WCU Magazine Fall/Winter 2025

Dear West Chester University Community,

At West Chester University, our impact is measured not only by who we serve, but by how we prepare them to lead, adapt, and contribute in a rapidly changing world. Access and affordability are central to that mission. As a Carnegie-classified R2 institution with over 2,700 graduate students, we are a hub for advanced learning, research, and professional growth. We proudly serve graduate students who are advancing their careers or preparing for new opportunities. As a community of educators, we excel at helping these students integrate knowledge and experience, and we take seriously our role in supporting their academic and professional success.

That commitment is deeply personal to me. I remember my own days in graduate school, and they were not always easy. I was finishing my dissertation, living with my parents, and working as an adjunct faculty member at three different institutions just to make ends meet. Higher education has evolved since then, and so has West Chester. Whether they are recent graduates, career changers, or professionals building on existing expertise, our graduate programs are intentionally flexible, affordable, and led by faculty who understand the demands of adult learners. What our students learn in the classroom delivers real value in their professional roles.

I’m proud to say that graduate education at West Chester is not a one-size-fits-all experience. With more than 120 doctoral, master’s, certificate, and certification programs, we offer a wide range of formats—online, in-person, and hybrid—to meet students where they are. As we highlight West Chester University’s graduate experience in this issue, we celebrate the many ways graduate students strengthen and enhance our campus community, and drive meaningful impact in their professions and communities beyond campus.

Yours,

Laurie Bernotsky, DPhil
President
West Chester University