orientation

Nervous? Never Fear, First-Year Mentors Are Here

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The first steps students take on campus at Kalamazoo College are filled with excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead. Yet being away from home for the first time can be challenging, too, especially when longtime friends, family members and other sympathetic voices seem far away.

Economics and business majors Sage Lewis and Michael Robertson, both Class of 2025, know what that’s like. As first-year students, Sage arrived at K from Arizona and Michael from Tennessee. As a result of their experiences—and because they care about their peers—the two are among 23 helpful First-Year Experience (FYE) mentors, one transfer student mentor and one visiting international student mentor this fall, who will get to know incoming students from their first day of orientation onward through the academic year.

As new students arrive for orientation, FYE mentors—consisting of sophomores, juniors and seniors—get to know them while building community and friendships, so everyone can feel safe and comfortable in their new environment. Sage, Michael and the other FYE mentors will be available at every stage of orientation with activities ranging from traditional icebreakers, meals, discussions about academic life, a game night and home athletics events to learning about music ensembles, theatre groups and sustainability-focused opportunities on campus.

First-Year Experience mentors Sage Lewis and Michael Robertson on the Quad at Kalamazoo College
First-Year Experience mentors Sage Lewis and Michael Robertson are two of the 23 helpful students mentors, one transfer student mentor and one visiting international student mentor this fall, who will get to know incoming students.

One FYE mentor is also assigned to each First-Year Seminar course, providing an experienced peer, who can guide students through academic, social and personal issues as they arise day or night. First-Year Seminar courses are part of the K-Plan, K’s liberal arts and sciences curriculum. The courses are designed to help orient students to college-level learning practices, combining collaborative and group work, effective research strategies and discussions with mentors maintaining formal roles as contacts through Week Six of the fall term. As FYE mentors, Sage and Michael have a few tips to offer new students as they begin orientation:

  • Meet new people.

“Coming to K was a bit of a culture shock for me,” Michael said. “I thought it was good to meet a lot of new people in my first year because it expanded my horizons. Had I not done that I might not be here today.”

“My dad had a flight back right away so he left me after I first arrived and orientation was scary,” Sage said. “I tell people it helps to get to know their mentors. I just love working with the students. I’ve gotten close with a few my mentees and I live with one from my sophomore year right now. It helps me expand my own horizons as well as theirs.”

  • Find activities on campus and try new things.

“I didn’t do LandSea, so I got here when orientation started my first year,” Sage said. “It really helped me to get involved. I started working in the Office of Student Activities and it was super fun. That’s really where I found my place. The faculty and staff have always been nice and that made me want to work with them more.”

“I think K has great resources, and it’s important to pursue them no matter what you’re studying,” Michael said. “Just go outside whatever seminar you’re in and meet someone new or someone who has a different background than you. Maybe they have a different hobby or interest that allows you to try new things.”

  • Discover the city.

“I think downtown Kalamazoo is really cute, and I love that it’s walkable from K,” Sage said. “It’s just a great city. It’s super cool being from Arizona and seeing all the greenery. It’s definitely different culturally, too, with people in the Midwest because they’re very nice.”

“Before I had a car, I walked everywhere,” Michael said. “Other people when they went to school asked, ‘Aren’t you worried about being late?’ And I said, ‘no, everything is just right down the street.’ That’s really a blessing. I’m super thankful for the size of the town, the school, downtown and all over. Everything is close by.”

  • Mentors are assets.

Mentors are great people to get know because of their past experiences and how they hope to help guide new students. They can provide advice on navigating campus resources, managing time, and making connections. Make sure you seek them out when Orientation begins with move-in day on September 11.

“I know it’s difficult being away from your parents after a certain amount of time, so I just want to be there for other students, and not just the ones from out of state,” Michael said. “I want to help people and make that transition to college life easier.”

“I try to be open, welcoming and calm so first-year students know I’m approachable,” Sage said. “I think finding a way to be personable makes it more fun for everybody.”

Campus Begins Buzzing on Move-In Day

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Each September brings a fresh start at Kalamazoo College as campus buzzes with the excitement of those joining the hive for the first time. Orientation events for first-year students and their families run throughout the week, kicking off with move-in day on Wednesday, September 7.

Be sure to catch the following highlights and opportunities on Wednesday.

Moving in

Resident assistants and First-Year Experience (FYE) mentors will be ready to welcome students at check-in tables in each residence hall from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. on September 7. Families are encouraged to arrive throughout the day, as the morning traditionally is extremely busy in the residence halls. Pick up your orientation folder from the FYE mentors, then see Residential Life staff to get your student ID and room key, check into your room and get settled. Health verification forms must be completed before check in. Students with incomplete requirements will be directed to the Health Center in the Hicks Student Center, which will be open until 4 p.m.

Information Services staff will be available in Harmon, Hoben and Trowbridge main lounges to answer questions and offer help connecting to K’s computer network from 1–4 p.m.

Resident assistants and First-Year Experience mentors will welcome students at check-in tables in each residence hall on move-in day, September 7.

Getting what you need

Stop by the information table at the Hicks Student Center atrium between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to pick up schedules and maps or get directions and answers to all your questions. The Kalamazoo College Bookstore, in the lower level of Hicks, will be open from 9 a.m. –5 p.m. and offer 20 percent off Kalamazoo College imprinted items.

Eating right

Families are welcome to have lunch and dinner on campus at the Hicks Dining Center from 11 a.m.–12:45 p.m. and 5–7 p.m. Students may use their student ID, which serves as their meal card, while families may pay at the entrance ($8.15 per person for lunch and $11.50 per person for dinner).

The Book Club Café, on the first floor of the Upjohn Library, will serve Kalamazoo Coffee, hot chocolate, tea and specialty drinks as well as grab-and-go options such as pastries, house-made salads, sandwiches and sides from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. In addition, the Richardson Room will be open from 1–5 p.m. in the Hicks Student Center, offering a variety of options including an extensive deli line, homemade soup, grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, yogurt parfaits, fruit, sweet and salty snacks and beverages.

If you want to eat off campus, ask for a list of nearby restaurants at the information table and explore Kalamazoo’s excellent restaurant scene.

Building community

First-year students are required to attend three sessions Wednesday evening. First, make your way to the Quad with your orientation folder by 7 p.m. for the Hornet Student Welcome. The College’s president, dean of students, first-year class dean, college chaplain, FYE mentors and the Office of Student Activities will welcome you to campus.

Next, meet your seminar group and FYE mentors on the Quad at 8 p.m. for introductions. Learn more about the orientation schedule for the rest of the week and get answers to your questions.

Then, meet with resident assistants and your fellow residents at 9 p.m. to talk about community expectations, living in residence halls, and college policies, and get to know your new neighbors. Trowbridge residents will meet in Stetson Chapel, Hoben residents in Dalton Theatre and Harmon residents in their building’s main lounge.

Finally, take some time to get your room set up, relax and get ready for a full day on Thursday.

But wait … there’s more!

Athletic practices for fall sports (football, soccer, volleyball, golf and cross country) have already begun and will continue throughout orientation week. A program for first-generation students and their families will also be held on Wednesday. Check your K email for an invitation and information.

We’ll keep you busy the rest of the week with social opportunities, advising appointments, shared first-year experiences and discussions, and information on a variety of important topics to help you start your first year at K. Expect to learn a lot and have fun

For more information on the orientation schedule and move-in day, visit the First-Year Experience website.

Award-Winning Journalist Lila Lazarus to Speak at Convocation

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Convocation Speaker Lila Lazarus
Lila Lazarus ’84, an award-winning journalist,
producer and motivational speaker, will be the
keynote speaker for Convocation on September 8.

Watch replay of Convocation

Lila Lazarus ’84, an award-winning journalist, producer and motivational speaker, will be the keynote speaker for Kalamazoo College’s 2022 Convocation on September 8 at 3 p.m. on the Quad.

A broadcast journalist for over three decades, Lazarus has anchored the news in Michigan, Maryland and Massachusetts and covered stories around the world. She runs a production company, Lila Productions, and recently appeared in several Netflix series, including “Manhunt: Deadly Games” and “Mindhunter.” Her professional accomplishments include covering Nelson Mandela’s inauguration in South Africa and receiving multiple Emmy Awards, the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Award and two Clarion Awards. She was a recipient of the 2014 Telly Award for Social Responsibility. Most recently, she was inducted into the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for her contribution to Michigan media. 

Never afraid of a challenge, Lazarus swam the Straits of Mackinac to raise money and awareness for Mentor Michigan. Each fall, she climbs from one end of the Grand Canyon to the other and back again. For her athletic accomplishments, she was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and speaks across the country on the importance of adding courage and adventure to your life. An avid motorcyclist, she was named Michigan’s Ambassador of Motorcycle Safety. Extremely active in community and charitable organizations, Lazarus serves on multiple boards and is President of Kids Kicking Cancer.

Lazarus graduated from Kalamazoo College, University of Michigan, University of Massachusetts and the University of Bonn in Germany. She holds two master’s degrees in political science and journalism, and speaks five languages. The College looks forward to welcoming Lazarus back to her alma mater, where she double majored in political science and German.

Convocation marks the start to the 2022-23 academic year and formally welcomes first-year students to campus. President Jorge G. Gonzalez, Provost Danette Ifert Johnson, Dean of Admission Susanne Lepley and Dean of Students J. Malcolm Smith will also address attendees. Chaplain Elizabeth Candido ’00 will provide an invocation. All students, families, faculty and staff are invited to attend.

Pack Light for Move-In Day Aside From New Necessities

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What to bring to campus on move-in day
If you’re unsure about a certain item, follow the “when in doubt, leave it out” school of thought when packing for move-in day at Kalamazoo College.

If you consult Kalamazoo College students and alumni about living in K’s residence halls, you’ll hear a common theme: Less is more. Bringing fewer non-necessities to campus on move-in day helps students avoid clutter, clean more easily and provide themselves with more personal space when the term starts.

That theme is especially important for first-year students joining the K community on Tuesday, Sept. 8. It’s good to consult Residential Living’s list of what to bring to campus for common essentials before arriving for orientation, but packing light is advisable.

A few decorating supplies are reasonable, some students have said. Still, make sure you adhere to the list of prohibited items. And remember, you can buy many of your necessities – such as school supplies, cleaning supplies, toiletries and supplemental lighting – in Kalamazoo stores and thrift shops after you take a visual assessment of your space if it lightens your load when you’re traveling.

In contrast, you will definitely want to pack some precautionary items this year as a result of COVID-19. Make sure to bring:

  • Several face masks. Cloth or disposable masks without ventilation valves that fit snugly yet comfortably over your mouth and nose work best, and are required in shared interior campus spaces.
  • A thermometer. Students will be expected to self-screen on a daily basis to ensure they’re aware of any symptoms that could be signs of COVID-19, making this a necessity.
  • An air purifier. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, air cleaners or purifiers reduce indoor air pollutants including viruses without sacrificing indoor comfort.
  • Alternative bedding and towels. In addition to what you bring for daily use, spare sets will be convenient should students need to be quarantined.
  • A travel or duffel bag. Students who are recommended for quarantine will need one for their personal items.

Outside the prohibited items, what you bring to campus is ultimately a personal decision. But if you’re unsure about a certain item, follow the “when in doubt, leave it out” school of thought. You can always have something shipped to you, order it online, buy it locally or bring it to campus after winter break.

We’re excited to welcome the incoming class to the Kalamazoo College family. Thank you for choosing K!

What to Bring to Campus: Alumna Offers Tips for First-Year Students

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Excitement is building across the country for first-year students who are anticipating their college experiences and planning what to bring to campus this fall. It’s a time Ximena Davis ’19 fondly remembers even though she attended college close to home after growing up in Kalamazoo.

What to Bring to Campus cMUMMA MATRICULATION 2017 7904
Student employees help first-year students with moving in to the residence halls. Read what one alumna offers for advice regarding what to bring to campus on move-in day.

“It was still a different place to stay and I was very excited,” Davis said. “I was ready to explore being an independent person. I also got to see a different side to the city than the one I saw while living at home.”

Davis’ experiences—beyond majoring in English, minoring in sociology and anthropology, and declaring concentrations in film and media studies and American studies—included regularly attending Art Hop, a fun evening of art exhibits and events in and around Kalamazoo; writing for K’s student blog and establishing the Kalamazoo College Filmmakers’ Society, one of more than 70 organizations available to students.

Residential Life has its suggestions regarding what to bring to campus this fall. However, it helps to get some perspective from someone like Davis who has lived in the residence halls while attending K. Based on her experiences, here are her suggestions after living in Hoben Hall, DeWaters Hall and a Living Learning House in her years at K.

Avoid overpacking

Even if you’re arriving from several states away, it’s better to leave yourself more space than to overpack.

“It’s good to have pictures of friends, but you don’t want to be overwhelmed in your space,” Davis said. “I brought trinkets and keepsakes to occupy my desk space my first year. But throughout that year, I found it was too much. I was constantly getting stuff I wanted to decorate with, and I ended up packing away what I originally brought. I found myself wishing I would’ve given myself more of a blank slate by leaving more at home.”

Davis said that includes the cold-weather clothes she brought too soon.

“After moving in, I was going through my clothes and realized I brought five different jackets for various levels of warmth, along with my winter jacket and snow boots,” Davis said. “I must have thought, ‘What if it snows in October?’ as it has in many years. But even if it does snow early, it probably won’t be enough to justify boots.”

There could be exceptions to this rule of thumb if students can’t return home between fall and winter terms or if students don’t have both fall and winter coats available to them, although additional space in a residence hall room is valuable.

Buy local

If it makes it easier to pack less, remember most items can be purchased in Kalamazoo stores and thrift shops after you take a visual assessment of your space. The shopping experience can also be beneficial.

“Because Kalamazoo College is located in a city, it’s not difficult to go to a store to find things you might need,” Davis said. “Even if you’re worried about not having a car on campus, there is public transportation, and carpooling is a good way to make friends. I think going with a roommate can be a bonding experience.”

Record your experiences

Bring to campus simple tools and decorations that will enable you to better remember your first year at K. Davis, for example, decorated with strings of lights that used clips for attaching photos, and she kept an assignment notebook that doubled as a journal.

“I first had a couple of pictures from prom or an amusement park, but it helped to keep adding to it,” said Davis, regarding her string of lights. “I brought it every year and added to it every year.”

Within the journal, “I kept all of my thoughts in one place,” Davis said. “It was nice to have during that time of change and then look back on those memories. I think it helped me grow into a more confident person and helped me be better organized.”

Talk to your roommate in advance

Before Davis moved to campus, she feared the worst regarding her roommate.

“I knew Residential Life tries to match like-minded students, but I was worried they would make a mistake somewhere along the line and they would give me a roommate I wouldn’t get along with as well as they’d hoped,” Davis said.

Talking with that roommate in advance through social media, though, helped alleviate that fear. Plus, just as importantly, it helped the two determine who would bring what to campus.

“Communication is very important,” Davis said. “It helps you feel better about this new experience, and it will prevent you from doubling up on big items such as microwaves that can take a lot of space.”

More information

Kalamazoo College’s new-student move-in day is scheduled for Sept. 10. If you have questions before, during or after that time, more information is available. Find Residential Life at its website or contact its offices at housing@kzoo.edu or 269.337.7210.

Convocation 2018 Opens New Academic Year

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Kalamazoo College will begin the 2018-19 academic year at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, with Convocation 2018 for new students.

The ceremony will take place on the campus Quad and will be available through a live stream. There will be a reception after the ceremony behind Stetson Chapel. The ceremony’s rain site will be the Anderson Athletic Center.

Convocation 2018
Kalamazoo College President Jorge G. Gonzalez will be among the speakers Wednesday, Sept. 5, at Convocation 2018.

K will welcome 410 first-year students, including 22 degree-seeking international students, plus 16 transfer students and 20 visiting international students at Convocation 2018. New students will attend K from 24 states including Colorado, California, Texas and Maryland, and 13 countries including Spain, South Korea, Zimbabwe and Pakistan. Students of color from the U.S. make up more than 32 percent of the incoming class. Twenty percent of the incoming class will be the first in their families to attend college.

President Jorge G. Gonzalez, Interim Provost Laura Furge, Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students Sarah Westfall, Chaplain Elizabeth Candido ’00, faculty, staff and student leaders will welcome new students and their families. Convocation 2018 will conclude with new students signing the Matriculation Book.

Michael McFall ’93, the co-president and chief executive officer of BIGGBY Coffee, will deliver the keynote address. BIGGBY is a regional retail coffee franchise with more than 270 stores open or under contract across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Florida, Texas and New Jersey, according to the company’s website.

McFall has a bachelor’s degree in economics, four athletic varsity letters in golf and the value derived from a study abroad experience in Sierra Leone to show for his years at K. Since then, he has pioneered BIGGBY’s successful independent-owner business model and he is developing some exciting lines of new business within the company.

McFall lives in Ann Arbor with his wife and three children. He visits K for events such as the College’s Career Summit, which offers students two days of networking with executives and venture capitalists in preparation for Life after K. Hear from McFall regarding the Career Summit beginning at 1:39 in the video below.

Convocation Launches New Academic Year

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UPDATE: A chance of rain is pushing Convocation indoors this afternoon, Sept. 6. Join us in the gymnasium at Anderson Athletics Center.

Kalamazoo College will begin the 2017-18 academic year at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, with its annual Convocation ceremony for new students.

Convocation International Flag Ceremony at Kalamazoo College
Symbolic of the sustained presence and significant impact of an international focus on campus, Kalamazoo College enacts an international flag ceremony at Convocation, honoring the flags of the countries from which students come.

K will welcome 455 first-year students including 13 transfer students and 21 visiting international students at Convocation. New students come from 28 states including California, Texas, Illinois and New York, and 13 countries including Vietnam, China, Jamaica and Greece. Students of color from the U.S. make up more than 35 percent of the incoming class. Twenty percent of the incoming class will be the first in their families to attend college.

President Jorge G. Gonzalez, Provost Michael McDonald, Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students Sarah Westfall, Chaplain Elizabeth Candido ’00, faculty, staff and student leaders will welcome new students and their families. Convocation will conclude with new students signing the Matriculation Book.

Erin Mazzoni ’07, the president of K’s Alumni Association Executive Board, will deliver the keynote address. At K, Mazzoni was an economics and business major with an environmental studies concentration. She played on the women’s tennis team and served as its captain. Her study abroad experience was at the London School of Economics.

Life after K has taken Mazzoni to London, New York and Washington, D.C., to pursue a career in finance. Through connections and friendships built with alumni while a student at K, Mazzoni joined the high-yield research group at Jefferies & Co. shortly after graduating. She next worked within the corporate finance team at Tory Burch, also supporting the Tory Burch Foundation, which promotes female entrepreneurship.

Mazzoni currently works at Under Armour in Baltimore, supporting the company’s product and merchandising teams. She also serves as a member of K’s Board of Trustees.