DePaul Provost Helmut Epp

A message from the Provost

I am proud to introduce “DePaul Distinctions,” a new online avenue by which the Office of Academic Affairs will showcase the innovations, achievements and outcomes that exemplify the academic distinctiveness of DePaul University. This new Web site and its accompanying e-digest are designed with three clear purposes in mind: 

• To broaden awareness throughout the university community of the special things that characterize DePaul’s distinctive academic qualities
• To highlight examples of DePaul's success in achieving the primary goal of our VISION twenty12 strategic plan: enriching academic quality, and
• To help faculty and staff share these stories with friends and colleagues throughout Chicago, the nation and around the world, stories that illustrate how DePaul is becoming one of the finest Catholic universities in the nation.

We cannot expect that everyone will become acquainted with every example of the progress we are making on Goal 1 of the strategic plan. However, as you make your own important contributions to its success, we hope that you will be inspired by the work of your colleagues.

“Distinctions” will cover topics ranging from noteworthy scholarship by DePaul’s distinguished faculty, to technologies that are enhancing student learning, to one-of-a-kind courses and curricula, to the various ways DePaul delivers a values-based education in our Catholic, Vincentian and urban tradition.

As an academic community, we take great pride in our accomplishments. We also need to share them publicly. You may have heard my modification of St. Vincent’s directive: “It is not enough to do good; it must be done well…and you must tell everyone about it.” This new site will help us all do just that.

I encourage faculty and staff to use this vehicle to spread the word about DePaul’s academic quality to those outside the university. In your daily lives, you encounter parents whose daughters and sons may consider enrolling, city leaders and community or corporate partners who support DePaul, colleagues at other universities, and experts in your academic disciplines who may be interested in DePaul’s approaches and accomplishments.  I hope “Distinctions” becomes a valuable source of stories and anecdotes to share with these important audiences.

Sincerely,

Helmut Epp
Provost