Dear LSSU Alums,
As we reach the end of another academic year, it’s a good time to reflect on what has stood out to me in my first year at LSSU. I continue to feel blessed to be in the position of President of this great university!
First, let me congratulate all of our graduates who received their degrees on May 3rd. You’ve worked hard and persevered through lots of challenges to get this far, and we’re very proud of you. Please know that this isn’t goodbye, but hopefully just the next step in a lifelong partnership with LSSU. We are here to support you whenever needed as you begin your journey into your career.
As a testament to that, I love how this university remains connected to our graduates well beyond graduation. We welcome you back to campus anytime to support the efforts of future students, athletics, and the university as a whole. We also like to recognize you. For instance, at the May 3rd commencement, we recognized 20 golden graduates, including 8 who graduated exactly 50 years ago. Many of these individuals have remained connected to the university throughout that 50-year period and longer in a variety of ways. Thank you for that. We love seeing you! We also have very supportive emeritus faculty and staff who have remained connected to the university since their retirement. Recently, one generous donor from this group helped to pay for new signage on campus (see one example below). We can’t thank you enough!
April 2025: New Lettering on the side of the LSSU Steam Plant goes up welcoming visitors to campus.
In my first year as President I’ve come to realize how important traditions are on this campus. The Banished Words list received lots of attention both regionally and internationally (I’m still trying to figure out the meaning of “skibidi”). The Snowman Burning was once again covered by local media and represents our version of Groundhog Day as we say goodbye to winter and hello to spring. This was badly needed as we ended up with over 200 inches of snow. Although we didn’t quite get to the all-time record, this is only the second time in 100 years we’ve had over 200 inches of snow. What a winter!
Because of the heavy snow, the campus really took a pounding this year. Our grounds crew and custodians did great work keeping roads and sidewalks open as much as possible and our buildings free of salt. One of the hazards of being on a historical campus, with relatively old buildings and infrastructure, is that winters like this one can really do some damage. Although our buildings generally held up well, we’re now going through the process of patching holes on sidewalks and roads, repairing gutters and siding, and turning the campus back into the beautiful landscape that has historically defined us.
One space that I can personally attest to holding strong during the winter is the President’s House on campus. This house is over 100 years old and a true blessing for Lynsey and I to occupy. This building, along with all of the row houses, was built around the turn of the century and was clearly built very well. We recently came across a photo (see below) showing these buildings under construction. I wonder if those men standing proudly in this picture expected they would still be around in the year 2025.
To honor these efforts, Lynsey and I have been committed to personally investing in the President’s House to ensure that we leave it a better place than when we arrived. Right now, we are completing a badly needed bathroom renovation to make the house more ADA compliant. This is one of several projects that we’ve completed during this first year to make the house a safe and welcoming place. Once this latest project is done, we can finally get back to inviting people over to welcome them to campus while celebrating its history and enjoying the community gathering spaces of the house. One of my highlights last year was inviting all of the parents and supporters of our new students to the house during summer orientation. I look forward to getting back to that this June. If you’re in the area and would like to stop by please let me know. We’d love to see you!
Construction workers taking a break for a photograph while building the LSSU Campus Row Houses and the President’s House. Circa 1900. Photo source: The Chippewa County Historical Society.
So, what else has stood out to me during my first year as President? First, our faculty. When I talk to students about what makes LSSU great, they almost always mention the faculty first. We have faculty that care greatly and are willing to go the extra mile to help our students, particularly when they are struggling. They also push our students to get the best out of them, which leads to the second thing that has stood out. Our students are not only expected to learn the content of their courses, but they are also expected to learn how to deliver this information effectively through presentations, group work, and real-world problem solving. During the past couple of weeks, I have attended numerous senior project oral presentations, observed simulation scenarios, and undergraduate research poster presentations. I have been so impressed by the organization and communication skills of our students. This focus on good communication, organization, and leadership are the types of experiences that not only prepare our students for their first jobs but also give them the possible preparation to move up the ladder and become leaders. We are definitely preparing the next generation of leaders on this campus.
The third thing that has stood out is the impact that LSSU has on the community. Our students and staff are leaders in the community through sitting on boards, volunteering their time to support causes, and serving as role models in numerous ways. One of my primary goals this year has been to develop partnerships with local leaders, businesses, and supporters of LSSU. I’ve been amazed at the response that I’ve received from my efforts to make this happen. Part of this is due to the fact that our students and employees are well-respected and considered a true asset to this community. It is clear to me that the city of Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding community want to work with the university more to move this region forward economically. One of my primary goals during Year 2 is to utilize these relationships to launch several new projects to help make that happen. More to come on those in the next edition of the Laker Log!
Have a great summer, everyone!
Dr. David Travis
President
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