Dear Ship Students:

Welcome to the start of what I know will be another outstanding year at Shippensburg University.
For our returning students, welcome back as you continue your Ship adventure. For our new students, welcome to the Ship family as you begin your Ship adventure.

Whether you are returning or just joining the community, you see a SU that is changing and improving for you.

For example:

• We will complete our Academic Master Plan this fall as we also being new degree programs in Computer Engineering and Software Engineering.
• We will soon complete the final phase of expansion of the Ceddia Union Building (CUB), including a UPS store that will provide additional services to you. With the expansion and renovations, the CUB is an even more vital part of student life. We will officially cut the ribbon to reopen the CUB at 4:30 p.m. September 7, 2012 and I hope you will attend.
• A new Veterans Resource Center will provide our students who served our country with needed services and opportunities to make the transition from soldier/sailor/marine to student. The grand opening is on Sept. 6 at 4 p.m.
• Great progress continues on the three new residence halls.

Yes, there is still construction noise and disruption of roads and walking, but the new halls will dramatically change the way you live and interact on campus. The halls will open for the Spring Semester 2013 and if you are thinking about making the change, please contact the Dean of Students office to get your name on the list for a room.

Work also starts in the Spring of 2013 on the second phase of the project. – Student groups continue to be at the heart of the university and several earned honors for their work on and off campus. SUTV was nominated a second time for two Emmy Awards, our chapter of Kappa Beta Gamma Sorority was awarded the group’s national Chapter of the Year Award in part for its volunteer and fundraising efforts, and our chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, won the “Best Chapter” award for 2011-2012.   

These are but a few examples of the many opportunities here that will serve you well now and wherever your Ship education and experience take you. Getting involved is a great way to learn leadership skills, share your interests with others, and have an impact on the campus and community.

The key, of course, is your participation and willingness to challenge yourself. You have high expectations and so do we. By working together these expectations will not only be met, but exceeded.

The beginning of the new academic year is a special time on a university campus. It is a time of hope and opportunity coupled with challenge and change. At SU, it is truly a special moment in your life and in the life of the university.

Please enjoy the year and I hope to see you this semester on campus at the flagSHIP of Pennsylvania’s state universities, Shippensburg.

- William N. Ruud,
Ph.D., President

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