University President Stephen Knapp outlines some of his visions for GW in the near future, including the implementation of the Innovation Task Force:
In the coming years, we will continue increasing our selectivity and enhancing the opportunities our students enjoy. What it means to be a great university has changed, however, in the two centuries since Washington spelled out his vision in his last will and testament. We are still in the business of forging citizens, although now we forge citizens not just of the nation, but of the world. We must now build our stature as a university that contributes intellectually to the solution of national and global problems.
President Knapp, although your passion is clear, and to be commended, I feel like you approach students as products of your business model, not as customers. I get the sense that our campus experience outside the classroom is valuable to you insofar as it increases our rankings, and no further. Innovation is good, as is academic prestige no doubt, but first you must innovate your approach to student needs.