Dear Wofford community,

I continue to think of the start of the fall semester — with the excitement of move-in, orientation, advising sessions, hall meetings and convocation — as the most wonderful time of the year. We welcome new Terriers, and they begin their educational journey full of promise and ready to take advantage of the many opportunities Wofford offers.

We open this academic year with 1,821 students, including 427 first-year students and 23 transfers. We received the most applications ever for students interested in joining the Class of 2028, which meant our selectivity broke another record. Housing capacity is at 95%, and current student retention is above 92%, an indication that students feel engaged and supported here. We are at our enrollment goal set about five years ago, a level that is ideal for the college’s 180-acre footprint and faculty size. Because we’ve done a good job of managing enrollment, the student-to-faculty ratio remains low at 11:1 and the average class size is 15.

The institution’s fiscal health remains strong, and the college’s endowment has bounced back and is now above $470 million. We continue to benefit from the growing impact of the $150 million gift to the endowment from the late Jerry Richardson ’59, and the opportunity now is to look to the future with a focus on financial sustainability, aspirational thinking and, ultimately, new and greater levels of excellence in support of the people, programs and places that are Wofford College. To that end, Roberta Hurley ’81, senior vice president of administration, working with a representative steering group of faculty and staff, will begin leading a series of community forums this fall so we — students, faculty, staff, alumni and trustees — can think about, and shape, the future of Wofford College. Aspiration and innovation start with us, and they start this fall!

In addition to welcoming new students, this fall we welcome new faculty and staff colleagues and celebrate promotions. More than 50 new employees joined our community during the past year, including Scott Kull, the Robert D. Atkins ’65 director of athletics. Thanks to the generosity of Robby Atkins, this is the college’s first endowed staff position.

The summer was particularly busy for facilities staff and construction crews. We began renovations on the senior village apartments and repairs to the Michael S. Brown Village Center and a sink hole near the Burwell Building. We added paved parking behind the senior village and a new videoboard at Gibbs stadium to enhance the fan experience. The college also began construction on a U.S. military memorial to honor Wofford alumni who died while serving on active duty. The memorial, which is located on the west side of Main Building, will be dedicated on Saturday, Nov. 16. Thanks to all who made contributions to this meaningful project.

At Wofford College, we are a community committed to civility and respect. That means we are not afraid to have tough conversations that challenge us to think and inspire us to act. This is one of the reasons that we bring a variety of speakers and exhibits to the campus each year. This fall:

  • Ellison Barber ’12, NBC news correspondent, will be our Opening Convocation speaker at 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 5, Leonard Auditorium, Main Building.
  • The Hon. J. Michelle Childs, a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, will deliver the Linton R. Dunson Constitution Day Lecture at 4 p.m., Monday, Sept. 16, Leonard Auditorium.
  • Emily Harding, director of intelligence for the national security and technology program with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, will discuss the importance of protecting democracy at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 19, McMillan Theater, Mungo Student Center.
  • Michael Steele, former Republican National Committee chairman and current MSNBC host, will give a talk, titled “How to Win Elections and Lose the Country,” at 6 p.m., Monday, Sept. 23, in Leonard Auditorium. This is part of the “Deciding or Dividing” lecture series, sponsored by the Office of Civil Rights, Compliance and Community Initiatives.
  • Also part of the “Deciding and Dividing” series, Vernon Burton, a professor at Clemson University, will talk about his book, Justice Deferred: Race and the Supreme Court, at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 14, Olin Theater.
  • The college is also finalizing plans to bring Kristen Holmes, a CNN correspondent; Claire McCaskill, former U.S. Senator from Missouri; and Phillip Swagel, Congressional Budget Office director, to campus to further increase education and engagement in the democratic process and the upcoming election.

Please check the calendar, found at the bottom of the college’s homepage (Wofford.edu), for information about other speakers, as well as athletics and arts events. I want to highlight specifically the renowned Vox Luminis, the next installment of the Dunlap Chamber Music Series, which will be presented at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 28, in Leonard Auditorium.

As always, there are many people to thank for the opportunities that Wofford makes available for students. Those who give of their time, talent and resources top the list. Thank you for your engagement in Wofford’s mission and for your commitment to student success.

Go Terriers!

Nayef Samhat
11th President of Wofford College