As we begin a new academic year, take a deep breath, and a few moments, to savor what you are about to experience.
Whatever path has brought you to Temple, and regardless of the wealth of past experiences, we hope you will make this a time of exploration--intellectually, socially, and personally. As you hone your ability to think and reason and learn, in and outside the classrooms and laboratory and studio, try to keep an open mind. Be receptive to new ideas, to points of view that differ from your own. Don't accept anything at face value. Ask questions, then push yourself beyond settling for easy answers.
In choosing Temple, you've opted for an outstanding faculty. Get to know them. They're approachable, and they are dedicated to guiding your pursuit of learning and providing direction as you chart your academic course.
Temple gives you the advantage of a wealth of resources and opportunities afforded by a sophisticated and diverse university. Explore all that is Temple--from the academic to the cultural, the social and athletic, and recreational. Temple's Core Curriculum will help you do that. So will the Learning Communities, which connect first-year students to academic and social support through groups of 20 to 30 students taking several classes together, team taught by two to four faculty. Outside of class, field trips, study sessions and informal faculty-guided discussions help ease your transition to college life.
You'll find additional support is close at hand through the Math/Science Resource Center, the Academic Resource Center, the Media Learning Center, the Writing Center, the University Counseling Center, Career Development Services, to name just some of the resources here to help you.
In making Temple your University, you've chosen the extraordinary fabric of diversity that makes Temple special. You'll find students from virtually all cultural, religious, ethnic, racial, linguistic, social and economic backgrounds, and sexual orientation. You'll meet students from an array of neighborhoods--from suburbs, cities and farms, as well as from an array of nations around the world--some 1,200 students from more than 100 countries study on Temple's campuses. And you'll soon realize that experiencing Temple's diversity is a vital part of your education.
Temple is a university with a proud tradition of commitment to its community, probably a mirror of your own life. Temple respects and works closely with its neighbors throughout the region. You may decide to be a part of that tradition of service, adding a dimension to your life at Temple through an array of campus organizations, including the Temple University Community Service Association (TUCSA), and other opportunities for volunteerism.
You'll also discover that Temple's community is global. Temple University campuses in Rome and Tokyo are terrific and popular, and Temple programs in London, Paris, Athens, Tel Aviv, Ghana, China and Korea bring life to the refrain that "the sun never sets on Temple University." Temple's reach is also global through distance learning, new technology and a network of tens of thousands of alumni(ae) around the world.
Wherever and whatever you choose to study, you'll be energized and enlightened by others, who, like you, chose Temple. They will play an extraordinary role in the outstanding education you receive as you prepare to move successfully toward your future in an emerging global environment.
We're glad you're here, and I wish you well.
Peter J. Liacouras
President