Wittenberg University’s 164th academic year offers a rich array of campus lectures, performances, exhibitions, worship and service opportunities, athletic contests and special events. Please plan time in your busy schedules for these campus events. We grow individually and build a stronger community when we share our commitment and enthusiasm for learning and creative expression in all of their varied forms and contexts.
This academic year marks the 27th season of the Wittenberg Series, the University’s annual offering of distinguished lectures, performances and worship services. Details about this year's events can be found by accessing the Provost’s website.
The first event of the 2008-09 Series, the Opening Convocation, will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 3rd in Weaver Chapel. Guest speaker is Max J. Roberts, President of Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, who has also held senior executive positions at Petrie Retail, R.H. Macy & Company, May Department Stores and with the internationally recognized accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche. For the convocation, faculty and academic administrators will enter the chapel in a traditional procession. President Mark Erickson will offer a formal welcome, while student leaders for the coming year will be introduced, and faculty members recently promoted in rank and advanced to tenure will be recognized.
The convocation will require a minor adjustment in the daily class schedule, with normal hour-long classes shortened to 45 minutes, as follows:
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. class will be held from................ 8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
9:10 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. class will be held from................ 8:55 a.m. - 9:40 a.m.
10:20 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. class will be held from................ 9:50 a.m. - 10:35 a.m.
11:00 a.m. – 12 Noon...................................................... Opening Convocation
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. class will be held from................ 12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m..
12:40 p.m. - 1:40 p.m. class will be held from................ 1:25 p.m. - 2:10 p.m.
1:50 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. class will be held from................ 2:20 p.m. - 3:05 p.m.
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. class will be held from................ 3:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The regular schedule resumes with the 5:00 p.m. class.
Wittenberg will once again observe Constitution Day on September 17, as we comply with a federal mandate from the U. S. Department of Education to officially recognize this important event in American history. The legislation provides no guidance on the nature of the “instructional program” intended. With our presidential election on the horizon, I encourage us all to seek creative ways to engage one another in this observance and in conversations about the influences of the Constitution on our lives.
Let me conclude with a welcome to students and new members of the Wittenberg community. I also share my appreciation to the faculty and staff who gave graciously of their time and talents this summer to advise first year students. Equally worthy of acknowledgement are the faculty who led study abroad, field studies programs or supervised student research, internships or independent studies this past summer. Many of you also contributed to the success of several campus visit days for prospective students and their families. People make the difference at Wittenberg. Thanks for your contributions.
- Ken Bladh
Provost
