W
ith the holiday season approaching, it is time to wish our alumni and
friends seasons greetings and best wishes for the New Year. Just as
families gather to celebrate the holidays, university families celebrate winter
commencement. Coming soon this season, UNCP will be doing both. I hope
to visit with many of you when Sarah and I host the annual Alumni Holiday
Drop-in on December 8, and no doubt, I will see some of you at Graduate or
Undergraduate Commencement on December 9 and 10.
The fall semester is winding down, so this is an appropriate time to reflect on our
academic year thus far. On the table of contents page, you will see a portrait of
the Class of 2015. This is one of the largest freshman classes in our university's
history, and, I am excited to report, it is the highest achieving class in recent
history.
Welcoming a new class to UNCP has taken on several new and important traditions. After their class photo
on the historic Quad, the Class of 2015 walked north over the Whitney and Alicia Jones Bridge to begin their
college experience. When they graduate, those same students will walk south across that bridge for the last
time as UNCP students, signifying their commencement into the future.
Convocation is the ceremonial start of the academic year and the start of college careers. This is no mere
ceremony. It is the moment the university, its faculty and its staff impart our most important message to our
newest members: We have high expectations for these young men and women. We expect they will not
merely succeed here; they will thrive!
Rising expectations at UNC Pembroke come with higher standards for admissions and academic standing.
These demands for academic performance are part of an evolution of increased expectations and higher
standards. I underscore this message now and often to our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends. My
training is in the field of educational psychology, and we are going down a well-traveled path in the belief that
expecting more from students is the only way to achieve the high degree of success we know they are capable of.
Beginning a college career is truly an enviable place to be. It is the start of the best years of our lives. Nowhere
was this more apparent this semester than during our recent Homecoming. As I watched our students
enjoying themselves, I was reminded they would one day return as alumni to relive fond memories of their
college years. The outstanding performances of our football team, marching band and cheer squads put an
exclamation point on our fun!
I am already on record saying that next year's Homecoming will be the best ever! Next year, we will be
celebrating a milestone of this incredible university. The celebration of our 125th year will begin on March
14 with the official kick-off birthday celebration and pep rally scheduled for 4 p.m. in the Main Gym of the
English E. Jones Health and Physical Education Center.
This is an exciting time for your university, and I hope you will find an opportunity to share it with us. UNC
Pembroke is a remarkable story of perseverance and success. It is worth celebrating.
Best Wishes,
Chancellor's
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UNCP Today
Fall 2011