We Are Castleton University

August 27, 2015

Read President Wolk's Complete Address

On Thursday, August 27 Castleton University officially opened the 2015-16 academic year with its fall Convocation as more than 500 students, faculty, and staff members joined President Dave Wolk for his annual state of the university address in the Casella Theater.

President Wolk welcomed the standing room only crowd, and showed a brief video of scenes from orientation weekend that was shot and edited by Castleton student Matt Levins.

After recognizing new faculty and staff hires, the Castleton alumni association honored Mohamed Y. Basha '06, and Sue Farrell '69 with the annual Alumni of the Year awards, before Wolk named Ken Stone the Commuter Student of the Semester.

Wolk’s address highlighted the University’s progress made over the last fourteen years, including the growth of graduate programs, focus on international recruitment, development of off campus entrepreneurial venues, implementation of Castleton Plan, and the reinvigorated campus community that is now Castleton University.

“For the first time ever, and for many decades, if not centuries to come, welcome to Castleton University,” Wolk began, “We are now the small university with a big heart, with high expectations for students and staff, the university that helps students transform themselves, the university that, with the help of its students, is transforming itself.”

Wolk explained that along with the modernization of its name, the university will continue to see transformation, with the expansion of academic programs and strategic growth of graduate programs, as well as a greater investment in and commitment to the Rutland area.

With additional increases of student athletes and international students and a significant investment in institutional scholarships based on merit, he assured the packed theater that the university is still very much on the move, focused on the personalized, relationship-based, high quality education that has always characterized the Castleton experience.

Other exciting announcements included a tuition freeze for the 2016-17 academic year, and that with a focus on international growth Castleton now has 35 countries represented on its campus.

“Our vision moving forward is a testament to the remarkable progress of recent years. We are proud of what we have accomplished together in a way that embraces our rich history and enhances our cherished traditions. But we cannot stand still,” finished Wolk, “It will take the collective creativity of a small university with a big heart to launch us into new frontiers that will capture the essence of what makes us special and unique, ensure our financial stability for the future, support our students with a very high quality education, and contribute to the cultural and economic well-being of Vermont.”