September 26, 2017

Dear Goodwin students, faculty, staff and advisory council members,

Over the past week, Drexel has welcomed more than 3,200 new Dragons, an astonishing number that exceeds all of our goals and projections. At Goodwin, we, too, are celebrating a large incoming class, with a record number of new students in our First-Year Exploratory program, increases in all of our Degree Completion programs and the first cohort in our redesigned Master of Science in Professional Studies.

To all of these new students, as well as our returning ones, welcome to the new academic year. Our third class of students in the First-Year Exploratory program was welcomed to campus last week with a scavenger hunt through Philadelphia — and ice cream, which I regrettably missed. This annual tradition is a great way for these new Explorers to acclimate to the city and start building the friendships that will last through their time at Drexel. Moving more than 100 students throughout Old City is no easy task; special thanks to our First-Year staff and peer mentors, who worked tirelessly to make the day a success.

In addition, congratulations are in order for our Degree Completion team, whose work with the Military Transition Program (MTP) has earned a well-deserved Distinguished Program Award from the Association for Continuing Higher Education. Lamont Wilson, John Rans and Amy Gulyas have put their all into this program, transforming the MTP from a simple “last chance” option into a full-fledged program with a thriving community, extracurricular activities, and exceptional support for our veteran students. Like our First-Year program, the MTP has exceeded all expectations in the past year, and we’re excited to welcome these students into the Goodwin family.

At Goodwin, we are proud of our diverse student body; our students represent an array of backgrounds, and I would like to echo President Fry’s statement on inclusivity in light of recent events. In addition, I would like to point to Drexel’s many student support services, ranging from the Office of International Students and Scholars Services to the Office of Equality and Diversity. At Drexel and at Goodwin, all students are welcome.

For those who are new to Goodwin — the new class of First-Year Exploratory students, those who have made the courageous decision to finish their bachelor’s degree through our Degree Completion program, the veterans joining our Military Transition Program, and our Professional Studies cohort — I encourage you to take advantage of every resource on hand. We pride ourselves on the flexibility, hands-on support, and personal attention that we hope makes your experience at Drexel that much better, and our advisors are here to assist you through every step of your academic journey.

We hope that this new year brings you much happiness, growth and success.

Sincerely,

Tim Gilrain
Assistant Dean
Goodwin College of Professional Studies