I am happy to report that the start of the academic year went smoothly in spite of Hurricane Irene's best efforts. Due to the planning of the Saint Joseph College staff and administration, the campus was fully prepared. After a one-day delay to the start of classes, the semester resumed and is now in full         swing!

 

I hope you are hearing positive reports from your daughter about her experience. This is indeed a wonderful time to be a Saint Joseph College student. Our academic and student-life programs continue to grow, offering myriad opportunities for students' personal and professional development. On the academic front, we opened our new School of Pharmacy in downtown Hartford, offering the College's first doctoral degree (interested undergraduate students should look into the Pre-Pharmacy program). Our Social Work program was fully reaccredited and a new minor in Family Youth Services is now available.

 

I am also delighted to introduce three new members of the College's leadership team: Dr. Michelle Kalis, provost; Douglas Nelson, vice president of institutional advancement; and Gary Sherman, vice president of enrollment. They have jumped right into life at Saint Joseph College and are working hard to contribute to the College's vitality and growth.

 

Life on campus has never been busier. In addition to the many fine programs hosted by The Carol Autorino Center, staff and students have put together a comprehensive calendar of campus events. I hope you can participate in our rich campus life and join us for events like Family Day on October 8. Please know that you are a vital and welcome part of our campus culture. 

 

 

Pamela Trotman Reid, Ph.D., President

  

 SJC Connections

Stay in touch with Saint Joseph College through President Reid's blog at

http://sjcconnections.wordpress.com.

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 Welcome, Students and Families

Saint Joseph College welcomed members of the Class of 2015 on Friday, August 26. In spite of the impending hurricane, first-year students moved in without a problem and were settled into the residence halls long before the storm hit. "It was pretty fun being here and being in the rooms," said Psychology major Syedha Browne 15. "I loved going door to door meeting people and just hanging out."

 

Sophomores, juniors, and seniors moved in the following Monday and classes began on Tuesday. Enjoy "move-in day" photos!

 

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Delayed three days by Hurricane Irene, Convocation 2011 was worth the wait. Students, faculty, and staff gathered in The Connor Chapel on September 1 to celebrate the official start of the new academic year. President Pamela Trotman Reid reminded students, "This new year, like any new beginning, is filled with potential ... I ask you to take full advantage of all that Saint Joseph College has to offer you."

 

In her first SJC Convocation, new Provost Dr. Michelle Kalis reminded students to become responsible for their own success: "Whether you are a freshman or a senior or somewhere in between, it is your responsibility to become a well-rounded college graduate with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen field and also the knowledge and skills to contribute to the betterment of society."

 

Dr. Kerry Driscoll, professor of English and 2011 winner of the Reverend John Stack Award for Teaching Excellence, delivered the Convocation Address. "The Unforeseen Path" chronicled Samuel Clemens' early adult years during which he traveled by stagecoach to Nevada and struggled to find his place in the world. Confronted by failure but armed with courage and ingenuity, he overcame "repeated false starts, confusion, indecision and despair" and eventually found his calling as the beloved author Mark Twain.

 

Dr. Driscoll concluded: "Members of the Class of 2015, you may not realize it, but there's a stagecoach waiting just outside the Chapel door for you too, or - to modernize the metaphor a bit - perhaps it's a brightly painted bus with a destination sign emblazoned 'FURTHER.' Either way, hop on board and light out. I promise you: it will be a wild and exhilarating ride, taking you somewhere that right now you can neither predict nor imagine."

 

"Convocation was great," Caitlin Kent '15 enthused. "I love the Chapel, anything inside the Chapel I'm excited about, and the Convocation speaker this year was great!"

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Life Through My Lens launched in early September. It documents student life as Nicole experiences it. An avid photography buff, Nicole has been taking pictures for as long as she can remember.

 

"When I was in high school I started to get serious with it," she said. "I researched and learned techniques." She is often seen at campus events with her Nikon D3000. Her goals for her first year of College are similar to those of her peers. "I want to make friends, join clubs, balance my school work and my social life," she said. Then Nicole added, "Also, I want to capture others enjoying meaningful moments at SJC."

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The College launched a new student programming web site for students to connect to all campus clubs and activities. Connect2sjc.info allows them to:

• View and join student activities
• See a calendar of campus-sponsored events
• Track their community service hours and co-curricular involvement
• Create a personalized profile

Keep up with all campus happenings (and join your daughter for an event!) via:

www.connect2sjc.info

www.sjc.edu/arts

www.sjcbluejays.com

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