Photo Gallery: New Student Orientations Prepare the Class of 2019

Over the summer, members of the Class of 2019 participated in a range of orientation programs designed to prepare students for their new adventure on Mount St. James. Through these programs, students began establishing relationships with fellow classmates; met staff, faculty, and administration; participated in social and volunteer programs; and familiarized themselves with the campus, Worcester and the surrounding areas.

• Summer Gateways welcomed 520 students and their families for an advanced introduction to Holy Cross over the course of three sessions in June. Faculty and staff members conducted workshops, led discussions, answered questions, and gave students and their parents an inside look at the academic, cocurricular and spiritual dimensions of life on the Hill.
• Summer Passport — an innovative, three-week residential program designed to acclimate first-year students to the challenging academic life of the College — received the 30 students admitted to the program to campus in August. Students participated in a course designed and taught by Holy Cross faculty, and variety of skill-building workshops, among many other activities.
• For the first time, the College hosted an international student orientation, which offered the 27 students coming from outside of the United States an introduction to American academic and social culture, as well as campus life. Students were assisted with organizing personal matters, such as opening a bank account and purchasing a cell phone, in addition to identifying campus support services  and understanding U.S. immigration requirements.
• During the final week in August, 100 students participated in Odyssey, a one-week program designed for multicultural and international students, as well as American students living abroad, first-generation college students and for students for whom English is their second language. The program is designed to immerse students in the academic and campus atmosphere unique to Holy Cross.

Fall Gateways Orientation
Fall Gateways kicks off with Move-In Day on Aug. 29, after students are settled into their new residence halls. The four-day orientation, taking place from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1, offers a wide variety of academic, spiritual, community-building, and social programs aimed to support students as they acclimate during this exciting, transitional time. Students will also have the opportunity to get to know staff, faculty, and administration — and most importantly — their fellow classmates.

First-Year Reading
Over the summer, students were asked to read “Hand to Mouth: Living in Bootstrap America” by Linda Tirado, which describes Tirado’s experience as part of America’s working poor. First-time dean and professor of English, Shawn Maurer, chose the book for a number of reasons.

“In keeping with the College’s Jesuit commitment to social justice, I chose a first-year book that I hope will challenge all of us to think about who we are, to question the often unspoken assumptions we make about others, as well as the often unacknowledged privileges we may carry with us here to Holy Cross,” says Maurer. “I chose the book in part because it provides us with access to a voice we don’t often get to hear, a voice that describes, in honest, direct, even profane ways, her day-to-day experience of living on the edge, of constantly struggling to find enough work, have enough food, get enough sleep, to obtain health and dental care, to maintain a sense of self-worth.”

Beyond the Book
Maurer has organized a panel discussion surrounding issues addressed in the first-year book, which will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Hogan Ballroom, specifically designed to explore the relationship of charity to justice. The panel will include: Frank Kartheiser ’88 co-founder of Mustard Seed and founder of the Worcester Interfaith Council; Heather Johnson ’06, director of the College’s Teacher Education Program; Matthew Eggemeier, assistant professor of religious studies; and recent graduates Yarlennys Villamon ’14 and Payton Shubrick ’15.

Later in the semester, students will also have the chance to experience what it is like to live “hand to mouth” through a hands on, interactive POVERTY SIMULATION sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Education. The simulations will take place on Oct. 6 and Nov. 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Loyola Ballroom.

Although this is Maurer’s first year as class dean — a position she will continue to hold alongside the Class of 2019 from their matriculation through graduation — she explains that between the various new student orientations, planning the first-year book panel and working with students through the course enrollment process, she already feels fully immersed in the role.

“Working individually with students has always been one of my favorite parts of my job as a professor in the English department, so I am excited to have the chance to do that work with a much broader group of students,” Maurer shares. “In addition, I am thrilled to be there to challenge and support the members of my class over the course of their four years.  Both in person and over email I am already beginning to get to know and appreciate the talented, motivated, interesting, and diverse group of students who form the Class of 2019, and am excited to meet them all in person at Fall Gateways!”

Related News:

• Holy Cross to Welcome Class of 2019 on Aug. 29

Additional Information:

• Orientations & Information for Incoming Students