Amid pandemic challenges and a nationwide drop in matriculation among college-age students, 草莓社区 has logged another favorable outcome of stability in first-year and graduate student numbers this fall.

The outcome is significant as predicted a major enrollment drop across U.S. higher education reflecting economic and public health challenges of the pandemic.

The Class of 2025 is 208, slightly smaller than last fall鈥檚 first-year class. Both classes are two of the largest classes in six years. One of EMU鈥檚 newer undergraduate programs 鈥� the leadership and organizational management degree with an aviation concentration 鈥� in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, also recorded an additional 11 new first-year students. The Class of 2025 marks the full four-year maturity of a flourishing program.

听鈥淲e can count this a victory against many odds, especially considering that national enrollment trends showed many graduating high school seniors were either choosing not to matriculate this fall or looking at other options besides a four-year degree, 鈥� said Matt Ruth, director of admissions. 鈥淲e actually lowered our target goals in anticipation, but were able to recruit a strong first-year class even though our counselors did not have the typical travel season to school fairs and our major open house events were virtual.鈥�

Ruth ventures that EMU鈥檚 success in managing COVID-19 on campus during the spring semester also gave both prospective students and their parents good reason to trust their EMU college experience would be as normal as possible, with in-person classes, a thriving student life and residential campus activities, and extracurricular programming. 

The Class of 2025 represents 22 states and 6 countries, with the highest number of international students in the past four years. Approximately 28 percent are first generation; 36% identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color). The top majors include nursing, engineering, biology, education, business administration, and aviation.

EMU reports a total undergraduate enrollment of 917, inclusive of adult degree completion and RN-BSN programs. Graduate enrollment, which includes graduate certificate, master鈥檚 degree and doctoral degree programs, is at 370. has 51 students enrolled.

鈥溾�淲e’re seeing the impact that COVID continues to have on educators, nurses, and the working professionals for which the majority of our graduate and professional programs are designed,鈥� said Kirsten McKinney, director of graduate and professional recruitment. 鈥� We’re proud of the relative stability we’ve been able to achieve in this challenging climate.鈥�

Census data is collected as a traditional 鈥渟napshot鈥� on Sept. 10 of enrollment trends, according to university registrar David Detrow.

Yet enrollment does continue after that date. McKinney pointed out that 14 part-time graduate teacher education students enrolled after data was finalized. 

Other significant data points include a rise in transfer students, an increase in the three-year retention rate, and an increase in students in the Intensive English Program.

McKinney and Ruth share optimism about EMU鈥檚 future growth in graduate and undergraduate admissions. Their teams are beginning to resume travel schedules to promote the university and 鈥渁lready working with prospective students for spring and fall 2022 classes,鈥� Ruth said.

草莓社区 invites students to visit the campus in person or virtually during the state鈥檚 annual Virginia Private College Week from July 26-31. 

The university is among 23 schools participating in the event, sponsored annually by the (CICV).

Any students who visit EMU can apply for free.

EMU will offer daily campus tours and information sessions about admissions, financial aid and academic programs. 

In-person tours and info sessions will be offered the following days and times:

• Daily, from Monday, July 26 to Friday, July 30, at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• On Tuesday, July 27, at 7 p.m.
• On Saturday, July 31, at 9 a.m. 

Virtual tours and info sessions are scheduled for one day only: Tuesday, July 26, at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

鈥淰irginia Private College Week is a great opportunity that provides prospective students and their families the chance to easily visit multiple schools over a few days and get a head start on the college search process,鈥� said Matt Ruth, director of undergraduate admissions. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited to welcome students and their families for these special sessions.鈥�

鈥淰isiting campuses in person is one of the most important steps in the college search process,鈥� said Robert Lambeth, president of the CICV.

CICV was founded in 1971 to promote the interests of nonprofit, independent higher education in Virginia. The council was also instrumental in starting the state鈥檚 Tuition Assistance Grant program.

鈥淚 encourage parents to explore which college will be the best fit for their son or daughter, and I want to reassure them that a quality education at a Virginia private college is affordable and within reach,鈥� said Lambeth.

More information

To register for Virginia Private College Week at EMU, go to or contact the Admissions Office at 540-432-4118 or admiss@emu.edu.

Click here for more information on including a list of participating colleges, or contact the at 540-586-0606.

Drawn by the friendly community and small class sizes, three graduates of Catholic high schools in Maryland and Virginia are enjoying their first year at 草莓社区.

The students include Amanda Gilbert, of Elizabeth Seton High School, and Oslyn Mejia Gomez, of DeMatha Catholic High School. A scholarship was also awarded to a 2020 graduate of Paul VI High School.

In a new partnership formed in 2018, EMU recruits students from eight Catholic high schools in the Washington D.C., Maryland and northern Virginia area: Bishop McNamara, Bishop O鈥機onnell, Archbishop Carroll (Va.), The Academy of the Holy Cross, and Bishop Ireton high schools. 

Several generous scholarship opportunities are offered to students who meet academic criteria and other eligibility requirements.

鈥淲e鈥檝e found that students at Catholic high schools share our values of service, social justice and global engagement, and have a rigorous academic background of scholarly inquiry grounded in a faith perspective,鈥� said Matt Ruth, director of admissions at EMU. 

Ashlyn Eby, a graduate of Paul VI Catholic High School, was an awardee of one of the inaugural scholarships. Now a sophomore, she is enrolled in EMU鈥檚 nursing program and is a member of EMU鈥檚 lacrosse team.

Cerrie Mendoza, admissions counselor, visits the schools in the fall to present scholarship opportunities, financial aid information and to answer questions about academics, athletics and extracurricular activities. 

鈥淲hen I meet with students from these schools, they have a well-rounded appreciation for what they鈥檙e looking for in a university,鈥� Mendoza said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been wonderful getting to know the staff at the schools and meeting with students who might be good fits for our unique education.鈥�

Mendoza鈥檚 special connection helped Meijia Gomez feel especially welcome when he arrived for a visit. And that feeling hasn鈥檛 changed. 

Meijia Gomez also feels supported in his studies and on . 鈥淓MU isn鈥檛 a huge school where everyone is just another number,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut instead everyone is seen as a person.鈥�

He appreciates that professors know him by name and easy to communicate with, and that his soccer teammates are 鈥渓ike family.鈥� A business administration major who aspires to own his business someday, he was also intrigued by opportunities to learn and practice what he learns in his classes at the student-run coffeehouse, Common Grounds.

Gilbert, a psychology major, was especially attracted by EMU鈥檚 neuroscience minor and the possibilities of beginning graduate studies during her senior year in the accelerated Masters in Counseling program. With eventual plans to become a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist, she definitely sees herself 鈥渇inding new ways to better the world around me due to my EMU education.鈥�

Her overnight visit to EMU during her senior year was the ideal way to meet people and learn more about the university. 鈥淭he people I stayed with were absolutely wonderful. We played card games, drank tea, and got to know one another. After my overnight visit, I knew I could call EMU home. The entire campus community was very welcoming, and I knew that I would be supported in all my endeavors while at EMU.鈥�

The university is among 23 schools participating in the 2020 Virginia Private College Week, sponsored by the (CICV).

EMU鈥檚 special summer visit sessions include a campus tour and an information session covering academics, financial assistance, the admissions process, and . Safety precautions will be taken.

Any students who visit EMU can apply for free.

EMU will offer daily campus tours and information sessions about admissions, financial aid and academic programs. 

On Monday-Friday (July 20鈥揓uly 24), the university is hosting a tour and info session at 9 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. Come in person to campus OR make a virtual visit.

On Tuesday and Thursday evening at 7 p.m., EMU is offering a virtual tour and info session. 

On Saturday (July 25),听 the 9 a.m. tour and info session is available both in-person and by virtual visit.

鈥淰irginia Private College Week is a great opportunity that provides prospective students and their families the chance to easily visit multiple schools over a few days and get a head start on the college search process,鈥� said Matt Ruth, director of undergraduate admissions. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited to welcome students and their families for these special sessions.鈥�

Students who visit three or more participating colleges will be eligible to receive three application fee waivers to use at any participating institution. In addition, those students will also qualify for a random drawing for five $250 Amazon gift cards.

Students who have already visited or participated in any admissions sessions at EMU can be given credit if they return or participate again during the July 20-25 event.

鈥淰isiting campuses in person is one of the most important steps in the college search process,鈥� said Robert Lambeth, president of the CICV.

CICV was founded in 1971 to promote the interests of nonprofit, independent higher education in Virginia. The council was also instrumental in starting the state鈥檚 Tuition Assistance Grant program.

鈥淚 encourage parents to explore which college will be the best fit for their son or daughter, and I want to reassure them that a quality education at a Virginia private college is affordable and within reach,鈥� said Lambeth.

More information

To register for Virginia Private College Week at EMU, go to or contact the Admissions Office at 540-432-4118 or admiss@emu.edu.

Click here for more information on including a list of participating colleges, or contact the at 540-586-0606.

Despite challenges and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, EMU鈥檚 incoming Class of 2024 is on track to make their mark. Slated in early estimations to exceed last year鈥檚 class in size, these first-years can, so far, be characterized with one superlative (higher average GPA), a diversity of interests (more than 30 majors declared) and geography (15 states represented). The group includes 40 percent student-athletes and 30 percent first generation college students.

鈥淲e are very excited about this incoming class,鈥� said Vice President of Student Recruitment and Innovation Jason Good. 鈥淭hey are joining the EMU community equipped with adaptability, perseverance, innovation and a savviness to manage a complex world of uncertainty and change.鈥�

EMU plans to open in the fall in one of several possible scenarios, depending on how the COVID-19 pandemic responds in coming weeks and months. A new goal of summer admissions events 鈥斕� one was May 15 and another is scheduled for June 13 鈥斕� is to help incoming and admitted students, and their parents, stay informed.

With on-campus visits restricted by COVID-19 this summer, Good and admissions staff reconfigured the traditional Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR) and Admitted Student events to a virtual format — and expanded opportunities to share information about EMU鈥檚 fall semester plans.

A record number of 100 student-participants and 70 parent/guardians attended the May event, according to Director of Admissions Matt Ruth. 

鈥淪OAR is always an exciting day but we know there are special concerns this year,鈥� Ruth said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always about the students but even more so now. It was great to see students eagerly connecting with their future Class of 2024 peers, and officially registering for their courses with their faculty advisor.鈥�

In addition to individual meetings with faculty advisors, students heard from a range of administrators and staff on campus about various resources, including campus ministries, counseling services, residence life, and academic support. Student Government Association co-presidents led a session on student activities and hosted a hangout room throughout the afternoon to give students a chance to get to know each other and learn more about campus offerings.  

The schedule provides plenty of opportunities for students to ask questions about what life on campus and in the classroom might look like. 

In addition to sessions about EMU鈥檚 athletics and cross-cultural programs, a special parent/guardian forum specifically addressed COVID-19 concerns with a panel including President Susan Schultz Huxman; Shannon Dycus, dean of students; Jennifer North Bauman, director of alumni and parent relations; and Good.

A recording of this discussion is available on the admissions website. Administrators plan to host another forum for parents and guardians in June. 

More information about EMU鈥檚 COVID-19 response is at www.emu.edu/coronavirus.

The university is among 23 schools participating in the 2019 Virginia Private College Week, July 22-July 27, sponsored by the (CICV).

Any students who visit EMU can apply for free.

EMU will offer daily campus tours and information sessions about admissions, financial aid and academic programs. On Monday-Friday (July 22鈥揓uly 26), there will be a morning (9 a.m.) and afternoon (2 p.m.) session. On Saturday, July 27, there will be a morning (9 a.m.) session only.

鈥淰irginia Private College Week is a great opportunity that provides prospective students and their families the chance to easily visit multiple schools over a few days and get a head start on the college search process,鈥� said Matt Ruth, director of undergraduate admissions. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited to welcome students and their families for these special sessions.鈥�

Students who visit three or more participating colleges will be eligible to receive three application fee waivers to use at any participating institution. In addition, CICV is also giving out a $250 Amazon gift card through a social media contest. To be considered for the prize, students must post a photo of their visit on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, tag CICV鈥檚 account plus an institution鈥檚 account and use either one or both event hashtags (#VaPrivateCollegeWeek and #VPCW).

鈥淰isiting campuses in person is one of the most important steps in the college search process,鈥� said Robert Lambeth, president of the CICV.

CICV was founded in 1971 to promote the interests of nonprofit, independent higher education in Virginia. The Council was also instrumental in starting the state鈥檚 Tuition Assistance Grant program.

鈥淚 encourage parents to explore which college will be the best fit for their son or daughter, and I want to reassure them that a quality education at a Virginia private college is affordable and within reach,鈥� said Lambeth.

More information

To register for Virginia Private College Week at EMU, go to or contact the Admissions Office at 1-800-368-2665 or admiss@emu.edu.

Click here for more information on including a list of participating colleges, or contact the at 540-586-0606.

President Susan Schultz Huxman was among several administrators, faculty and staff to travel to Kansas City, Missouri, for the multi-day event. Huxman arrived early for meetings and listening sessions with Mennonite Higher Education Association, Mennonite Education Association and Mennonite Schools Council. During the conference, she provided a university update at a evening alumni reception.

The biennial conference, which is often preceded by other meetings of Mennonite organizations, gathers church representatives and members for worship, fellowship and learning, as well as for more formal discernment and decisionmaking.

EMU student’s advocacy leads to youth delegate vote

One such decision 鈦犫�� delegates voted on a bylaw change allowing youth participants to serve in future conferences as official voting delegates 鈦犫�� was from the group Step Up, founded by EMU senior and Student Government Association Co-President Leah Wenger.

“The program is designed to educate young people about church business, encourage them to listen and learn from those around them, provide them places and people to network with, prepare them to become future leaders, and to promote participation in the larger church delegate body,” Wenger said. In additional to serving as a delegate from Community Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Wenger worked with three others, including Lorren Oesch ’19 to organize orientation for the youth participants and additional programming throughout the week.

The conference is also a meeting place for youth and young adult groups. EMU admissions staff, including Director of Admissions Matt Ruth ’06, represented the university at the Mennonite Higher Education Association鈥檚 booth, which highlighted the academic offerings of the five Mennonite colleges and universities.

Faculty, joined by alumni, engage and teach

Sarah Bixler 鈥�02, Eastern Mennonite Seminary faculty member, was the convention鈥檚 prayer coordinator and co-led, with Hendy Stevan Matahelemual MA 鈥�19 (leadership), a daily evening prayer session focused on the church. She also was involved in four workshop sessions, including two that she co-led with her husband Ben Bixler 鈥�03, MA 鈥�13 (religion) that explored 鈥淩-rated鈥� scripture texts in the youth ministry context and Bible study in the congregation.

Eastern Mennonite Seminary dean Nancy Heisey听MDiv ’94 led her workshop participants in new ways of presenting biblical stories and broader biblical themes to audiences who bring no previous familiarity to their learning.

Emeritus Professor Dorothy Jean Weaver ’72 hosted three New Testament study workshops engaging with perspectives on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, stories of resilience, and the theme of power in the Gospel of Matthew. Read more about Weaver鈥檚 scholarly work on this topic.

With growing interest in the new Voices Together hymnal, music editor and new music professor Benjamin Bergey 鈥�11 co-led three sessions with general editor Bradley Kauffman in anticipation of the 2020 release. He also joined a co-presenter to discuss how the 20 songs from the contemplative Taize community that are included in the hymnal might be integrated into regular and Taize-style worship.

The came prepared to engage and share its vision. The center co-hosted a networking event for young adults with Mennonite Creation Care Network, joining current college students with recent graduates to explore issues and encourage active engagement through their churches.

Executive director Doug Graber Neufeld, a biology professor at EMU, also hosted a general interest meeting, with a special invitation for those wanting to explore ways that congregations can engage with climate issues.

Climate Future Fellows Michaela Mast, Harrison Horst and Sarah Longenecker, all 2018 EMU graduates, shared about their experiences producing two seasons of the 鈥淪hifting Climates鈥� podcast. Read more here.

One workshop presenter didn鈥檛 have to travel far. Annette Lantz Simmons, a graduate of the and its 2018 Peacebuilder of the Year, led a workshop on trauma, resilience and leadership. Simmons, a certified STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience) trainer, is executive director of the Center for Conflict Resolution in Kansas City (which also employs three other CJP graduates).

A number of EMU alumni, too many to list in this article, contributed to activities and/or were delegates or participants at the conference. The information in this article was compiled from the MennoCon program book.听

The university is among 24 schools participating in the 2018 , July 23-July 28, sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV).

Any students who visit EMU can apply for free.

Students who visit three or more participating colleges will be eligible to receive three application fee waivers to use at any participating institution. In addition, students visiting at least three institutions will also be eligible for a drawing for a $500 Amazon gift card.

EMU will offer daily campus tours and information sessions about admissions, financial aid and academic programs.

鈥淰irginia Private College Week is a great opportunity that provides prospective students and their families the chance to easily visit multiple schools over a few days and get a head start on the college search process,鈥� said Matt Ruth, director of undergraduate admissions. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited to welcome students from throughout Virginia for these special sessions.鈥�

On Monday-Friday (July 23 鈥� July 27), there will be a morning (9 a.m.) and afternoon (2 p.m.) session. On Saturday, July 28, there will be a morning (9 a.m.) session only.

鈥淰isiting campuses in person is one of the most important steps in the college search process,鈥� said Robert Lambeth, president of the CICV.

CICV was founded in 1971 to promote the interests of nonprofit, independent higher education in Virginia. The Council was also instrumental in starting the state鈥檚 Tuition Assistance Grant program.

鈥淚 encourage parents to explore which college will be the best fit for their son or daughter, and I want to reassure them that a quality education at a Virginia private college is affordable and within reach,鈥� said Lambeth.

More information

To register for Virginia Private College Week at EMU, go to or contact the Admissions Office at 1-800-368-2665 or admiss@emu.edu.

Click here for more information on including a list of participating colleges, or contact the at 540-586-0606.

鈥淢arketing is the most dynamic sub-field in business and one of the strongest areas of job growth globally,鈥� said Professor Jim Leaman, business and economics department chair. 鈥淭he organizational leadership major, too, will prepare graduates for an expanding area of need, as specialists in managing people systems are also in strong demand.鈥�

The employment outlook for both areas is positive, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Marketing jobs are expected to grow by 10 percent 鈥� and management jobs by close to that 鈥� through 2026.

As with many majors at EMU, the new academic programs offer internships and practicum experiences. Students wishing to double-major in accounting or economics 鈥� or to add minors such as nonprofit management 鈥� will find that the programs integrate well, Leaman said.

Marketing a 鈥渘atural intersection鈥�

The marketing major 鈥� a collaboration between the听visual and communications arts (VACA) and business and economics departments 鈥� places EMU among the only 12 percent of four-year private institutions in Virginia offering the degree.

But like other majors at EMU, it comes with the university鈥檚 significant and unique emphasis: global and cultural perspective.

鈥淢arketing impacts larger cultural forces, and can be part of social change, advocacy and getting unique and challenging messages into the social dialogue,鈥� said Professor Jerry Holsopple, who teaches digital media. 鈥淪tudents with cross-cultural ways of knowing and collaborative ways of working will be valuable beyond their technical or theoretical skillset.鈥�

The major has two tracks: media and design, and management. Each includes curriculum from the traditional marketing and business perspective as well as the arts, and will prepare students for careers at nonprofits, businesses, nongovernmental organizations and institutions of higher education 鈥� or start-up businesses and design and media enterprises, Leaman said.

Within the media and design track, students will acquire a set of skills that enables them to create media forms ranging from the single image to visual and text campaigns and longer-form video storytelling. The business-leaning management track will prepare students for marketing management and oversight roles. Course topics include consumer behavior, sales and e-commerce, strategic marketing management, branding and design, and communication strategy.

鈥淧rospective students are really interested in marketing,鈥� said Matt Ruth, director of admissions. 鈥淭hey are digital natives and many have dreams of becoming entrepreneurs and blazing their own paths.鈥� The portfolios of work they amass in the program鈥檚 courses will reflect 鈥渢he natural intersection of design and business,鈥� he said.

鈥淥rganizations are scrambling to meet new opportunities in a rapidly changing environment as recent advancements in technology, networking, and electronic media have shifted the field of marketing to the intermediary space between business and visual and communication arts,鈥� Leaman said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to work in the creative space of a cutting-edge field, to collaborate across disciplines and departments to offer a nimble and demanded major, and to advise students into a growing and vibrant field and career.鈥�

A marketing minor is also offered to students seeking orientation to the essential skills and concepts of the field.

Organizational leadership for 鈥榩eople systems鈥�

The organizational leadership major will equip students to manage human capital and organizational systems. It will draw heavily on psychology and applied social sciences courses to prepare graduates for middle management or project management early in their careers.

鈥淟eadership and organization are social constructs that continuously evolve,鈥� said Leaman. 鈥淲ith this focus on the personal, interpersonal, and group systems in the workplace, students who have a strong interest in the 鈥榩eople systems鈥� of organizations now have a better fit with a major credential.鈥�

Students in the program will gain skills in project management, team dynamics and team-building, interpersonal conflict and mediation, and personal leadership development. Course topics will include leadership theory and practice, human resource management, social psychology, applied behavior analysis, psychology of interpersonal relationships and more.

In addition to two full-tuition , approximately 90 students also interviewed or auditioned with scholarship committees within several academic departments.

• After submitting an essay, prospective teachers met with faculty to talk about their goals and inspirations to make an impact in education.
• Before their interviews, prospective students planning to major in submitted a reference letter and responded to a prompt asking for reflection on how the program intersected with their values and long-term interests.
• Musicians who do not plan to be music majors auditioned for a variety of scholarships. Awards will be made to students participating in .
• Invited students interviewed for selection into the听EMU STEM Scholars Engaging in Local Problems (SSELP) program, which provides financial aid up to $10,000 to academically talented students with demonstrated financial need who will pursue employment, service or continued education in high-need STEM fields regionally and nationwide.
• Students who had submitted promising portfolios of photography, videography and/or digital media work were invited to interview with the faculty.

A big welcome on campus

Campus tours, meals, workshops for parents and opportunities to interact with current students, faculty, staff and alumni were scheduled.

鈥淭he weekend provided students from around the United States with a close-up view of what it might be like to be a part of the EMU community,鈥� said Director of Admissions . 鈥淗aving such a talented group of prospective students on campus definitely makes everyone more conscious of what a tremendously rich and diverse place this is.鈥�

Ruth was helped by a large team of EMU supporters 鈥� from current students who hosted overnight stays to alumni speakers and several parents of current students who met with visiting parents.

Yoder Scholar Anisa Leonard, a sophomore social work major from Nairobi, Kenya, organized housing and led dinner-time activities. As an Exec Royal Ambassador, she spent most of the weekend giving campus tours.

“I loved getting to meet all the new students and seeing some familiar faces,” she said. “A lot of the students asked questions which were major specific about what they can expect from professors or in the classroom.”

Alumni highlight faculty, small size, deep discussions

Alumni Benjamin Bergey ’11, nearing the conclusion of his doctoral work in music at James Madison University, and Jessica Sarriot 鈥�11, a first-year graduate student at Princeton University, shared their EMU experiences with prospective honors students.

Bergey chose EMU for several reasons, including its 鈥渉olistic learning environment in and out of the classroom,鈥� the 鈥渁mazing faculty who are quality professors but also mentors and friends,鈥� and the small size.

鈥淚t’s large enough to have an array of excellent programs, but small enough that students can participate in many of them with room to create other experiences,鈥� he told students.

Sarriot, who was raised in three different countries as a 鈥�,鈥� talked about how her (she also minored in and ) prepared her for four years of international and national development work, followed by an intense seven-month research project in which she explored community organizing practices by interviewing 60 community leaders in Colombia, Mauritania, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq.

Her graduate studies at Princeton are fully funded.

鈥淲hen I think of my four years on campus, the times I remember the best were times I was actively engaging the two questions at the center of my being: How do I do justice and who is God?鈥� she said. 鈥溾�f you are holding some profound questions in your head and heart, there will be professors, mentors, classmates and an ethos at this institution that will allow you to explore those questions, that will enrich and nurture your process of answering them, and that will stay with you.鈥�

The $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation funds 14 scholarships as well as other support services for students, including peer tutoring, attendance at conferences, and stipends for student clubs.

Scholarship awardees will join a cohort within the STEM Scholars Engaging in Local Problems (SSELP) program, focused on socially-engaged learning.

鈥淗ere at EMU, our STEM students make real-world, local impacts while gaining skills and knowledge that will prepare them for the professional field or for graduate school,鈥� said Professor , who chairs the biology and chemistry departments and led the faculty committee that wrote the grant. 鈥淭he SSELP program builds on this legacy and opens new doors for our students.鈥�

View .

Who can apply?

U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or permanent residents intending to study in the following majors are eligible to apply: , chemistry, , , , and .

Seven scholarships 鈥� three worth $10,000 a year and four of $5,000 a year 鈥� will be awarded to deserving students matriculating in the fall of 2018. The deadline to apply is Feb. 2, 2018.

An additional seven scholarships will be awarded in the fall of 2019.

Selection is based on academic performance, SAT/ACT scores, an essay, a personal interview and a letter of recommendation from a science or mathematics teacher. Students must be eligible for need-based federal financial aid, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.

鈥淲e are looking for high-achieving students who are motivated and committed to the SSELP program, and really excited to explore options in the STEM majors,鈥� said Matt Ruth, director of admissions. 鈥淭his is a special opportunity to be involved in a ground-breaking program at EMU and we expect to see some excellent applicants from schools both near and far.鈥�

What is SSELP?

Career exploration and networking begin during the first year at EMU, with a cohort-based practicum that invites area STEM professionals into the classroom to talk about their work. Local and regional issues in the Shenandoah Valley will also be explored.

SSELP scholars will experience 鈥渆arly and consistent exposure to inquiry- and problem-based learning through research projects focused on real-world issues,鈥� Kishbaugh said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e also built in projects that ask students to work collaboratively across different scientific disciplines, an important skill for graduate school or employment in STEM fields.鈥�

Employing their skills in 鈥減ractical ways that yield tangible results鈥� helps students see their impact on the community and the world, she added.

鈥淎ttracting and retaining a diverse range of students to the STEM fields benefits us all, both here at EMU and in the broader world,鈥� Kishbaugh said. 鈥淲hen our scientists more accurately represent humanity, the potential for scientific breakthroughs and for addressing major problems of today and the future broadens in major ways.鈥�

Mentorship, field trips, attendance at conferences, and access to a peer tutoring program are also components of the program.

The program builds on a 2016 National Science Foundation research grant awarded to EMU to improve instructional techniques and retention among minority and first-generation college students in the STEM fields. Thirteen professors across several disciplines have been involved in learning and testing new pedagogies.

The SSELP program is a 鈥渘atural extension of this work,鈥� Kishbaugh said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e equipped in many ways to help more students succeed and that鈥檚 really exciting to us as teachers and scientists.鈥�

鈥淗ello, HHS,鈥� flashed the blinking LED lights.

鈥淲ow!鈥� 鈥淕enius!鈥� 鈥淚 want one!鈥� came the feedback.

鈥淥ne of the neat things about our engineering classes,鈥� said Ben Zook, a junior engineering major at 草莓社区, 鈥渋s that we work on practical problems while we get to know people we may not have met before. I鈥檝e really enjoyed that part of my college coursework.鈥�

Packed into a lab in the Suter Science Center, about 20 high school students were enjoying a showcase of projects created and programmed by and students. Soon, they鈥檇 be off across campus to another 30-minute mock class.

The campus visit 鈥� which included opportunities to interact with college students, visit informally with faculty and staff, eat in the cafeteria and take a campus tour 鈥� was part of the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs program, also known as GEAR UP.

Harrisonburg High School (HHS) is one of 27 schools in Virginia to be awarded the U.S. Department of Education grant, designed to significantly increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

HHS鈥檚 GEAR UP program was open to any student who signed up as an eighth-grader. Nearly 300 students joined the program three years ago. Members of the cohort will receive support through their first year of college. Tutoring, mentoring, parent activities and workshops on college readiness/financial aid are primary components.

Paired with student mentors

Forty-four high school students attended the day-long visit to EMU, said , professor of and co-director of EMU鈥檚 .

Leaman coordinated the visit with Honors Program co-director and history professor Mark Sawin; Matt Ruth, EMU admissions director; and grant site coordinator Rachel Linden, a counselor at HHS.

A unique twist paired high school students with 38 mentors from the Honors Program, the , and the Student Government Association, said Leaman. The students stuck together through the day, building rapport and opening up channels for real conversations about college life and the students鈥� future plans.

鈥淥ur goal was to give back to our Harrisonburg community in a way that made sense to our 10th graders: peer-peer conversation to encourage each of our young people to consider going to college, whether that be EMU or somewhere else,鈥� Leaman said. 鈥淭he day was truly collaborative, with students sharing their stories and our students, faculty and staff learning from them at the same time as they offered information. The interactions between the HHS students and our EMU students and staff were full of energy, with real questions about college peppering the supportive conversations throughout the day.

Informal conversations help students learn more about college opportunities

Thirteen faculty opened their doors during 鈥渙ffice hours鈥� to speak with students, and three faculty, with seven student volunteers, offered short classes in education, photography and engineering to give the visitors an idea of what they might learn and explore in their future coursework.

After lunch in the cafeteria, students chose special topics to investigate in informal, roundtable discussions with EMU coaches and various staff members about athletics and intramurals, financial aid, academic preparation and residence life.

Linden said afterwards that students were excited by the opportunity to explore the college and interact with college students throughout the day. 鈥淥n the bus ride home, students were commenting how they hadn’t realized all that EMU had to offer and that it was now more than a place they just drove by to get home.鈥�

Ariel Barbosa, a sophomore Honors Program and Latino Student Alliance member, enjoyed seeing the students get more and more comfortable on the campus as the day went on: “Feeling the energy that the HHS students naturally brought on this day paired with the warmth that EMU students gave 鈥� this was beautiful. I would do this day over again and again if it ensured that at least one of those students could one day go to a college where they could light up as easily as they did while they were on our campus.”

The campus visit hasn鈥檛 been the only chance EMU students have to meet with GEAR UP students. Several clubs, including the Psychology Club, Pre-Professional Health Sciences Club, and Student Education Organization have offered after-school activities and workshops.

鈥淪ome of our students have really tapped into opportunities to learn more,鈥� Linden said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been really fun to see them explore possibilities.鈥�

鈥淭he Daughters for Life program is an opportunity for EMU to support a worthy cause and to enrich the learning community here on campus at the same time,鈥� said Provost . 鈥淲e hope to bring talented young international women to campus who have significant academic and leadership potential.听 We hope they can exercise their gifts here on campus, developing them further in order to make a significant contribution to their home communities after they graduate from EMU.鈥�

The foundation was founded in 2009 by Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish in honor of the three daughters he lost during an Israeli shelling of their Gaza Strip home. An obstetrician and gynecologist by training, Abuelaish is now an associate professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.

He visited EMU in November 2014 to talk about his book 鈥�,鈥� and to speak about peacebuilding through a medical lens. While on campus, he introduced the possibility of such a partnership with university officials. A favorable response led to more discussion and the signing of an MOU nearly a year later.

鈥淭he Daughters for Life Foundation is proud to be playing an important role in supporting the education of women in the Middle East,鈥� said Abuelaish, 鈥渁nd we are honored to have Eastern Mennonite join us in our transformative mission to foster peace through education. Establishing a just, safe, healthy and peaceful world is only possible if we ensure that women are educated and able to fully participate in and contribute to their communities and the world.鈥�

The Daughters for Life (DFL) program currently has more than 20 young scholars enrolled in a number of universities and colleges across North America and Bangladesh. Students are selected on the basis of academic achievement, 鈥渂ut also for their character and commitment to improving the lives of girls and young women in the Middle East,鈥� according to the DFL website.

As part of their agreement, the students must agree to eventually 鈥渞eturn to their homelands to improve the lives of girls and young women in the Middle East.鈥� According to UNESCO, only 20% of women ages 15 and older are in the labor force, the lowest level of any world region. Women in these countries are twice as likely to be illiterate as men are and make up two-thirds of the region鈥檚 illiterate adults.

Applicants will be required to meet , said Director of Admissions .

Under the terms of the agreement, two full academic scholarships and lodging will be provided, along with international airfare, activity fees, textbooks and board.

As part of the agreement, Abuelaish will donate his time to one fundraising event to benefit both scholarship funds and DFL expenses relating specifically to the scholars at EMU.

Seven North American institutions, including EMU, will host students for the 2016-17 academic year: Coll茅ge听Bor茅al, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Sault College, all in Ontario, Canada; and Manhattanville College and The University of Rochester in New York state, and New College of Florida, in Sarasota, Florida.

鈥淚 love working at EMU,鈥� Ruth says. 鈥淚t certainly has benefited me with what I was able to get out of it as a student, and now I鈥檓 paying it forward. That sounds clich茅, but I love that we鈥檙e a small, private, Christian liberal arts university, and I love Harrisonburg. It鈥檚 the epitome of a college town. There are so many good opportunities here.鈥�

Ruth grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania and came to EMU to study . He graduated in 2006 and entered Mennonite Voluntary Service, spending two years at Valley Teen Ranch in Fresno, Calif. He met his future wife, Kara, while in California, and the couple decided to move back to the Shenandoah Valley.

After initially working for a local counseling agency, Ruth heard from some friends about an opening for an admissions counselor at EMU. He began in 2009 and hasn鈥檛 looked back. He moved up to associate director of admissions three years later, and this fall鈥�when former director Jason Good left for another position鈥�Ruth received the call to become director.

鈥淚鈥檓 very excited about this opportunity, and grateful,鈥� Ruth says. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to work with the staff here and continue to promote EMU and show students and their families what we have to offer here. We have a very, very good team.鈥�

In his new role, Ruth will be responsible for all undergraduate recruitment activities, including the development of promotional strategies, staff training, office management, and budget administration. He also serves as a key member of EMU鈥檚 strategic enrollment management staff, working with Vice President for Enrollment.

鈥淏eing the director of admissions is a perfect fit for Matt,鈥� Hartman says. 鈥淗e has a strong commitment to the values of EMU, a deep understanding of the admissions systems and processes, the ability to use data to guide decision-making, and a caring attitude toward others.鈥�

EMU鈥檚 strategic plan calls for growing enrollment to 1,100 undergraduate students over the next five years, building the local student population and adding diversity while also connecting with the university鈥檚 important Mennonite constituency.

Ruth has already been part of an exciting period en route to those goals. This fall鈥檚 freshman class of 257 students is the largest since 1988, following up on two previous years with classes of 230-plus. That has helped put EMU鈥檚 overall enrollment at an all-time high, topping 1,800.

鈥淭he numbers speak to what EMU has going for it, and they certainly speak to how hard we work. We have a lot of momentum, and we don鈥檛 want to stagnate,鈥� Ruth says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting time to be at EMU.鈥�