The certainty of change
As Mines students studying mining engineering in the 1970s, we were only beginning to be introduced to the environmental components that complement safe and efficient mining operations. Social responsibility and sustainability were not as widely taught at Mines as they are now, yet I have spent a great deal of my time and effort over the past 15 years dealing with these ideas as key issues that must be addressed.
In the years since I graduated, Mines has adapted to remain at the forefront of changes in such practices, ensuring that graduates remain well prepared, highly skilled and able to solve problems efficiently and with the least amount of disruption to the communities they work with. In fact, Mines is developing a new strategic vision called MINES@150 with the goal of “creating transformative and enduring value, exploring frontiers and positioning Mines for success in a future of dynamic change.” But that goal isn’t limited to the people on campus.
In Mines Magazine’s summer 2018 issue, President Johnson mentioned that there are many ways for alumni to help support this initiative, such as providing input or joining an interest group. The overlap between the changing world that Mines alumni are likely to encounter and the dynamic change identified in the MINES@150 goals is the space where Mines alumni, the university and current students have common interests.
Enhanced alumni engagement, which begins when a student first commits to Mines and continues throughout his/her life, is the primary means by which these interests can be fulfilled. The alumni association is in the process of retooling to respond to these changes by offering more opportunities for engagement and involvement that better reflect alumni demographics and interests and the lifelong relationship between Mines and its alumni.
Join an interest group or look up your local M Club, be an active presence on campus at events or volunteer in the classroom. As alumni, we will continue to be at the forefront of our alma mater’s success and support Mines and our fellow Orediggers through a future of dynamic change.
