As summer vacations kick into high gear, Wittenberg is preparing to welcome its largest class in more than a decade. To date, 610 students have said 鈥測es鈥� to the national liberal arts school, and the record-setting class of 2020 looks to grow even more.
Research conducted by Wittenberg鈥檚 Office of Admission indicates that the last time the university saw this many deposits by June 1 was in 2002.
鈥淲hat this tells us is that we are offering a sought-after educational experience, one that focuses fully and completely on a student鈥檚 personal and professional success,鈥� said Karen Hunt, executive director of admission.
A range of new strategic initiatives also appears to be contributing to the record-setting numbers, according to Hunt.
鈥淥ur recently introduced Wittenberg Commitment 鈥� our promise to each and every student -- the launch of Compass, our new approach to ensuring student success, and new health-related partnerships and academic programs, including nursing, exercise science and cybersecurity are certainly resonating with our prospective student community,鈥� Hunt said. 鈥淎dditionally, our $40 million Health, Wellness and Athletics Restoration and Expansion Initiative, which embraces our commitment to developing the whole person, is attracting the attention of students and scholar-athletes alike.鈥�
In keeping with its Lutheran-inspired mission of challenging students to become responsible global citizens, to discover their callings and to lead personal, professional and civic lives of creativity, service, compassion and integrity, Wittenberg is also excited about the incoming class鈥� diversity of leadership and community engagement experience.
鈥淟ike so many classes before it, the Class of 2020 embodies our institutional value of service, which provides an intentional opportunity to give back to the world and to promote social justice,鈥� Hunt said. 鈥淚 remain deeply grateful for the dedication of our faculty, staff and students who consistently join together in advancing the common good as local citizens and as members of the global community, and I cannot wait for our new class to experience this commitment in person.鈥�
As an active, engaged community of learners, Wittenberg has no plans to wait until its traditional New Students Days, Aug. 18, to get the Class of 2020 psyched about its forthcoming college experience. Special orientation opportunities are already scheduled starting Friday, June 24, and again on Friday, July 15.
'We are excited to welcome this talented group of young people to Wittenberg,' said Dick Helton, interim president. 鈥淭he Class of 2020 will find, as all Wittenberg graduates have, that this university cares deeply about their journey here, as well as where they want to go. I am confident that the journey they are about to begin will lead to a life of meaning and purpose, and I look forward to greeting each new student when the new semester begins.鈥�
