Welcome back Raiders! I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer and is feeling recharged as we begin the fall 2022 semester. Fall Welcome Week has been a blast and you can feel the excitement of being back on campus in the air.
A special thanks to Ashley Spencer, director of New Student and Family Programs, and the many staff within First Year Experience, Transfer Student Support, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, the CUB, Multicultural Student Affairs, the moving crew and all contributing students, faculty and staff. At the end of the day, everyone felt very welcome to be on campus, and a bit happily exhausted.
The Ship campus is looking better than ever and none of this would be possible without the hard work of our outstanding staff and faculty. Everyone has been preparing for your arrival for weeks and we can’t wait to see our Raiders walking along sidewalks, traveling in and out of residence halls and gathered in outdoor spaces, classrooms and labs as the semester begins.
There are fewer things that Colleen and I like more than strolling along campus, visiting with our students and talking with them about all their experiences and the remarkable things they are engaged in.
We can’t wait to attend athletic events, art exhibits, musical performances, poster sessions, recognition ceremonies and all the unbelievable experiences we have at Ship. There is such a rich variety of activities and events on campus and in our surrounding communities that you can attend and enjoy.
So, here’s a friendly Raider challenge: Pick three new things that you will commit yourself to experiencing this semester with others. Perhaps try something new, something different and something maybe you have thought about doing before but never took the initiative to follow through.
As the semester begins, I really want to encourage everyone to be an active member of the Ship community. Envision a kind and connected campus where each one of us knows we belong and make a difference.
Please reach out to fellow Raiders and be with each other however you are able. It will make someone’s day a little better. Remember, the smallest of gesture can make the largest impact in someone else’s life.
Good luck this semester and GO SHIP!
Charles E. Patterson, PhD
President
The Slate welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.