Aug. 27, 2008

A message from President Dunn

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Dear Colleagues:

There is a great deal of hustle and bustle on the University campus as we prepare for a new academic year. For many of us, the start of a new year is routine. We've done it before. We know what needs to be done and how to navigate the system.

For our new entering students, however, particularly our new freshmen, this is their first foray into the world of higher education. Do you recall your first few weeks on a college campus? For many of us, the most important factors that sustained us as we transitioned to university life were the many acts of kindness extended by faculty, staff and returning students.

With those memories in mind, I am asking each of you to be particularly cognizant of our new students and to make an effort to reach out to them during the next few weeks. Specifically, I am requesting that you extend a smile, a hello and a warm welcome. Be on the lookout for that puzzled look that says, "I am lost, but not sure where to go or who to ask for help." You can be the one who responds by saying, ?You look like you need help, may I assist?? From my own experience, I know our students appreciate it when we extend ourselves by offering aid. Such early encounters may also lead to connections that mature and blossom over time.

Linus Pauling, two-time Nobel Laureate, acknowledged on more than one occasion that the only reason he chose to study chemistry and devote his life to scientific discoveries was because a chemistry professor offered assistance to him and his mother on his first ?lonely and lost? day at the Oregon Agricultural College. On a personal level, I found comfort and support by working in Food Service at Northern Illinois University with Helen and Mary, two wonderful cooks and human beings who took an interest in me and served as valuable mentors during those first crucial weeks at the university. They were kind, helpful and genuinely interested in me and my future. Many of life?s valuable lessons were learned by observing and working with them.

There is much that we are already doing to support our new students through structured programs such as the Western Edge, First Year Experience and Freshmen Orientation. But the real difference may still be made by how we react to the simple requests for help. While WMU has already set the bar high and made our measure of campus friendliness the envy of most, I ask that you be on the watch for additional ways we can provide assistance.

Our enrollment numbers, particularly the number of new freshmen and transfer students, are very encouraging. We are confident of an increase in overall head count this year. It will be the first real upswing in enrollment since 2002. This is good news and a tribute to the entire university community. Our numbers would be even higher if we would increase our retention rates, particularly the number of freshmen who return for their sophomore year. To this end, I am asking Provost Tim Greene to work closely with the deans to address the issue of student retention. While our retention rates exceed those of many of our peer institutions, we can and must do better. Your personal efforts to extend a hand, a smile and a kind word are essential to our future success.

Our University competes admirably with the very best and we do so because of you and your ongoing commitment and service. Thank you and best wishes for an outstanding 2008-09 academic year.

Best regards,

John M. Dunn
President