This video, titled Elon News Network LIVE interview with President Connie Ledoux Book, occurred on March 1, 2018. Two, School of Communications, students interviewed President Book on what drew her back to Elon University and her initiatives. 00:23:00 President Book stated, “Right now, we are ending a strategic plan at the University. I was here when we worked as a community to build that plan -- The Schar Center and other things that are coming to forward – we knew this would take us about ten years designing that plan. Higher Education today, I use this word, has been disrupted – Just like every industry, television, banking, virtually all of our industries are faced with new challenges. And higher education is no exception. So we are seeing changes in enrollment patterns. The cost of higher education continues to be a significant concern. 00:01:23 You want to make sure that the ELON experience stays within reach of families from all incomes and backgrounds. So that is on my mind. So as we work for the future, we will be building a strategic plan. I would imagine that financial aid, civic engagement – about the importance of our education model, teaching people to have respectful conversations, not shying away from the tough topics (we do not want to be a quiet community--we want to be one that is highly engaged), and the issues of the local and the state and the national and global economies, and the politics. We want to embrace skillsets to help us do that better. I talked about that in developing the strategic plan ways to address that. 00:02:11 Being nimble. It is interesting to me that your generation (generation Z) uses different words than my generation. 00:02:21 Here is an example of that -- I was in Greensboro (North Carolina) a couple of months ago and on a wall of a building someone’s whose title, ‘Director of User Experience,’ and I jokingly said that is the new way of saying customer service. It is the new way of something different, but it also means something different. 00:02:47 We want to make sure that we as an institution of higher education stay connected to the words and the ways in which the younger generation is designing their future, their education, and stay close to it. Embrace it strategically to the future of Elon. So that is on my mind, too, today. Question: Have your kids been helping you keep up with the lingo? Yes – they tell me a lot and I sometimes say, ‘tell me that again’ or ‘what do you mean by that?’ 00:03:23 That is the reason that I enjoyed the student experience. Even as a faculty member here at Elon there would be somebody who raised their hand and asked the best question that helped me see (I was teaching television at the time or radio or cable) in a whole new way. I am very appreciative of the dynamics in the young and the older – you know- teaching each other. Question: How are your kids taking in your transition in this role? 00:03:57 I was very pleased that my son, Joe, that … he lives in Atlanta (Georgia) and graduated from Elon in May (2017). So I was very pleased that he came and spent the day with me. He will stay for a few days. Then my daughter is coming next weekend. They have been really excited. They understand too that this is a family commitment – that when you take on responsibilities like these it becomes a family commitment and they are excited about it. They love Eigher Ed. They have always come with me to Elon. And they came to the Citadel and enjoyed the atmosphere … I am excited to have them with me. Question: What is something that you want to bring from the Citadel to Elon? I do think being at the Citadel – every university has their distinctive mission. I am really proud of the students at the Citadel. They are committing their lives to service to our country -- many of them. They take it seriously and the institution takes it seriously. They are training them to be officers. So I thought a lot in the last three years … I always told the cadets … we refer to the students there as cadets … that the most important tool or weapon that they would ever have is their brain (President Book points to her brain). So we focused a lot on making sure that they were going to be educated officers with the right tools so that when they did go on peacekeeping or if they went to war – they had those skillsets. 00:05:45 I bring a new appreciation for freedom, for our democracy, how critical it is, and how much debt of gratitude that we owe to the people who protect it for us. So the Citadel woke me up to the importance of higher education. Democracy and Elon students voting, paying attention…so part of the civic engagement work is around that…being engaged so that we absolutely believe the solutions for whatever connects us is in communication and talking to each other and thinking it through. So those skillsets are as important for an Elon student as a Citadel.  00:06:38 Questions from students viewers. President Book spoke about driving and giving students a ride in the ‘Book Mobile.’ 00:07:31 President Book spoke about her mentors during her educational years. In addition, how Dean Paul Parsons challenged her as a faculty member and Dr. Leo M. Lambert gave me a challenge (Provost Steven House), and Citadel Generals. 00:09:23 Book stated, “The most significant one was my mother. She is a hard worker. And she always did it with such grace. She taught me of being in service to someone else. She would remind me that is where the real joy is. She was such a great role model to all of us. 00:10:02 You know that was my morning prayer. I have morning prayers and my mom was part of that…it is how can I be in service. What can I do today to be in service? Question: So you were in prayer and you are Catholic – how do you think your faith will involve your performance on campus? It is part of who I am and how I see the world. I have been very appreciative when we put the Elon commitment (strategic plan) and the mission of Elon, the mission is mind, body, and spirit. We wanted to make that the strategic plan embrace a multi-faith – pluralistic approach to faith on our campus. And so even in my own journey -- I do not know if you all in college have … but when I was in college I went to the synagogue, I went to the Mormon celebrations, and I went with friends to Baptist celebrations. My friends were all different, but they were all important. So in time we were exploring different faiths. 00:11:22 Our family practices Catholicism in a very traditional way…Mass on Sunday with the whole pew to see all of us. I am very appreciative now at the structure of the Catholic faith. In that structure it gives me a lot of peace. We will have challenging times in a university. And I am grateful for the structure of morning prayer. I am grateful for the structure of the rosary and the faith community of communion. For me it gives me a comfort when I am dealing with challenges. They focus on the good and where we can find good in every challenge and every opportunity. Question: What do you do to keep yourself mentally healthy? 00:12:42 Part of my routine is that I get up and I do my morning prayers, always have a cup of coffee, and I have a habit of physical fitness in trying to walk or do something that gets my blood going. 00:13:04 Actually, at the Citadel was very good for that because all the students are required to get up with blowing a bugle. And I lived on campus and everybody gets up and I was up to be visible.  I realized from doing that I benefitted (I was more intermediate in my habit) and being committed everyday – my stress level was down. You know it gave me balance to make sure you took time to do that in the same way you take time to eat breakfast. And the truth is that I …It has helped to approach the work in a much better perspective. I believe if you do those things that the hour of studying that you get a lot more out of hour. Or the commitments that you have like Elon Network News. If you are well rested – that is the other piece of it you need to be well rested and that is what you can do in a day. And try not to over shoot it. 00:14:34 Another viewer question: What is a book that you would recommend that all Elon students read. President Book stated, ‘that is a good one. We have the common reading we all do. I will say a book that I often think about and I read it ten years ago. And I pick it up frequently. And I was just talking about it yesterday. It is a book by Jeff Jarvis called What Would Google Do? It introduced you to change in thinking. It is an easy read. I reference that book because it was the first time that an author had articulated the shift that was happening and what was causing all this disruption in a way that I could understand. It talks about industries and the switch of power from the inventors to the consumers. … The consumers are now in charge. A great easy read, What Would Google Do? A question from John Pickett: What is your vision for increasing access to higher education for lower income – first generation college students. 00:16:16 That is a great question. This is something that we have planted a lot of seeds at Elon. We know what things are working. For example: Our Odyssey program is allowing young people who do not have the means to enter Elon.  And what is really powerful in that model is the mentoring program that we have that ensures that these young people who are often first generational college students. It is not like they can just pick up the phone and get guidance from parents that have not experienced that. So the mentoring programs are really important for putting all the guide posts in place for their success. So we have these seeds at Elon. The challenge that we have is how to increase that number so that we can provide that opportunity, more. Also, how to create that pipeline of young people who know this college is for them. Because one of the things that we know about people who come from lower social-economic that they often do not realize that is for here. This is for you. They will not raise their hand. They think that is for someone else. To be able to ensure that we have really thought through this pipeline and that we are tapping people that we want you. We want you to come. And it is for you. I think that is part of the growth. That is a topic near and dear to my heart. My own parents benefitted from that and it forever changed the course of my family life. The opportunity that they had to go to college and to learn something and had a profession that allowed them to have a better quality life for all nine of their children. So it is really important for Elon in the future. Question: Fundraising is going to be a big part of your position? That is right. It will be the biggest part of my job. That and supporting the strategic vision for Elon as a community develops. Raising resources in multiple ways. And then being a good steward of those good resources. So we need to be efficient in our budget. For every dollar we spend, we need it spend on things that lead to students’ success. So raising the resources and being really good stewards of those resources when they are in our care. 00:19:14 Question: What is your favorite favor of Smithy’s ice cream? I am so glad that Smithy’s is downtown. When I went to Smithy’s, I always got, they are going to know this…I think it is called ‘simply eights.’ It is this low fat … it is eight calories. The student responded, “it is a little different than Dr. Lambert’s – brown sugar oatmeal. Book responded, ‘he went for the real gusto.’ Student question: What is the one thing that you want the Elon community to know about you? 00:20:20 I had not thought of that. Here is the truth. I was here sixteen years. So they all know things about me. What has been really humbling is that they invited me back (laughter).  They all know that I drive a little too fast. They all know that – I will be direct here – one thing I am a person that when I get started working on something – I cramp down on it – like we are going to get that done. I am sure there are some people that said, ‘oh no, she is back.’ Question: Her reputation as a faculty professor is tough. I need to make the very best use of our time. They (students) had paid for that class. … I did want to take full advantage of the time that we had and we could learn as much as we could possibility learn together. I had so many good students and alumni that I have received so many well wishes. I am so proud of them working and making contributions with beautiful families. I was just visiting with an alum the other day – so proud of her. As a faculty member, you are always a teacher. … You are always teaching even in different roles. 00:22:56 Viewer question: How do you plan to engage alumni? Actually, I am going on the road to visit with alumni over the next few months. I want to hear from them about ways the university can support them. During my presidency, we are going to see all these young alums that are entering a phase in their career and their families. Because of our growth model, we are really going to have this surge of alumni and at the institution we really need to be talking with our alumni. We need to ask how can we be of service and what is that at Elon. I know about their experience here (Elon University), but I do not know about their experience after Elon and the relationship they want with the university. 00:23:57 They (alumni) are our story. When people meet our alums – out and about – jobs, churches, and communities…that is how they know Elon.  I am so proud of their work. And I want to know what we can do as a university to support them. Question: First hundred days? 00:24:24 I am on the road a lot in the first hundred days visiting with alums and families. I want to make sure we bring in a strong class for the fall (2018). I will be doing several admissions events. And then we have graduation right around the corner. 00:24:57 I am really pleased that President Lambert accepted the invitation to be the graduation speaker. It will be a very nice way to close out the year and to send the Class of 2018 off in May. 00:25:16 Closing question: What surprised you today, as your first day?  Today, I went to two classes. One – a global class and also a Capstone. … I had the sense and courage to deliver that instruction. The professor was doing a great job. And the students were willing to be uncomfortable. … This was a good reminder of the good work that happens in our classrooms and the importance in learning. The other thing that surprised me today was that Elon students have travelled the world. All the places people have been. It was more than when I left (Elon). The students thanked President Book for the interview after a long first day at Elon University. President Book stated, “I will sleep really hard tonight, but it has been a great first day. Thank you very much.” The student anchors stated, “Thank you so very much for joining us on this live stream and submitting your questions. Have a good one, Elon.