President Martha Burger is beginning her career as university president by implementing new programs and expanding on the university’s strengths.
Upon the retirement of former President Robert Henry, President Martha Burger took office July 1. Since the start of her term, Burger said things are going great.
“It has been mostly what I expected,” she said. “Because I’ve been so close to the university for a number of years, I knew a bit about what to expect.”
Burger is an alumna and was a member of the board of trustees since 2008.
Burger said she’s been able to experience “the other side of things” as president.
“I have been spending time this week with the students and parents, and that was a part of OCU I had really not experienced as much,” she said. “I’m smiling when I say that because it has been a really heartwarming experience.”
Freshman interaction
The new freshman class of 2022 consists of about 375 students.
“What I have noticed is the degree of poise and confidence they have as freshmen,” Burger said. “I don’t even think I was in the same league when I was a freshman. The ability across the board to carry on great conversation and just the way that they interact is so full of confidence and poise. I am impressed.”
This freshman class is the largest class since 2010, Burger said.
“We know our mission—our mission is to serve students,” she said. “Our success is our incoming class, that’s what we all gather around.”
Goals moving forward
Burger has several goals set for this academic year, she said.
First is a physical therapy program that is in the works.
“We’re working on accreditation. We’re going to need to have some labs ready, so we’re going to work ahead on that,” she said.
Another goal is to make further progress on building out OCU’s online educational infrastructure, Burger said.
“We’re never going to be known to be a top online university, but there are some programs that really help us meet students where they are,” she said.
Burger said she’ll also be spending a lot of time fundraising, and that’s how she’ll work closely with a lot of the deans and faculty on campus.
While she’s set goals for the university, Burger said students shouldn’t expect major changes in how the university runs.
“The student experience that we offer students is excellent, it is unique, it is one-on-one,” she said. “Those things will all be the same, and we will just continue to build on them.”
Trusting the vision
Burger said her style of leadership and interaction with the campus community will implement shifts and changes in an organic way.
“Everything, to me, is built upon trust,” she said. “To have an atmosphere and a culture that’s based on trust is what makes an organization the strongest that it can be.”
Burger said it’s essential for the campus community to come together in a safe and respectful way when faced with challenges.
“We need to listen to other people’s points of view, and although we don’t agree with them, necessarily, we have to remember that people have positive intentions,” she said.
Burger said her belief in the university is what drives her.
“I hope that donors can sit across from me when I’m talking with them and know that I’m speaking from the heart because I absolutely believe in this place,” she said.
Burger said her best advice to students for the academic year is to “let it be,” which was also the title a song performed at this year’s Matriculation Convocation.
“Take it in, have moments just for you where you sit and just kind of absorb the atmosphere here at OCU,” she said.
While Burger bases her presidency on trust and implementing it through the campus community, she recognizes that it starts with herself, she said.
“I am learning every day, so I do not have all the answers. I will work as hard as I absolutely can on behalf of OCU–that’s my pledge,” she said.
Jordan Tarter, English senior and Student Government Association president, said Burger’s intentions are positive.
“She has presented herself as an extremely qualified and dedicated president,” Tarter said. “From the interactions I’ve had with her, I could definitely vouch that her character as a person is stellar, and her intent seems to be to run a very student-focused administration.”
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