President's Message: Spring 2020
Welcome back for the start of the spring semester!
For many, January is a time to set new goals and look optimistically toward the future. For faculty and staff at Widener, a new year brings a recommitment to academic excellence and to supporting our students’ success.
The start of a new semester offers our students many opportunities, both in and out of the classroom, that give them an inside track to success.
I encourage students to take advantage of networking opportunities – like the event the College of Arts and Sciences will host next month with employers. Or, to visit the Career Design & Development Office and chat with staff about the benefits that come from a co-op experience. Many Widener students have seen their co-op lead to full-time employment – a tremendous outcome chronicled in this new widener.edu story. Or, to attend the High Impact Practices fair on February 19 in Lathem Hall and learn more about the research projects graduate and undergraduate students are conducting with faculty – and ponder what research they might pursue.
At our other campuses, Commonwealth Law School will be giving students an inside look at the process of military justice when the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals holds court in the administration building this month. And Delaware Law School is helping to present a public interest and public service job fair near city hall in Philadelphia – providing a valuable opportunity for students to speak directly about careers with government employers and organizations that serve clients without the resources to pay for legal advice.
As classes get underway, our faculty and staff refocus on student support. They meet new students and strengthen bonds with those they already know. As mentors, they guide student research projects, provide experiential learning experiences, and share industry connections that help accelerate careers. Staff are ready to support students as they master the qualities and skills that set Widener graduates apart.
A look back at the class of 2019 demonstrates how this commitment makes Widener distinctive. Within six months of graduating, a remarkable 94 percent of our 2019 undergraduates achieved their intended career goal, whether it was employment, graduate education, military or other service. And their salary figures are on the rise, with the median salary at $60,000. The median salary for our mid-career alumni with 10 years of experience is now at $100,100.
Outside the classroom, January presents opportunities for the university community to grow together in service and reflection. I will host a Common Ground conversation on January 20 with a special focus on the vision of Martin Luther King, and there will be numerous opportunities to make meaningful contributions on the national Day of Service in his memory. Our Center for Civic and Global Engagement is coordinating multiple service projects and I encourage everyone to get involved, and let the experience inspire you to continue to make a difference in your community as the semester unfolds. A day is symbolic; it is what we do every day that matters.
With pride,
Julie
