On behalf of the entire Methodist University community, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to our campus. You will often hear us talk about a “culture of excellence” as a way of communicating our commitment to the success of each student during his or her time at MU. Because of our signature people, we believe we can deliver not only the best education, but also the best quality of service.  
I invite you to get involved, take advantage of all that is available to you here at the University, and to share all of your talents with the new friends you will be making. Please also know that I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you. We are all part of the Methodist journey and will learn from one another.

My best wishes to you for a great year!

President Ben Hancock

I am delighted to welcome you to Methodist’s orientation, and I hope that you, the Class of 2016, are as excited to be here as I am.
I am at Methodist because of the challenging opportunities being created here as the school transforms from a mid-sized liberal arts college to a growing university. Another reason I am here is that I embrace the school’s liberal arts education, outstanding academic programs, core values, and relationship to the Methodist Church. I assure you that you will receive a quality education from an array of strong academic programs and extra- and co-curricular activities.
I encourage you to take advantage of all that MU offers -- from meeting with your advisors and professors to working with the professional staff throughout the University. We are all here to help you succeed!
Methodist University is alive with a vibrant spirit which, I hope, excites you! In the last few years, we have opened the Hendricks science annex, fitness center, Bethune Art Building, football locker rooms, two new physician assistant buildings for our growing graduate program, and five sorority and fraternity houses. This year, we open our new nursing building and new sophomore residence hall. Last spring, the University created a new Center for Student Success designed as a “one-stop” resource for all Methodist University students, and President Hancock announced the MU Journey which includes the following four Centers: Leadership, Community Engagement, Global Education, and Undergraduate Research and Creativity.
Welcome to Methodist University! I urge you to stay focused during your freshman year so you can build a strong foundation for your sophomore, junior, and senior years at Methodist!

Delmas S. Crisp,

Executive Vice President and Academic Dean

Welcome to Methodist University! The campus is alive with anticipation as we prepare for the semester ahead. As you settle in to your residence hall, you can look forward to many exciting opportunities to engage you in our campus community.
The University’s faculty, staff and administrators are a resource for students. We want to help you to achieve the maximum educational benefit from your time at Methodist University. I strongly encourage you to actively participate in University life by seeking out opportunities to be involved both in and out of the classroom.
Our staff is available to answer questions, advocate on behalf of students, or to simply point students and their families in the right direction. Please do not hesitate to contact your Dean of Students by phone at (910) 630-7152 or by email at wwalker@methodist.edu.

Vice President of Student Development and Services
and Dean of Students

 A life can change with a phone call, a plane ticket or a knock at the door.

For someone married to, engaged to or seriously involved with a person in the military, extreme transitions in lifestyle happen at a moment’s notice. A phone call or a knock at the door can mean the unthinkable for the partner of a soldier.

The University of North Carolina and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences examined medical records of 250,000 women married to active-duty soldiers. The study found that women whose husbands were deployed from one to 11 months were more likely to suffer from depressive disorders, sleep disorders, anxiety and acute stress reaction and adjustment disorders.

This study demonstrates that the burden of deployment can severely affect partners as well as soldiers. Having the tools and the ability to manage the stress and emotions of deployment is crucial to overcoming psychological and physical obstacles.

Staci Chiomento, a military spouse for eight years, and a former soldier, recalls the moment when representatives of the U.S. Army knocked on her door to inform her that her husband had been killed in action in Iraq.