Orientation Weekend includes Convocation, Activities and Special Events for Largest Class Ever
The Champlain College Class of 2018 will arrive Friday for an information-packed, fun-filled, three-day orientation. The incoming class of 662 students represents 36 states and six countries.
Residential move-in begins Friday morning followed by a lunch for parents, students and friends. Champlain College’s new president, Donald J. Laackman, will welcome the students and parents on Aiken Lawn after a campus barbecue.
On Friday afternoon, Champlain College Provost Dr. Laurie Quinn, College vice presidents and Champlain faculty in full academic regalia will be led to the Convocation ceremony on Perry Hall lawn by the St. Andrews Pipe Band of Vermont. During the ceremony, Champlain College President Laackman will present the 2014 Distinguished Citizen Award to Mary Alice McKenzie, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington.
On Saturday, incoming students will learn about Champlain College’s LEAD: Life Experience & Action Dimension program which focuses on tools and skills for personal growth in four areas -- career management, financial sophistication, community involvement and individual values.
The new students will also learn about study abroad programs in Montreal and Dublin, Ireland, Build Your Own Business (BYOBiz), Academic Coaching, personal and public safety, neighborhood expectations, and hear a talk on “Beer Booze and Books.”
There’s plenty of fun as well, Orientation organizers say, with a cruise on Lake Champlain in the Spirit of Ethan Allen, a night of open-mic entertainment at The Grind (the college’s coffeehouse), a class photo on the new Res-Tri Amphitheater Sunday and visits to local attractions.
All other residential students will move in Sunday. Classes begin on Monday.
About Champlain College: Since 1878, Champlain College has provided career-focused education to students from its hilltop campus in Burlington, Vt. Champlain's distinctive educational approach embodies the notion that true learning only occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge. Champlain offers traditional undergraduate and online undergraduate courses, along with online certificate and degree programs and 11 master's degree programs. Champlain offers study abroad programs at its campuses in Montreal, Quebec and Dublin, Ireland. Champlain College is included in the Princeton Review's The Best 379 Colleges: 2015 Edition. Champlain was named a "Top-Up-and-Coming School" by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges and is ranked in the top tier of 2014 Regional Colleges in the North. For more information, visit www.champlain.edu