Welcome to WWU, where new students will find excellent opportunities to learn and grow both academically and socially

I do love the rhythms of the academic life, particularly the increasing excitement as fall quarter approaches. We are now hard at work preparing for the arrival of students – from updating classrooms and labs to sprucing up residence halls and our beautiful grounds.

Western is a place of opportunity, where our outstanding faculty and staff do their utmost to help your student reach their aspirations, however lofty.

People who first encounter Western often are surprised by the extent of interaction on our campus among students, faculty and staff. Our academic excellence is unquestioned, due in large part to our gifted faculty who actively involve undergraduate students in their research. Staff often collaborate with students in planning important campus projects or initiatives. This approach is one of the keys to our success, in academic quality certainly, but also in fostering students' growth as responsible and thoughtful people.

Urge your student to take full advantage of the resources available to them on our campus. In some ways, we have the best of both worlds: not so big as to be overwhelming, like the "Big U," but not so small as to have too-limited resources. So encourage your student to explore, to have fun and to enjoy the adventure that is being a student at Western.

Many new students will be introduced to campus traditions with activities that include Welcoming Convocation, faculty led Western Reads discussion panels, academic success workshops and late night social programs.

I invite all parents to visit their students and to learn about the many innovative programs at Western during Fall Family Open House Oct. 22 to 24, our biggest weekend of the fall, which brings parents, alumni and the Bellingham community to campus for many fun and engaging events. It's also a great opportunity to spend time with your student on campus during their first quarter at Western.

I hope to meet many of you when your students arrive on campus and at Fall Family Open House. I welcome you with great pleasure for the start of another exciting academic year.