High Point University is a place where you can prepare yourself to make a difference. One of my core beliefs, and one that I share often with the students here, is that good communication skills are essential for success. Clear communication conveys meaning through instruction, information and inspiration. Communication is at the heart of everything we do. It is the foundation for interaction among human beings. Communication has to do with meanings, with understandings, with feelings, with desires, with needs and with ideas. Communicating effectively with people is a minimum-requirement skill in our ever-changing global marketplace. Our world is filled with information, but that isn't enough. We need understanding, and that calls for transcending what philosopher William James called "the most immutable barrier in nature," the barrier between one person's thoughts and another's. By bridging the distance between human beings through effective communication, we can build a more peaceful world of understanding and meaningful dialogue. The purpose of most communication is to influence the attitudes and behaviors of those whom we address. Since the human race is composed of billions of individuals, each with a different way of responding, no one approach is universally effective. It is our commitment as an institution to provide you with a well-rounded education that will nurture your mind and provide opportunities for learning that will remain with you throughout your career and your life.