Welcome Week Helps New Students Adjust to Marist

Freshmen, transfer, commuter and international students participated in a numerous array of events.

A sign outside the Student Activities office, encouraging new freshmen to sign up for Welcome Week events. Photo by Luke Sassa '24

During Marist College’s Welcome Week, over a dozen events have been held to greet the more than 1,200 incoming freshmen, transfer, commuter and international students joining the Marist community.

Associate Director of First Year Programs & Leadership Development Colin McCann played a pivotal role in organizing many of the events. His department worked alongside Academic and Student Affairs to help welcome new students through extensive programming. With McCann’s department having run orientation earlier this summer, he viewed Welcome Week as a continuation of it, with a renewed emphasis on connecting incoming students with faculty members.

Welcome Week kicked off on Thursday, Aug. 22, with an event in McCann Arena for incoming students, featuring prominent speakers, such as President Kevin C. Weinman and Provost and Dean of Faculty Catherine Gunther Kodat. Later that evening, Saturday Night Live comedian Sarah Sherman delivered a free show titled “SARAH SQUIRM: LIVE + IN THE FLESH” to the audience.

On Friday, Aug. 23, a morning event for incoming students included remarks from the new Vice President of Student Affairs Andrea Conner, in addition to remarks from other assistant and associate deans. After that, a Lunch and Learn event for transfer students took place; Dean for Academic Engagement James Snyder spoke about opportunities for transfer students to engage at Marist. Another event for transfer students, known as Transfer Tools of the Trade, paired new transfer students with upperclassmen peer mentors who had previously transferred to Marist. On Friday night, hypnotist Evan Gambardella put on a free show for students in the Nelly Goletti Theatre. Afterwards, students attended an outdoor movie night viewing of Pitch Perfect on the campus green. 

Over the weekend, students had the chance to explore the Marist campus during an experiential open house. New students were able to tour academic buildings and facilities, as well as familiarize themselves with their professors and peers.

“We know that we have the students for about 48 hours before they wise up [and realize] that they don’t have to go to everything that we’re laying down in front of them,” said McCann. “And so, we always say it’s important that we front-load the experience for the students with the most critical, crucial information.”

Saturday, Aug. 24 brought the Meet and Compete event, formerly known as the Red Fox Rumble. This event, which McCann believes is a stress reliever and social catalyst, saw new students represent their residence areas by competing in casual competitions. 

More events took place on Sunday, Aug. 25, starting with a talk featuring Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Edward Antonio. Later that evening, the Student Programming Council’s Freshman Block Party unfolded on the campus green. The annual event featured inflatable games, a DJ, crafts, ice cream and a fireworks show to cap off the first weekend of the academic year.

SPC President Sophie Pirrera ‘25, along with her team of students and faculty advisor Parker Alber, organized the event. Pirrera also played a key role in planning the outdoor movie night, as well as a Stuff-a-Plush stuffed animal-making event that took place on Saturday.

“I think for students who are just getting here, whether they are first-year [students], transfers, whatever the case might be, I think our goal is always to just make people feel welcome, feel like they have a place where they can meet new people and have something to do with people they’re already friends with,” said Pirrera. 

During the first week of classes, more events were scheduled, starting with the Donut Stress event on Monday, Aug. 26 at 10:30 a.m. The event, organized by Gourmet Dining’s Director of Community Relations Gabby Licini ‘23, provided students with free red and white donuts at a stand by the underpass. Students were able to take a donut on their way to class and interact with the Gourmet Dining management to learn more about dining services on campus.

Next on the schedule is Pizzapalozza, set for Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the outdoor tent behind the dining hall. This annual event features pizza sampling from nearly a dozen pizzerias in the region, exposing new students to some of the area’s off-campus dining options. 

Wednesday, Aug. 28 will see a welcome-back reception be held for commuter students. This will be followed by an event known as Overnight Oat at 10 p.m. in the dining hall, during which a Gourmet Dining dietician will speak with students. On Friday, Aug. 30 at 3 p.m., the Student Activities Fair will take place on the campus green, bringing together all of Marist’s clubs and student-run organizations. Both new and returning students will have a chance to meet club representatives and get involved in the Marist community. 

One of the most important Welcome Week events began before many students returned to campus, as International Student Orientation took place from Monday, Aug. 19 to Thursday, Aug. 22. According to Director of International Student Services Lesly Garcia, the event served to aid international students as they begin adjusting to American culture and life at Marist.

According to Garcia, about 40 undergraduates and well over a dozen graduate international students joined Marist this fall. Their orientation addressed all facets of the Marist experience; international student dinners helped students build social networks, while planned shopping trips to the mall allowed international students to acquire possessions they could not bring with them from home.

The orientation also covered vital regulations and resources, including visa guidelines, tuition payments from abroad, on-campus mental health resources and U.S. health insurance policies. Garcia believes that the primary benefit of the orientation was acclimating these students, most of whom have never been to Marist, to their new campus, so they can easily locate their classes and new living accommodations.

Above all, Garcia expressed the importance of fostering an inclusive and welcoming campus environment for international students.

“We also want to make sure that the international community is not singled out, but rather are included in other activities. These are students just like other students on campus,” said Garcia. “We have to be aware of their differences, but at the same time, they’re regular students like any others.”