Students choose to attend Winthrop for its beautiful campus, small class sizes, outstanding faculty, program quality and more. Another reason is that Winthrop has created several “destination programs” that were designed to put the university on the radar of students who may not be as familiar with Winthrop.

President Dan Mahony has emphasized the importance of Winthrop setting itself apart from other colleges and universities in the region by creating destination programs. “Tese are those programs that change a student’s choice of higher education institution. Te presence of the program at Winthrop will cause them to choose Winthrop and without it, we would not be considered.”

Winthrop’s destination programs include both academic and non-academic offerings. Read more below about two of these new destination programs and how their implementation will attract new students to the university.

BACHELOR OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES DEGREE LAUNCHES

In spring 2020, the university will launch its first adult completion program that will serve adult learners who have some level of college, such as an associate’s degree or higher.

Recent census data shows that more than 90,000 adults in the five counties surrounding Winthrop have some college experience but did not earn bachelor’s degrees.

According to Jack DeRochi, dean of the Graduate School and associate vice president for academic outreach, the program will allow adult learners to finish their college degrees while delivering specific competencies and professional skill development that they need in their careers.

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DESTINATION WINTHROP

“Tis program is designed to help folks who have identified that their lack of advanced academic and skill training is an obstruction they’re experiencing in their professions, careers and lives, and this is a way to help them finish that degree,” DeRochi said.

Te program courses will be offered at night, on weekends and in a hybrid mix of on-campus and online options in order to fit the busy schedules of working adults.

For more information on the Bachelor of Professional Studies program, please visit www.winthrop.edu/cas/ professionalstudies or call Program Director Scott Amundsen at 803/323-3095 or email amundsens@winthrop.edu.

Head Coach Josh Sides is leading the university’s first esports team.

ESPORTS TEAM NOW IN ACTION AND READY TO WIN

Winthrop is only the third NCAA Division I school to have a varsity esports program housed within its athletics department. Esports, a booming industry, describes the world of competitive video gaming.

Te inaugural esports team, led by Head Coach Josh Sides, consists of 13 players. Te team’s season lasts all school year, and players will participate in online and in-person tournaments. Te first major event was HUEfest, an invitational tournament for the top esports programs in the country.

According to Sides, esports is exploding in popularity with the 16-22 age group. “According to a recent survey, more 16 to 22 year olds are watching esports than any other sport. If you’re a school or university that focuses on recruiting this age group and you’re not offering esports, then you’re missing out on one of the biggest things that this age group is interested in.”

For prospective students who are interested in competitive gaming, Winthrop is a natural choice.

“We have a highly competitive program on a campus that already has a great, growing esports culture, in a region where other schools have been slower to embrace it,” said Sides. “If a student is passionate about esports, then Winthrop is the place to come to meet those like-minded students.”

Winthrop also has a competitive gaming club that is part of Winthrop’s more than 160 clubs and organizations.

For more information on esports, please visit www. winthropeagles.com

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