Walsh University has designated the 2024-25 academic year as the Year of Community, part of a five-year initiative focusing on core values: community, excellence, integrity, service, and faith. President Tim Collins announced this initiative as a means to foster engagement and strengthen relationships among students, staff, alumni, parents, benefactors, community partners, and colleagues.

In his Opening Day remarks, President Collins highlighted the initiative's alignment with Walsh's Catholic mission. He emphasized open communication and compassion throughout the institution. "There is no more urgent time than now for us to be successful in coming together as a community and building leaders who will go out into the world," he stated. "We begin this year of community focusing on what each and every one of you do to contribute to our mission and how important you are to what we get done. You matter!"

The Year of Community will feature various programs and events designed to enhance engagement:

Campus Engagement: Participation in events such as Welcome Weekend, Maroon & Gold Weekend, Alumni Professional Connections, sporting events, internships, study beyond experiences, concerts, and other campus activities.

Academic Excellence: Strengthening faculty-student interaction through scholarship, research, leadership development events like the Presidential Thought Leadership Series, honors thesis presentations, and the Academic Celebration of Excellence Symposium.

Faith Enrichment: Spiritual development opportunities including Holy Mass, Adoration, AGAPE retreats, brotherhood and sisterhood groups, Bible studies, mission trips and pilgrimages.

Daily Interactions: Fostering support across athletics fields classrooms residence halls dining halls and other campus areas.

Service to the Community: Volunteering with organizations such as Akron Children’s Hospital Habitat for Humanity Not For Sale One Step At A Time Refuge of Hope Service Saturdays MLK Day of Service

Founded by the Brothers of Christian Instruction Walsh University remains dedicated to defending the vulnerable respecting human dignity recognizing interdependence working for common good

"Let's go about our work and seek to nurture and sustain this community we have that is supportive of each other that cares for each other that loves one another," said Dr. Collins. "In all that you do reflect what we stand for forge path build communities like great one here at Walsh University."