Another successful summer semester is in the books, and I hope that your school year has gotten off to a good start. The fall is no less busy than the summer for us here in Ashland, as we are already preparing for the 2012 summer. In fact, we are pleased to announce our 2012 schedule. Many old favorites and a few new topics are slated for the coming summer. Registration will open around December 1st.

Additionally, we are excited about two new parts of the MAHG program which will launch soon. First, after much consideration and research, the first online MAHG courses are in development. Unlike typical online courses, our offerings will utilize the latest in video conferencing to provide the same interactive experience offered by our traditional classes. We envision online coursework as a supplement to our on-campus offerings. Online coursework will be neither required not will it replace our summer courses.

Our second new program combines MAHG's successful instructional model with the Ashbrook Center's experience offering programs at historic sites. Starting with the 2012 summer semester, several MAHG courses each summer will be offered in historic Philadelphia. Much like our Presidential Academy program, students will study the nation's founding surrounded by the places at which history was made. You will learn more about both new options in an upcoming issue of MAHGnum Opus.

Finally, I wish to congratulate our latest graduates. Rusty Eder of Maryland, Sara Whitis of Ohio, and James Zenes of Illinois all completed their degrees with the summer term. You can read about Sara's work, and that of our spring graduates, in the next pages. We will share Rusty and James's stories with you in an upcoming issue.