AU Today Your connection to Aurora University
FA L L 2 0 1 5
Dear Friends, The new academic year dawned with promise here at Aurora University. We welcomed large freshman, transfer and graduate student classes and and took pleasure also in the arrival of a sizeable number of talented new full-time faculty and staff. All of our campuses (Aurora, Woodstock and George Williams) continue to be attractive options for prospective students and their families to consider. They appreciate the opportunity to experience a high-quality education at an affordable price. Sometimes we refer to this as the “AU value proposition.” Today, however, I want to share a few thoughts about our “values proposition.” Though AU undergraduate and graduate students are focused on preparing for careers, advancing in the workplace or getting a good first job, they ultimately aspire to create a better world. Several years ago, for example, they took the lead in securing a special designation for AU as a “Tree Campus.” As a campus community, we take advantage of many kinds of occasions to plant new trees. Sometimes we create living memorials to those no longer in our midst. At other times, we mark Arbor Day or landscape new buildings or develop a quiet corner for reflection and conversation.
When it came time to design a formal entryway for the Aurora campus, we followed the example of our students and favored plantings over bricks and mortar. With the assistance of our landscaping partners, we developed a design that will grow more lush and sheltering with each passing year. Our linden and birch trees will outlive many of us. Generations from now, they will stand as a proud reminder that education is continuous. A university is ever-reaching toward the sky, supported by strong, deep roots. Such a message is consistent with our identity, a powerful demonstration of our values.
Rebecca L. Sherrick, PhD President
Glimpses of Welcome Weekend at AU and GWC
Aurora University and George Williams College hosted a number of special events and social activities for new students during Welcome Weekend earlier in the semester. The Quad on the Aurora campus was transformed into a carnival-like setting, while GWC students took advantage of adventures on Geneva Lake. Students also participated in a number of orientation sessions about campus life, including presentations about safety and studying.