Dear Carroll Community,
There is something special about these first days of a new academic year. Campus fills up quickly with familiar faces, new introductions, and the unmistakable energy of Move-In Day, as returning students welcome our newest Saints and descend on packed cars to carry boxes, bags, and belongings into their new rooms.
Over the past several weeks, we have welcomed more than 300 new students to Carroll and welcomed back our returning Saints. Our newest students have already experienced many of the traditions and activities that help make Carroll feel like home, from taking their class photo and gathering for Convocation to a family barbecue, a downtown Helena tour, club gatherings, Sunday Mass, and swing dancing and lessons. They have also spent important time meeting faculty and staff, learning about campus resources, and beginning to make the connections that will support them throughout their time here.
This year also brought something new to Welcome Weekend. Every incoming first-year student received a MacBook Neo laptop, provided through the generosity of donors at no additional cost to students. We share more about this new initiative in this newsletter, including the enthusiastic response from our students.
On Wednesday, we officially began classes with another favorite Carroll tradition: muffins and coffee outside the Campus Center. It is always a wonderful way to mark the first morning of the semester and welcome students as they head to class.
These opening days take a tremendous amount of work across campus. I am grateful to our faculty and staff who prepared classrooms and residence halls, welcomed families, planned orientation activities, answered countless questions, and helped our students begin the year feeling welcomed and supported.
Most of all, I am glad to have our students back. The start of a new academic year is always a reminder of why we are here and of the opportunities that lie ahead. I look forward to all this year will bring.
With gratitude,
Jennifer Glowienka, Ph.D.
President, Carroll College
You can find more moments from Welcome Weekend, Move-In Day, Orientation, the first days of classes and more on Carroll’s Facebook page. Follow along and check out all the photos from the start of a new year on the Hilltop!
