Opening Day is less than a week away, and the Fordham community is gearing up to welcome the Class of 2019.
The three-day welcome begins Sunday, Aug. 30, when 1,722 resident students and 473 commuters will arrive at the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan. Fordham staff and administrators, as well as 210 student orientation leaders, will be on hand to help new freshmen acclimate to campus.
“The goal of orientation overall is to help new students transition into University life, both by getting information and by being made to feel that they’re part of the Fordham community,” said Jennifer Lackie, director of the transition year experience.
At Rose Hill, students will be greeted at the campus entrance by staff and orientation leaders, who will direct them to their residence halls. There, swarms of student volunteers will be waiting to unpack cars and transport belongs into the residence halls. Meanwhile, commuter students will check in at the McGinley Center before joining the resident students for activities.“We’ll have excellent staff available to help with the move and all the transitions, physical and otherwise,” said Kimberly Russell, director of residential life at Rose Hill. “The new students shouldn’t worry about anything beyond what color bedspread they want.”
Both campuses have a packed schedule for the day, including a Mass for students and their families and an official welcome from Joseph M. McShane, SJ, president of Fordham.
Once their families depart, the freshmen will continue to get to know one another at various greetings and gatherings. The night ends with Rose Hill’s Ramapalooza in the Loschert Courtyard and Lincoln Center’s Night of Welcome on the Plaza.
Days 2 and 3 have a practical bent to them, Lackie said. On Day 2, which is “Academic Day,” students will have the chance to meet their academic advisers, learn about their programs of study, and formally celebrate their investiture into the colleges at the Freshman Convocation.Day 3, “Student Life Day,” features various topics related to living and socializing on a college campus. The day will include presentations and speakers on diversity, wellness, and living the Fordham mission.
“That day will introduce students to the resources that are available at Fordham. They’ll discuss topics that come up on a college campus, such as having healthy relationships and how to make your time at Fordham safe and enjoyable,” Lackie said.
“The students will also get to learn about Fordham’s campus ministry and discover what goes on with programs such as Global Outreach and the Dorothy Day Center.”
Connect with Fordham
…and tag it #Fordham4Me !
