Dear Wittenberg Parents and Future Wittenberg Parents,
In the fall of 2008, the world we live in has changed in ways few of us could have predicted, and we now find ourselves in what I cautiously describe as “uncharted waters.” We, quite frankly, live in a time that presents extraordinary challenges to all of us both as individuals and as a broader community.
Yet, it is at these times especially, that the value of a liberal arts education shines through. The passion our graduates have for their fields, their lifelong love of learning and their amazing success consistently impress me, and all are the direct result of our commitment to teach them not only how to make a living, but also a life. Our mission – to challenge students to become responsible global citizens, to discover their callings, and to lead personal, professional, and civic lives of creativity, service, compassion, and integrity – inspires all that we do, and I can’t imagine a better place to serve as president.
At the same time, I’m also a parent, and I can tell you that there is not only a definitive difference in the overall Wittenberg experience, but also in the outcomes of a private liberal arts education. I believe this so much that I set out to confirm it, and here is what I discovered:
Wittenberg annually awards more than $30 million in financial aid and scholarships every year, and 98 percent of Wittenberg students receive some type of aid. In fact, more often than not, every student admitted to Wittenberg receives financial assistance.
Add to these impressive statistics the fact that our graduates gain admittance to the nation’s best graduate schools, and that they go on to serve as leaders in their communities and around the world, and the value of our education becomes even more clear.
Understandably, this is a great deal for you to consider. Choosing a college is a deeply emotional experience, and one that should not be taken lightly. Knowing that and having experienced it myself with my two children, I encourage you to visit a special Web site that outlines many of the considerations and provides you with additional information about financing a college education and the life-changing nature of a Wittenberg education.
If you haven’t already, I hope that your son or daughter will visit our campus soon, attend a class perhaps, chat with professors and just get to know our wonderful students. Our admission office will make all the arrangements at (877) 206-0332. Believe me when I say that there is simply no better way to discover if a college is the right fit than by having your son or daughter experience it firsthand. Stop by my office as well while you’re here. My door is always open.
Warm regards,
Mark H. Erickson
President