Summer at MWU

Every year, my family asks me if I have the summer off since I work at a school. While I wish that were true, summer is actually a very busy time at MWU's campuses. We have students taking courses (PA, PT, NA), and others who are conducting elective research projects. Faculty are able to devote more time to their research and mentoring as well as updating their lecture materials. Staff are busy closing out the previous year and getting ready for the next one.

In my areas, summer is that time when we update and reprint our marketing materials for the next recruitment cycle. We are in the final stages of producing a new DVD program for each campus, which includes a brief overview of the University and then a selectable alumni profile for each college/program. These DVDs should be ready for distribution in about a month, both via the "Request Information" form on the web site and by downloading selected segments from the web site. We might even consider posting a segment or two on YouTube to reach a wider audience.

Speaking of the web, we are also updating our academic catalogs and plan to launch a new software system to post the catalogs on our web site as HTML files (rather than PDFs). This will allow interested students to more easily search the catalogs, browse course descriptions, and review academic policies. We are also adding more "outcomes" measures to the web as well as a few alumni profiles.

In the alumni world, we have several summer events planned, including a bowling evening for CCP alumni, a regional reception in Florida for CCOM alumni, and a baseball game in Phoenix (Diamondbacks vs Cubs) for alumni and new students. We are working with our MWU Alumni Senate to create a "signature program," such as a travel CME program that would be appealing to alumni from all of our colleges. We are also getting ready for the rush of events in the fall, including the Clinical Refresher Course and Alumni Reunions in Chicago (October 17 to 20) and the Bright Lights, Shining Stars Gala in Glendale (October 27).

The admissions team is finalizing the entering classes for this fall. While most classes are full, we are still monitoring our deposits and alternate lists. We are also preparing for our busy fall of travel to recruitment events across the country. Our computer systems are being updated to be able to start uploading the applications for next year.

As you can see, never a dull moment at MWU. We do, of course, work in some time for family vacations and other summer festivities. We take the time to "wind down" a bit to get ready for the busy fall season. It's still a great time to visit and tour our campuses, if you also have some free time this summer. Call either Office of Admissions, and they would be happy to show you our campuses. Enjoy and best wishes for a safe, restful summer.