Welcome back students,

It is great to see you again or for the first time. As much as I love the relaxed feeling of summer, I am always eager for students to bring campus back to life. You make Shippensburg University such an exciting place. 

The beginning of the academic year signals nine months of opportunities and experiences that lie before us. As I begin my second year as your president, I am excited about all the work we have done together over the last year and what that means for the experiences you will have this year. Everything that we have and will continue to work on centers on the four initiatives I have been talking about since I came to Shippensburg University: student success, telling our story, community and quality. 

New students, you are part of the inaugural semester of our new First Year Experience program. Faculty, staff and students have anticipated the arrival of the students they are mentoring. It’s exciting to see the positive impacts already happening in the lives of new students. FYE is the first of several student success programs that will follow our students through their Ship careers. 

Summer on campus is quiet, but our Ship family has been anything but quiet. You have been busy with internships, research, service and activities that showcase the amazing people that make up the Ship family. Your accomplishments make it easy for us to tell the world about Ship. We are telling the stories in recruiting events, on social media, out in the community and to alumni and employers in our region. 

Speaking of community, watch for information on how you can get involved in the campus community and beyond. The Ship Day of Service is Sept. 8. It launches our community volunteerism efforts for the academic year. I encourage you to join us in serving our community on Sept. 8.  

We will serve the community as a campus family in philanthropic projects on several days throughout the year. While you are giving back to the community, I hope you will take time to get to know the people who you are working alongside. 

You will find that your classmates, faculty and staff are great people. We are going to find time to get to know each other beyond volunteering and our academic pursuits. This community really is a family so we will play together, too. Take a study break and join an intramural sport, pitch a blanket at a student picnic, see a campus-sponsored movie or blast a classmate in laser tag. 

Finally, I am committed to providing you with the highest quality of service in all that you are offered here at Ship. From the classroom to every service offered to you, our sights are set on giving you our best. We have spent countless hours developing new programs and initiatives and in improving existing ones. Expect nothing less from yourself, as well. 

I look forward to seeing you around campus and wish you the best as you begin the new school year. Seniors, enjoy your final year. I imagine you have already figured out how quickly it will pass. Juniors and sophomores, make this year count. Keep your focus and make sure to take time to consider your path beyond Shippensburg. Take advantage of the Career, Mentoring and Professional Development Center. And first year students, welcome aboard. This next four years may just promise to be the most exciting of your life.

Here’s to a great year!

President Laurie Carter 

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