To the first question my answer is that "We are progressing as we should," and to the second, that our identity is that of a gateway to Manitobans' futures, regardless of individual ethnicity, religion or socioeconomic circumstances. University education is the great equalizer for Manitobans of diverse backgrounds; that education gives graduates the power to transform themselves and their world as much today as a century ago.

In 1998-99 many recommendations of the Task Force on Strategic Planning were implemented, and others are on their way to implementation. The benefits are many - for example, the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Science harmonized their programs to remove unjustifiable barriers to students from one Faculty taking courses in the other. The Faculty of Graduate Studies has re-structured its organization and activities to focus attention on program quality and student recruitment. We added funds to student scholarships, provided more bridge funding to facilitate faculty renewal, directed more dollars to promote research, and enabled support staff to elect an assessor to the Board of Governors. As well, The Alumni Association and the university agreed to send the triennial Alumni Journal to all alumni free of monetary charge. The only charge made is to continuing friendship.

1998-99 was also a year of labour negotiations, some of which generated concerns for our students, staff, and the external community. The fact that we came to agreements that significant majorities can live with says much about our joint commitment to making our university work, and about our allegiance to common values at the University of Manitoba - values of excellence, integrity, equity, diversity, innovation, and responsibility to society, among others. We have great people here who respect each other and who think of what they can do to make our university great.

This report outlines just some of the achievements of our faculty, staff and students in the past year. We point again to a Rhodes scholarship winner and to others whose excellence was recognized nationally and internationally in a variety of competitions. We have staff whose capacity for innovation seems boundless, who support the United Way by having silent auctions, and simultaneously dream up the Employment Opportunities Web Page. We have faculty, whose care and attention to teaching ranked the university in the top 5% of Maclean's magazine's "value added" measure over the past three years. In their research, scholarship and creative work these professors excel through their publications, exhibitions, grants and contracts earned, whether they are just beginning their careers or have received senior scientist awards from external agencies.

Commitment was manifest here throughout 1998-99. Over 900 people participated in the first Bannatyne and Fort Garry "Campus Beautification Day" activities. Our alumni and friends were again unstintingly generous in their support of the university, as shown by a 14% increase in giving over the previous year. This kind of spirit and support means that the university can attain its goals. Our faith in ourselves is strengthened when others believe in us. Those who know our university know that a prairie toughness builds character here, requires commitment and demands achievement for knowledge's sake as much as to build a better world.