Last weekend, we welcomed the first members of the class of 2024 to campus. It's the first time students have been on campus in over five months, and we couldn't be more thrilled!
On Aug. 21 and 22, new students and their families participated in a "drive-through" check-in, interacting with Wells staff and Orientation leaders at several stations located in Macmillan Circle. Once they got settled, new students have been participating in a weeklong series of Orientation events — some virtual, others in person, depending on the need for social distancing and safe gathering during the ongoing pandemic. Staff from all across campus spent many weeks developing plans for how to reopen the College, and how to adapt classroom teaching, residence life, dining services, and all other facets of campus to our new COVID-19 reality.
"There's so much that goes into going away to college, and I can assure you that these will be remembered as the best years of your life. And this year may be remembered as the most unusual year of your life!" President Gibralter told new arrivals during a virtual welcome talk. "However, you'll be forming great friendships and meeting great faculty and staff. We're so glad you're here."
Cindy J. Speaker, provost and dean of the College, added: "Your time at Wells is not just about getting a piece of paper, although our hand-printed degrees printed by our Wells Book Arts Center do look beautiful. It's about getting an education, one that prepares you for your entire life. We're looking forward to starting this journey with you!"
Returning students will arrive on a staggered schedule Aug. 25–28. For more details on the process of reopening campus, please visit wells.edu/return-to-campus. You can also find more photos at our Facebook page.
