Greetings future Panthers!

Today, I wanted to talk about something that might not sound all that exciting.  Unless, of course, you can understand the dialog from The Big Bang Theory without a translator.

This weekend, SERMON, the South Eastern Regional Meeting on Numbers, will be taking place at High Point University.  Mathematicians from across the country are coming to campus to discuss Number Theory, Fermat’s Little Theorem, and a wide variety of other mathematical equations and quandaries.

As Professor Fuselier, who is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics here at HPU, said, “Look for us, we’ll be the group of awkward mathematicians!” Sounds like fun, right?!

Now, Number Theory and highly theoretical equations might not be your cup of tea.  You might understand every third word of what is said at something like SERMON.  And that’s perfectly ok.  Everything that we do here at High Point University is meant to be interesting for every student.

What’s great, however, is that this type of conference is something that is incredibly beneficial to many of our students.  Our Math, Physics, and Computer Science students have a tremendous opportunity to learn from some of the top minds in their field.  They get a chance to connect and interact with leading researchers, which will ultimately lead them to better internship opportunities and placement in graduate schools.  Hosting SERMON on our campus has opened doors for these students, and I think that’s pretty cool!

We host things like this all the time here at High Point University.  Because of our small size and our professor-taught classes, our undergraduates get a chance to do the same kind of research that is showcased at these kinds of conferences.  It helps them prepare for life after HPU, and it helps them gain the confidence they need to dive into their profession upon graduation.

I’m hoping to stop by SREMON this weekend and see if I can follow along.  I’m sure that my eyes will cross after a few minutes, and I’ll be confused during the entire experience.  And I’m fine with that.  Because I know that the true audience, our High Point University students, will be getting the message.

Until next time,

Lars

Greetings!

Spring finally feels like it’s sprung here at High Point University, and we are all excited for some warmer weather and for all of the great things that come with April.  This is the last month for our students that are graduating this year, and while this is a very bittersweet thing to think about, we are enthusiastic and optimistic about their future beyond our extraordinary university.  They are going to do amazing things, and we can’t wait to cheer them on from the sidelines.

As April begins, we are also getting closer to welcoming our next class, and hopefully that means you!  There are many events that will be taking place from now until move-in day, and I invite you to sign up for these as they will help you continue on your process of joining our amazing community.

I understand that there are a lot of factors that are going to go in to your decision, and I wanted to make sure that I touched base with you regarding one important part.  That would be your financial aid package. You may have received it already, or you may still be waiting to hear back.  If you have not received a package from us, please know that our Office of Financial Planning is working around the clock to develop financial aid awards and get them to you as soon as possible.

When you look at these awards, it is important to remember that the value of High Point University is what really sets us apart from other schools.  Right now, our comprehensive fee is $41,600.  That may seem like a lot, but you have to remember what that includes. And that starts with the extraordinary educational opportunities that await you here.

Our new School of Education was completed this academic year, and is an environmentally friendly building.  It houses state-of-the-art classrooms and an actual Elementary Education learning lab where our students will be able to interact directly with elementary school students.  Our new Human Biomechanics and Physiology Lab, which opened only a few short months ago, is already becoming one of the most well regarded labs of its kind, with individuals from all walks of life coming in to use its services.  Our classes are taught by some of the top professors in their fields, and our students are actively engaged in educational programs both in and out of the classroom.

We are not resting on our laurels by any means.  We have just announced a new Center for Student Excellence, which will focus on student outcomes.  It will house offices for Study Abroad and Service Learning, as well as greater opportunities for mock interviews and resume building workshops.  It will be a place for students to connect with internships, alumni, parents, and future employers.  We are already at an 86% placement rate for employment and graduate school, which is well above the national average.  This center is going to bring us even higher.

We have also just announced a new School of Pharmacy and School of Health Sciences, which will start offering doctoral programs in Pharmacy and Physical Therapy, as well as a graduate degree in Physician’s Assistant, in a few short years.

The university is even more of a value when you look what you get with our comprehensive fee.  The comprehensive fee covers EVERYTHING (except, of course, books, because each class will be different).  Tuition, room and board, your meal plan is covered in the fee, and so much more.

You will also get parking and registration permits for your vehicle, access to tutoring and workshops, and free printing.  You will get Starbucks gift cards on your birthday, and chicken soup delivered to your room when you are sick.  You will get snacks as you are walking to class to demonstrate generosity and to insure you the fuel you need to prepare you for class, and access to a shuttle service that will take you into town and to local airports and train stations. You will get rentals for GPS systems, iPads, Kindle book readers, and WeCars.

You will have access into every event on campus, which include concerts, games, and world renowned speakers likeMalcolm Gladwell, author of The New York Times Bestseller The Tipping Point.  Other events include international-movie nights in our Extraordinaire Cinema, bingo nights with amazing prizes like big-screen TVs and PS3s, and a wide variety of NCAA Division I athletics.

In addition to activities, you will get things that many other universities charge for in addition to their tuition.  For example, you will NOT be charged a graduation fee and a cap and gown fee, which is the common policy of many universities around the country.  You will not be charged for laundry, and you will not be charged for printing, scanning or copying.  All of these services are included in the comprehensive fee, and so much more. So when you add up all of this, the price tag at High Point University is actually an amazing value!

Ultimately, High Point University is about community, and that’s something you can’t accurately evaluate.  We feel if a student feels extraordinary, lives in an inspiring environment, and is surrounded by caring people, then they will go on to do great things.  I’m hopeful that you will do great things as well, and I look forward to seeing you as a member of our community in August.

Please remember that in order to begin your journey, you must pay your enrollment deposit if you have not already done so.  Paying this deposit allows you to sign up for housing, as well as Early Registration events.  These events allow students to sign up for classes early, and are still available in April, June, and July. If you have already taken care of this, then you are well on your way to joining us next year.  If not, please do so as soon as possible.  Remember, it is refundable up until May 1^st, so don’t miss out!

We are here to help you, so please make sure to contact the admissions office whenever you need us.  Have a great day, and enjoy your start to April!

-Lars

To learn more about the value of HPU, come experience it for yourself and schedule a campus visit! Connect with other students on our admitted student Class of 2017 Facebook page and on Twitter!

Greetings future Panthers!

I hope that your spring has sprung, because it certainly has here at High Point University.  For you prospective freshmen that are still buried in the snow, remember that your time in North Carolina is right around the corner!

It’s March Madness time here at High Point, and because we are in such a basketball state, we are very excited about the success of our athletes out on the court.  One such athlete has the chance to shine on the national stage during the College Slam Dunk Contest during this year’s Final Four.  His name is Corey Law.

And WOW can he dunk!

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I have never been blessed with any sort of skills on the basketball court.  If the world was in danger, and the only way to save it was for me to win a basketball game, then I’m sorry y’all, but we are out of luck.  The movie Space Jam would have had a decidedly different ending if I had been the star.  The song “Brick House” is not about a pretty lady, but is in fact about how I shoot.  You get the picture.

So to say that Corey Law is the polar opposite of me when it comes to basketball talent is a supreme understatement.  Corey is a red-shirt senior with our Men’s Basketball Team, and his exploits on the court have made him a sensation here on campus.  He soars above competitors, and makes the effort-full look effortless.  He’s been featured on ESPN, and he seems destined for many, many more highlight reels.  It is truly a sight to behold when watching him dunk, because I know that no matter how hard I try, he’s doing something that I will never be able to do.

But the same can be said for all of our students.  The experiences that they are having here on our extraordinary campus are out of this world, and I couldn’t have dreamed of doing what they’re doing while in college.  Whether it’s learning from top professors in their field, to living and growing in an environment that engages them intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually, these students are doing things that make me, each and every day, say “Wow, I wish I could do that.”

We encourage our students to take part in these experiences because we don’t want them to miss out on the opportunities here on campus.  We also don’t want them to miss out on all the opportunities that await them when they graduate.  The future is bright for our students.  Some are headed off to graduate school.  Others are headed to some of the finest companies in the world.

And in the case of Corey Law, one is headed to the Final Four Slam Dunk Contest on April 4^th.  It will be televised on ESPN, and I encourage you to cheer him on.  I know we all will be!

Until next time,

Lars