With every generation that enrolls at Gettysburg College, we adapt. Not by departing from our mission, but by renewing it. Through exciting new initiatives and inspiring partnerships, we continue to deliver on our promise of A Consequential Education—one that is rigorous, relevant, and uniquely student-centered.
Beginning in Fall 2025, we will launch three new majors—communication studies, finance, and public health policy—each designed to equip our students with the knowledge and enduring skills to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment. These new majors, shaped by our dedicated faculty, reflect our responsiveness to today’s students and their budding career interests, as well as our unwavering conviction that a hands-on, liberal arts education is the best form of career readiness one can receive to ascend in these rapidly evolving fields.
I’m pleased to share that the College has also taken important steps to further connect our students’ classroom learning with real-world application. Our new Bloomberg Terminal Lab, located in the College Union Building (CUB) above the Bullet Hole, for example, will soon give students access to the very same analytical tools and market news as finance professionals. Students will be able to discern up-to-the-minute data on stocks, bonds, commodities, and currencies—all crucial to understanding market dynamics.
This spirit of innovation extends beyond our undergraduate experience too. Through new graduate programs—including a fully online Master of Education with a focus on educational access and design thinking, and partnerships with Loyola University Maryland and Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the top-ranked school for public affairs by U.S. News & World Report—we are creating purposeful pathways for students and alumni to deepen their expertise and broaden their impact.
As our 1,200 alumni witnessed firsthand over Reunion Weekend, we’re also upgrading our campus facilities. We have introduced new social spaces in Plank Gym’s lower level, including an outdoor beer garden along Memorial Field, and began the renovation of two significant building projects: our West Quad residence halls, which launched construction in May with Stine Hall, and the CUB Ballroom, which will feature an elevated aesthetic.
And thanks to a group of generous donors, Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium now shines under new lights—sparking two unforgettable evenings this past year, when we hosted our first-ever night football and men’s lacrosse games. The Orange and Blue won both games! It was a fitting topper to a historic year for the Bullets, as 11 teams advanced to NCAA Division III championships—our most national appearances since 1997-1998—earning Gettysburg a ranking of 29th in the annual D-III Learfield Directors’ Cup, our best finish on the national stage.
Our ambitious initiatives and accomplishments, and many more, speak directly to the priorities outlined in Living Our Promise: The Strategic Direction for Gettysburg College (gettysburg.edu/strategicdirection)—a vision that since its launch in 2023 has been embraced and generously supported by our Gettysburg community. This year alone, more than 9,300 alumni, families, employees, and friends raised over $25 million in support of our students and programs. That extraordinary commitment in the leadership phase of our comprehensive campaign underscores the tremendous pride so many of you feel for your alma mater—and to the transformational power of this remarkable place we call home.
As we welcome the Class of 2029 to campus, I am reminded once again that this College succeeds because of the people who believe in it—who contribute their time, wisdom, and resources to ensure that Gettysburg will forever be exceptional.
Together, let us continue to believe—and show the world what a Gettysburg College education truly makes possible!
Sincerely,
Bob Iuliano
President