Dear Ship Students,
Welcome back! It has been a pleasure watching all of the new and returning students infuse life back into campus after what I hope was an enjoyable and relaxing summer for all of you.
I have had the opportunity to meet many students and their families during Move-in Day and Welcome Week activities. The excitement and energy you bring to campus is infectious. We are happy to have you here and are ready for another year of opportunities and successes at Shippensburg University.
One thing that is quickly apparent when returning to campus is the lack of construction. New grass, sidewalks and roads have replaced temporary fencing and caution signs. We appreciate your patience; the temporary inconvenience during the replacement of our heating and cooling system was well worth it. Our new system has increased our sustainability, reducing SU’s overall carbon footprint by 40 percent. We also will decrease our energy costs by about $330,000 annually.
Students recently started two new programs at SU. This summer, we launched our first cohort in the new joint Doctor of Educational Leadership program with Millersville University. We also have 19 students in our electrical engineering program. We were the first university in the State System to offer bachelor of science degrees in engineering.
We continue to earn recognition of our high-quality programs through regional and national publications. This August, Harrisburg Magazine readers named Shippensburg University their 2015 Reader’s Choice among Pennsylvania colleges and universities in the magazine’s annual “Simply the Best” issue. U.S. News and World Report again ranked SU among the top universities in the North.
As you settle into the new academic year, I encourage you to take advantage of all that our university has to offer. Participating in clubs and organizations, athletics, research opportunities, or service can only enhance your SU experience.
We strive to provide our students with experiences that inspire and empower. I will have open meetings on campus throughout the year and invite you to stop by those meetings to ask questions or offer suggestions. It is great to have you here, and I wish you the best.
Go Raiders!
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