President Scott S. Cowen
President's Convocation for New Students and their Families
Tulane University
August 24, 2002

Why Are You Here?

It is my great pleasure to welcome the classes of 2006 and 2007 to Tulane University. We are absolutely delighted that you are now part of our community and look forward to your years with us.

Today, you are joining the community of distinguished and accomplished people who have preceded you since the founding of this institution in 1834 as the Medical College of Louisiana, and the subsequent creation of Tulane University in 1884 and H. Sophie Newcomb College in 1886. We have more than 91,000 living alumni located around the world, working in distinguished careers in virtually every walk of life. I hope and expect that many of you in this class will join this distinguished group in the future. That process starts today.

Before I get to all the serious stuff, let me spend a few minutes telling you about your classmates. You are a member of the most academically qualified class in this university’s history. Virtually every student in the audience graduated at least in the top 25 percent of his or her graduating class, most in the top 10 percent. Your average SATs put you in the top 5 percent of all test-taking students in the nation.

Of course, this performance is what earned your admission to Tulane University, and now it is time to start over with a clean slate. Obviously, not all of you will be in the top 5, 10, or 20 percent of the class during your time at Tulane. But the real key to the next few years is not what rank you might achieve, but what you make of this experience afforded you—well, perhaps I should say afforded you in one sense, and your parents in a more financial sense!

As I was thinking about this year’s convocation remarks I came across an interesting article in the New York Times entitled: “What is Higher Education For?” In the article, the writer poses a question that is particularly germane to us today. The question was: What is the purpose of an undergraduate education? In other words: Why are you here today and what do you hope to accomplish during your time with us?

I suspect there could be at least three answers to these questions: yours, your parents,’ and mine.

As for why you are here, your answers might include:

• To have fun.
• To wear Bermuda shorts and bask in the N.O. sun year round.
• To live away from home.
• And, oh yes, I hope you include “furthering my education” on that list.

As for myself and your parents—and, I hope, many of you—we believe you are here to fulfill expectations, to pursue a degree that will lead to a successful career in whatever fields of endeavor you choose, to establish a firm basis for a personally fulfilling life, and to explore your vast potential.

It is the original question, however—concerning the purpose of an undergraduate education—that I’d like us to ponder as we gather here today at the beginning of your university years.

There are at least four purposes for pursuing an undergraduate education and, again, I suspect some of your answers might differ from my own.

Number One

For many of you, asked why you want an undergraduate degree, your answer might be something like this: “I want to learn the things that will help me be successful, make money, and climb the greased pole of success—over the bodies of my competitors, if necessary.”

There are a number of problems with that viewpoint. If you focus on one area to the exclusion of others, you’re going to miss an awful lot of the intellectual smorgasbord your college years should be. This is a time to learn, think and to develop the “habits of the mind” in ways that will probably never again be available to you after graduation.

So I hope you take a broad array of courses, and give yourself permission to explore areas that you have never before considered.

And by “habits of the mind,” by the way, I don’t mean such habits as staying up late, skipping early classes and expanding your party horizons. I mean developing a better understanding of who you are by engaging in a range of activities outside your immediate area of interest so that you acquire a depth of understanding about the arts, humanities, sciences, yourself, and society in general.

The breadth and depth of knowledge and skills you will acquire by expanding your intellectual horizons will better prepare you for life and to assume your role in the global community.

Number Two

Another reason you might give for pursuing your undergraduate degree is to get away from home, grow up and live on your own, and experience life outside the shadows of your family. This reason, by the way, is the one that scares your parents the most.

Surprisingly, I agree with you on this one. Now, I don’t mean your college years should be devoted to the singular pursuit of pleasure, that you should neglect your studies for the “classroom of life.” Not by a long shot. You are here to learn and get an education—please don’t blow this marvelous opportunity!

But it is important that you take advantage of the co-curricular and extracurricular activities that abound for Tulane students. Approximately half of the learning that occurs in college takes place in the classroom; the rest occurs through your daily interaction with your peers.

So go out and get involved. Join a club, a team, or a volunteer organization. Participate in activities like the TIDES program; make sure you participate in the discussion groups focused on your summer reading assignment. John Barry’s book is a fascinating story of events and people that helped shape this region and America in the 1920s and beyond. We are fortunate to have John associated with the university so don’t miss the chance to join in these discussions. In addition, join in activities that introduce you to New Orleans and its rich history and culture.

If you take advantage of the vast opportunities the university offers outside the classroom you will learn more about yourself and others than you ever dreamed possible. Through these activities you will hone your leadership and interpersonal skills, develop new abilities and position yourself, when combined with your formal education, to enhance the likelihood of success in life. As part of your Tulane experience, we want you to fully develop your capabilities to become a wise, thoughtful citizen of the world.

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