New year excitement begins as BW welcomes incoming class

Fresh energy is bringing YJ4L spirit to life in celebrating the start of the school year as new faces, programs and focuses invigorate campus. With 700 incoming first-year and 90 transfer students joining the BW community, Brown & Gold excitement is on full display.

This year's first-year class hails from 33 states and has impressive scholastic achievement as well as leadership, service and co-curricular involvement. They bring exceptional talent and accomplishments to the BW community.

Among notable statistics, one in four members of the first-year class are students of color, and 96 students are members of the BW Honors Program. Nearly one-third of the students are the first in their families to pursue a four-year degree, a reflection of BW's ongoing commitment to first-generation college students.

Business was cited as the main area of interest by 22% of the students, followed by the Conservatory of Performing Arts at 21%, sciences at 19%, health & physical education at 13%, social sciences and humanities at 13% and education at 7%. Health sciences and interdisciplinary programs account for the remaining 5%.

Also being welcomed to BW are 29 additional transfer students from the recently closed Notre Dame College and 151 new graduate and professional studies students, 12 of whom are enrolled in BW's new master of arts in clinical mental health counseling program.

In addition to new faces, BW is launching innovative programs focused on student success this fall. Among the many initiatives aimed at promoting professional and personal growth are the following opportunities:

New curriculum builds career competencies
BW is introducing new outcomes-driven competencies. The new shared degree requirements replace the "core" and are part of a streamlined, multidisciplinary curriculum that gives students greater flexibility in their studies as well as the opportunity to build in-demand skills valued by employers and graduate schools.

Sherwin-Williams Career Accelerator Program begins
A new career-focused learning community offering success coaching, scholarships, networking and applied learning experiences is underway at BW. The Sherwin-Williams Career Accelerator Program will engage students in programming and mentorship experiences that can enhance their academic studies and post-graduate opportunities.

Respectful dialogue is new FYE focus
Gaining the skills to listen empathetically and communicate respectfully will be woven into this year's first-year experience (FYE). The new focus can help students effectively engage in discussions where varying viewpoints can lead to polarizing rhetoric.

Also new this year is the renovation of the BW Townhouses, giving juniors and seniors an additional housing option for BW's three-year residency requirement that was implemented last fall for incoming full-time students. The idyllic location of the Townhouses, which houses 95 students, provides a welcoming and aesthetic home for BW students looking to live near Coe Lake and downtown Berea.