Chancellor Robinson: Welcome Back!
Dear Ram Family,
Happy first day of the semester! The beginning of a new academic year brings renewed energy and opportunities for us all. Last week we welcomed more than 1,000 new students to our campus. Among the new students on campus this year is our largest freshmen class in more than a decade. I am inspired and encouraged by the enthusiasm they have for our university already, and I am thrilled to see how our campus community has embraced them and welcomed them into the Ram Family.
There is much for the Ram Family to be proud of this year. Over the summer, some remarkable statistics about our work have come to light. Our students are graduating at record rates – our five-year graduation rate topped 53% this year—the highest at any minority serving school in the UNC System and among the highest at an historically Black college or university nationwide. This is a testament to the drive of our students and the dedication of our faculty and staff.
Meanwhile, we now have data to support what this campus community has always known: WSSU is a first-choice institution. In 2014, 43% of more than 800 of our incoming freshmen surveyed said this university was their first choice. By 2018, that number rose to 62%! That increase is unprecedented and reflects the hard work our faculty and staff do every day to ensure our students are successful both inside the classroom and out. It also highlights the value of the work we have done to tell this university’s story and to share the benefits of the HBCU experience. Our students are among the best and brightest and our faculty and staff are committed to student success. Our prospective students understand better than ever what an amazing place this is.
I am grateful for all that you do to make Winston-Salem State University the outstanding institution that it is. It is an honor to be part of such a remarkable and talented community. I look forward to welcoming newcomers and reconnecting with old friends in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Elwood L. Robinson
