Shippensburg University President Laurie Carter sent an email to students on Thursday and addressed the topics of recruitment, her inauguration, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s (PASSHE) advocacy day and Vice President for Student Affairs Roger Serr’s retirement.

The email began with Carter providing updates about the goals of SU and the changes, shifts and reorganizations that are taking place.

“At the same time, we continue with the day-to-day work and life at the university. While there is a lot of work to do, it remains an exciting time filled with anticipation and high energy,” Carter said in the email.

There have been many events to recruit students to SU, including Ship Talks and Experience Ship which occurred in January. On Sunday, Premiering Ship took place in the Pittsburgh area to bring SU to Western Pennsylvania. 

SU also recently became a preferred institution by the Pittsburgh Promise. This program awards scholarships to students in Pittsburgh public schools. This means another 25,000 students can tell their stories about SU, according to the email.

Carter also announced the committees for her inauguration, which will take place on April 20 at 11 a.m. in the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center. 

The committees are Inauguration Steering and Inauguration Planning. The steering committee will develop ideas and plans for the inauguration festivities while the planning committee will carry out what is planned. 

She encouraged students to reach out to the committees if they have ideas or are interested in participating. 

“This celebration is about all of us and my hope is that everyone will be a part of the celebration,” Carter said in the email. “We have accomplished so much together this year, I look forward to celebrating what we’ve done together and what we have yet to do during our inauguration festivities.”

A vision team is being created to get feedback from inside and outside of the campus community in order to find new ways to move forward.

“Shippensburg University will be most productive and vital going forward if there is a shared vision and a common purpose,” Carter said in the email.

PASSHE’s advocacy day will be taking place on Thursday. Carter will be testifying at the event and will be accompanied by representatives from SU and 13 other PASSHE schools. 

A bus will be transporting students from SU to the capital on Thursday morning. Carter said students who are interested in going should contact the office of communications and marketing or the Student Government Association.

Carter continued the email by congratulating Serr on his retirement, which will occur at the end of the spring semester. 

She plans on evaluating the student affairs program, and as of March 1, the athletics department will be moved under the office of the president.

To conclude, Carter acknowledged the discomfort of change. However, she believes SU is moving in the right direction.

“Together we ride this Ship on an exciting journey,” Carter said.

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