WesternU to Hold Series of Back-to-School Events
Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) will sponsor its annual
series of events to mark the start of the academic year, as close to 400
new students from more than 25 states enter programs at WesternU.
The six events will be held at various locations on WesternU’s main campus
in Pomona, 309 E. Second St., during the first week of August, unless
otherwise specified.
Ice Cream Socials:
WesternU President Philip Pumerantz, PhD, will host three nights of ice
cream socials at his Upland home at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday,
August 3-5. Incoming students will be able to mingle informally with
University employees during this event, meeting faculty members and being
served ice cream by administrators.
White Coat Ceremony:
When a health care professional wears a white lab coat, it communicates to
the patient that the wearer is a person of skill and command, someone
whose knowledge can help their illness improve. Putting the coat on for
the first time is a symbolic moment for health professionals-in-training,
and Thursday, August 5, will mark the third year that WesternU has
celebrated the event with a special ceremony. Friends, family and faculty
members will attend to watch students don their coats and recite
the “”Pledge of Commitment.”” The event will be held at 1:30 and 3 p.m. at
the amphitheater in the WesternU Health Sciences Center.
Convocation:
WesternU’s 22nd annual Convocation Ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on
Friday, August 6, at the amphitheater in the WesternU Health Sciences
Center. This year’s program will include several speeches,
including “”Academic Expectations: The Promise”” by George Charney, DO,
executive vice president of academic affairs/chief academic officer;
and “”Building Our Clinical Legacy”” by Donald Krpan, DO, university
provost. Warren Lawless, chairman of the Board of Trustees, will also make
remarks, and WesternU President Philip Pumerantz, PhD, will present the
annual State of the University address. A reception and campus tours will
follow Convocation.
Parents Day Program:
Parents Day is held to give students and their parents an opportunity to
learn more about WesternU. The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday,
August 7, in the lobby of the WesternU Health Sciences Center with a
continental breakfast. The informational portion of the program will last
from 10-11:30 a.m. in the building’s amphitheater, and will cover the
University’s academic programs as well as
extracurricular activities available to students. A parent support group
meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m., and a barbecue lunch will be offered at
noon on campus in Founder’s Park. Campus tours will begin at 12:45.
Dedication of Alumni Center:
The WesternU Alumni Center, previously known as the Academic Center, will
be officially dedicated at 11:50 a.m. Saturday, August 7. The building is
a 32,000 square foot facility that houses the offices of Alumni Affairs
and Gift Planning, as well as three lecture halls. Several teaching and
research laboratories are located on the lower level of the Alumni Center.
Rolf Knapp, DO, president of the WesternU Alumni Association, will be on
hand at the event, and a cake will be cut in celebration. The event will
be followed by a barbecue lunch in Founder’s Park at noon, and campus
tours will begin at 12:45.
Homecoming Weekend:
The WesternU Alumni Association is sponsoring a Homecoming reception and
dinner at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, August 7, at the Marriott Hotel at Ontario
Airport. This will be in conjunction with reunions for the classes of
1984, 1989 and 1994. Tickets are $35 each.
The Alumni Association is also organizing a Continuing Medical Education
program entitled “”Primary Care Update”” which will include various seminars
presented by WesternU alumni. The programs are scheduled to be held from
7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 7, and from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
on Sunday, August 8, at WesternU’s main campus. A specialized physical
therapy workshop
will take place from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on August 7. Registration for the
two-day program is $225 at the door. For participants who pre-register,
the cost drops to $75 for dues-paying members of the association, $130 for
non dues-paying members, and $200 for all others. The event provides 15
hours of American Osteopathic Association category 1-A units.
For more information on Homecoming events, contact Janet Dyer, dean of
alumni affairs, at (909) 469-5275.
