, and a future that calls for bold leadership in challenging times," Oblinger said. "That leadership can and does come from virtually every part of our organization.  There is ample evidence that we are changing the world around us for the better and true to our history we will continue to be leaders in this changing world."

Oblinger also outlined the university's new strategic plan. He said the university's planning efforts had benefited from campuswide input and from conversations with higher education leaders on the future of NC State. Five "focus areas" emerged from that work:

• Producing leaders for the state, nation and world
• Creating educational innovation
• Improving health and well being
• Fueling economic development, and
• Driving innovation in energy and the environment

These five focus areas not only encompass some of the world's most pressing needs," Oblinger said, "but also match NC State's capacity for teaching, research and engagement. They are the reasons we must continue to be leaders, drivers and translators of change."

Oblinger said during the coming year the university would give added emphasis to energy.

"Here at home, our state is an importer of energy at a cost of about $16 billion per year," he said. "Reversing that equation - even a little bit - would be a long-term economic driver for the state.

"NC State has a broad portfolio of energy and environmental research that will continue to develop new technologies. We also have the proven capacity and ability to lead the policy discussions and build the partnerships (that will) help the state and nation on the energy front."

Oblinger pointed to the university's energy research, including a green process called "Centia" that produces fuel from virtually any fat source, including animal fats, algae, waste greases and agricultural oils. The process was licensed this year to Arizona-based Diversified Energy Corporation.

An energy council made up of students, faculty, staff, alumni and industry leaders will direct the energy-focused efforts, which will include:

• Investing in faculty and graduate student support, including faculty cluster hires, in energy and the environment
• Building a pilot plant for cellulosic ethanol at Lake Wheeler, near similar pilot plants for biodiesel and biomass production
• Leading the energy policy discussion by bringing together national leaders at the annual Emerging Issues Forum in February
• Installing a small solar power generation station near the RBC Center in partnership with NC Greenpower - "a first step toward helping North Carolina meet the latest renewable fuel standards for the state's utilities"
• Welcoming some of the nation's top research and policy experts, such as Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, who will speak at NC State on Oct. 23.

Oblinger also encouraged the campus community to do a better job of telling NC State's "great stories."

"These days, being good at what we do is not enough," he said. "It is important that we get better at telling our stories. It's easy to think we've been so busy doing the work that we haven't gone about the telling of our stories. But it's time for all of us to tell our stories."

Oblinger also reflected on NC State's accomplishments over the last year, including more than 100,000 volunteer hours logged by students, reaching the Achieve fund-raising campaign goal 19 months early and a record year for new partners on Centennial Campus.

He also thanked the legislature, governor and the people of North Carolina for their support of NC State.

"As a result of the confidence of our donors, the work of the governor and state legislature, and the goodwill of North Carolina's voters who said "yes" to the Higher Education Bond Referendum of 2000, NC State has the foundation for continuing to be a leader," Oblinger said.

Excerpts from Chancellor James Oblinger's State of NC State presentation:

• "As North Carolina transitioned from an economy focused largely on manufacturing, furniture and traditional agriculture to an economy focused on banking, biotechnology, value-added agriculture and new-wave textiles, NC State has helped lead the way.
  
  "We were there at the creation and emergence of the Research Triangle Park and established our own version of RTP with Centennial Campus.
  
  "Our ability to build relationships, coalitions and partnerships has helped position North Carolina as a relocation destination for individuals, for businesses and for corporations."

• "Accomplishing (our) plans requires us to push ourselves to act boldly, to hold true to our heritage while moving confidently into a world that calls for our leadership."

• "We do what we do because we have the vision...the capacity...and the will to use our abilities for the greater good."

• "We have seen the future and it is very much what we make of it."

• "We know that creative, dedicated faculty and staff drive our knowledge-based activities. We understand that competitive compensation, professional development opportunities and a supportive work environment are the keys to continuing to attract and retain high quality faculty and staff.
  
  "We will continue to work with President Bowles, the UNC System and the legislature to continue moving faculty salaries toward the 80th percentile as compared to our peers."

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NC State University News Services (919) 515-3470 or newstips@ncsu.edu