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Opening Week will get the semester off with a bang for incoming and returning students. Each day is packed with activities that give students an opportunity to become familiar with the campus and bond with classmates.
“The idea is to give students many different ways to feel comfortable with the place and the people,” says Dean of Students Larry Siegel. “These first experiences with the campus often serve as the foundation for both academic and personal success during a student’s undergraduate years. Equally as important, their participation is essential in creating a vibrant and inclusive student culture.”
The fun begins when new students move in to their East Campus residence halls on Saturday, Aug. 29. Returning students – including the 300-plus residents of the University’s new Inn and Conference Center in downtown Lowell -- arrive on Sunday, Aug. 30.
Highlights of opening week include the campus’s Fourth Annual New Student Convocation at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 1 at the Campus Recreation Center (CRC). An academic procession, welcoming words from Chancellor Marty Meehan and Provost Ahmed Abdelal, and a keynote address by the Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington serve as the official start to the academic year. The theme for Convocation this year is “Be here. Be engaged. Make an impact.”
On Friday, students will be entertained by comedian Zach Galifianakis, star of the movie “The Hangover.” Advance tickets ($12 for students and $20 for everyone else) are available at www.umltickets.com. Tickets at the door are $25. The show is at 8 p.m. at the CRC.
“We think this is going to be very popular,” says Director of Student Activities and Leadership Brenda Evans. “It was a coup to schedule him.”
Life outside the classrooms of UMass Lowell will continue at a faster pace throughout the year. With an increasing student population and nearly 3,000 students living in University housing, the array of activities and events has increased to keep them engaged, happy and here.
A group of staff members from Student Activities, Multicultural Affairs, Recreational Sports, Athletics and Residence Life have been working over the summer to create a year-long schedule of activities. These include three free movies weekly, recreational choices from intramural teams to one-day kayaking trips, evenings of music, and novelty events like speed dating, dream interpretation and create-your-own-street-signs.
One key to the packed schedule of activities is a website (www.uml.edu/gottabehere) that includes a Campus Life calendar where all student activities will be listed. Banners and posters around campus will advertise the website.
“We want to make sure every student is aware of the options every day,” says Evans.