Of all a university president’s duties, none is more joyous than the annual rite of commencement celebrated on campuses across the country each spring.

Commencement is a day to honor students’ hard work and achievements. It is a day to thank parents for their support. It is the one day each year that brings together the entire university community – faculty, administrators, alumni and families – not only to usher graduates into the next chapter of their lives, but also to affirm what universities do and why they exist.

In my remarks to graduates this year, I encouraged them to set their life’s aspirations high. And I spoke about the importance of self-knowledge and courage in the essential work of determining their purpose – the orienting sense at the center of a meaningful life that defines the role each of us plays. 

Institutions also have a defining purpose and are........

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