Academic Year to Begin with Convocation and Picnic

Some 1,690 incoming freshmen will be welcomed to campus on Monday, August 28, with the annual Convocation ceremony and the IC Community Picnic. Convocation, which traditionally signals the start of the academic year, will be held at 11:00 a.m. in Ben Light Gymnasium. And for the third year, the ceremony will be followed by a picnic lunch designed to bring incoming students closer together with faculty, staff, and administrators.

President Peggy R. Williams will preside over Convocation and will offer remarks to members of the freshman class. Also speaking will be Jim Malek, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Herman E. Muller Jr. '51, chairman of the board of trustees; and Daniel Tillapaugh '01, president of the Student Government Association. The ceremony will open with a procession of faculty, trustees, and administrators in academic regalia and will feature music by faculty ensembles.

The IC Community Picnic will be held after Convocation on the Campus Center quad; in the event of rain it will be held in the Terrace Dining Hall. The event is intended to help build a sense of connection and commitment to the College among all its constituencies as well as to familiarize the members of the class of 2004 with their new surroundings.

"In an effort to welcome these newcomers to campus, I encourage faculty and staff members to talk to at least three new students at the picnic," Williams wrote in a letter inviting members of the College community to attend the picnic. As conversation starters, she suggests asking students what they're majoring in, where they are from and what they did over the summer, what drew them to Ithaca College, and what special interests they hope to explore while here. "It is also a great time for you to talk a little bit about yourself - what you do at the College, how long you have been an employee, and what personal interests you may have," she wrote. "Students also appreciate any advice or suggestions you can offer them."

Classes for the fall semester begin on Wednesday, August 30.