Shippensburg University alumni returned to campus to offer advice and share their perspectives at College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board’s annual meeting.

The Advisory Board, made up of SU alumni and benefactors, met with administrators on Friday, Oct. 16. The meeting was a way to thank SU benefactors for their contributions and to discuss financial updates and other topics.

The board members considered ways to spread awareness of the programs and success stories of old alumni, recent graduates and current students — several of whom attended part of the meeting and spoke of their involvements with SU.

Of the roughly 35 active Advisory Board members, 15 attended the meeting and came prepared with questions and suggestions that they discussed with SU President George “Jody” Harpster; James Mike, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; and James Delle, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, among others.

Halfway through the meeting, Mike asked the question that had brought everyone together.

“As the dean of the largest college on campus, and what I believe to be the heart of this campus — what are we doing? … Let your voices be heard,” Mike said.

Although the alumni who circled around the table were eager to offer advice, one opinion was unanimous — SU gave them a quality education.

As someone who felt like an average student in high school, board member and alumna Tracy Boak said that someone at SU helped her to shine. She used her time to tell others what SU did for her.

“I do think it’s incumbent upon us to spread the word,” Boak said.

The board meetings help Boak to expand her knowledge about SU so she can pass that information back to New York City, she said. She added that she tells people about the kind of education SU provided for her and is still providing for current students.

Mike said that when alumni share their beginnings at SU and their successful careers they help the college.

Once people visit the school and meet faculty, they become committed SU students — but that is not the problem, according to Mike.

“Our problem is getting the message out so people know what the heck we’re doing,” Mike said.

One of the initiatives to drive more people to SU is a new website that will include an updated format and content based on research that delved into what it is that students are looking for in a college, said Leslie Folmer Clinton, associate vice president of external affairs and director of student affairs. The website will be finished by late October, Clinton said.

Another way to spread SU awareness is through the stories of older alumni, recent graduates and current students, Mike said.

After watching a short video of an alumna who is now working as a photojournalist for a TV news station, the board agreed that this was an effective way to draw people to SU.

Students who graduate and are unable to find a job blame the school, not themselves -— however, people need to hear about SU’s success stories too, board member Evan Forrester said.

Forrester advocated for more videos of first-account stories from SU students and alumni.

“When students get a good education here they tell their story and that’s what is heard,” Forrester said.

Boak currently works as a lawyer in New York City, but she said she has not forgotten how SU took a high school girl who felt average and unnoticed and helped her to shine. Twice within the past two weeks Boak has returned to SU, first for Harpster’s inauguration and then for the board meeting.

“What brings me back is what Dr. Harpster already talked about — my love for the school,” Boak said. 

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