Below is the text of the e-mail message from Paul J. LeBlanc, president of Southern New Hampshire University.

Now this will feel like a bit of an unorthodox invitation, but I was hoping you might be willing to join me for dinner and a discussion about the state of the university. I'd also like to share some thoughts I have around the strategic plan and questions I've been grappling with as we look out ahead over the next five to ten years.

The unorthodox part, as you review the list of invitees, is that I wanted to bring together those who fall into one or more of the following categories:

1. Those who really think I am taking the place down the wrong road or have a very different vision of where we should go;

2. Those who have been critical of one or more initiatives in the past or currently underway;

3. Those who have not been shy about speaking up and who I believe will speak their minds in the discussion I hope to have;

4. Those who just straight out don't like me;

5. Those who by virtue of their elected or appointed position represent faculty in some important capacity.

I've included you because I think you likely fall into one or more of the categories. You can place yourself in whatever categories that feel most accurate or comfortable (perhaps all!). As you scan the list, you are also people who have years of experience here, have been leaders in one way or another, and who think and care deeply about the place (even if we disagree from time to time or all the time).

It's very easy to find a group of people who will tell me they like what we are doing and who will heap praise, but I'd welcome a discussion with those who might strongly disagree with those notions.

I look forward to your response.

Paul