The fall terms are drawing to a close with our newest graduate students in their first weeks of the December term and our degree completion students wrapping up their fall term. Welcome to our newest students beginning their academic journey. I look forward to hearing from all in the months ahead. Congratulations to those who completed their studies this fall due to hard work and dedication to the academic endeavor, often made more challenging because of the pandemic conditions under which many started their programs. I am sure the experience was difficult at times, but as we all know, we should expect challenge to achieve distinction. The completion of one’s education is a stepping stone into the future.
We have had our share of pandemic-induced challenges, and I eagerly look forward to meeting our students at the annual Residency Conference in June for the first time in two years! We are full steam ahead in planning a return to the campus residency week and anticipate a robust experience given what we have learned from pivoting into the virtual environment. Students and faculty coming to residency should be alert for notifications as we approach the New Year. Although it doesn’t seem like it with the onset of winter upon us in Vermont, June is actually much closer than it appears.
This fall was busy with CGCS faculty instrumental in the success of two major conferences on campus. Dr. David Ulbrich, history programs director, and Megan Liptak, residency director, worked very hard all year with Dr. Travis Morris and the Peace and War Center to support the International Symposium of Military Academies (ISOMA) held on campus October 4-8. This was the first time the event was held in the U.S. with Norwich University proudly serving as the host. There were many great sessions, and a symposium edition of the Journal of Peace and War Studies was published featuring top papers from the event. I should also note that the Military Writers’ Symposium was held November 3-4 on campus as well with several CGCS faculty, staff, and alumni participating. Congratulations to all for a job well done and a wonderful academic experience on all counts.
The university is beginning a new strategic planning process under the leadership of President Anarumo with the early stages of that effort underway. The time is ideal to examine our programs for improvements, identify new program areas of benefit to current and future students, and examine other ways we can improve the academic experience across the university, and more specifically in the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies. Stay tuned for more information about our efforts, and do not be surprised if you hear from me about this before the next newsletter is published. I welcome your ideas since our students and faculty are in the forefront of their respective fields, business, and in leadership positions navigating the new economic, social, and political terrain ahead in the United States and internationally. Let me know what degree or certificate programs are of greatest utility in your business and personally.
Our efforts in the Denver office and with Norwich Pro continue with some exciting new opportunities developing in the world of certificates and non-degree learning. Several new partnerships will provide access to important and industry-relevant certificate programs; stay tuned for more detail as these roll out in early 2022. CGCS recently partnered with the user experience design program Upright Academy for those interested in their highly valued user design and software development program. More information is available on the Norwich Pro certificates site. Additionally, several new courses on intelligence are now available and provide a great foundation for understanding how intelligence may benefit various business domains beyond what we normally think of intelligence studies for national security. Norwich Pro is here to serve your ongoing continuing and professional education needs; let us know how we can help your company or organization.
Please take some time to refresh and recharge your batteries during the holiday season as we head into 2022 and the many new achievements that await us. Best wishes for the holiday season, and thanks to our dedicated students, faculty, staff, and alumni for all they do to support CGCS and Norwich University!
