AMHERST, MA (WSHM) -
Excitement is building on the UMass Amherst campus as the university prepares to begin its 150th school year. And Wednesday morning representatives from the university and the Amherst area gathered for the 46th Annual Community Breakfast.
"This is a great way to come together, start a conversation and move forward," said UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy.
One of the big topics at the gathering was the importance of university's partnerships with surrounding communities.
"We really need each other to be at our best," said the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce President Kathryn Grandonico.
UMass Amherst has a $1.4 billion impact to the Commonwealth's economy. Last year the university purchased $30 million in goods and services from local businesses.
"We were voted the best college town in North America and that would cease to exist without both of us working together," said Grandonico.
This year's freshman class is the university's most accomplished yet. SAT scores of the accepted freshmen were up seven points over last year. And Subbaswamy says he has many goals he'd like to achieve this school year.
"We're committed to enhancing student success, increasing research and having the benefit of that research in terms of economic development reach the commonwealth," said Subbaswamy.
As the new chancellor embarks into the school year, he has a new slogan he'd like the university to embrace.
"We can do better is a good slogan for us because you know pursuit of excellence is really what universities are about," said Subbaswamy. "We're never satisfied with wherever we may be. Complacency is not a luxury that we can afford."
The UMass system generated $35 million from the commercialization of its academic research for the 2011 fiscal year. That places the school 14th in the nation.
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