What a year!
We’re approaching the last event of the year – Commencement – and I’m looking forward to celebrating our newest graduates on Saturday. I hope you can join me at 11 a.m. at the Coliseum to welcome them into our alumni ranks. It’s a great way to cap off such a fantastic semester and year.
Before we officially close out 2024, I’d like to share with you a brief recap of some of the highlights that Winthrop has experienced this year. Consider the following:
In the first few months of the year we shared our impressive economic impact study results; welcomed presidential candidates; commemorated 50 years of coeducation and 60 years of integration; announced our Tuition Transparency Initiative; elevated our Honors Program to an Honors College; and celebrated the men’s golf program’s first Big South Championship.
During the summer we expanded our online master’s degree offerings and launched our Competency-based Education modality Winthrop Elevate; saw new degree programs approved, including our first doctoral program; adopted new mission, vision, values statements; dedicated our new fountain and Morgan-Holcombe Alumni Center; and closed out one of our most successful fiscal years of fundraising with more than $4.5 million raised.
This fall we launched phase 1 of our strategic plan, Winthrop: United in Excellence; maintained our U.S. News “Best Colleges” ranking; received nearly $3 million in science-related grants; received national recognition for our student voter registration and turnout efforts; forged a new partnership with Central-Piedmont Community College; and said goodbye to Wofford and Richardson.
These achievements and many others remind me of just how special the Winthrop family is…our collective efforts and love for this place yield some pretty cool results. Please know that I am always grateful for the good work that happens here each day and I never take for granted the privilege of leading Winthrop into a very bright future.
Now let’s gear up for an even more exciting 2025! Please enjoy a restful winter break and let’s greet the New Year refreshed and renewed, ready to take on a wonderful spring semester. Happy Holidays!
Edward
Edward A. Serna
President
