New Students Back on Campus |
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New Student Welcome officially began at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 16. This year’s Welcome Week was modified to allow for a socially distanced experience with every student’s health and safety as our first priority. Students still had plenty of opportunity to connect with other students and began to make Hurst their Home through both educational and social experiences.
Students were placed into small groups based on their residence hall and living space and went through each section of New Student Welcome with that small group. The small groups were led by a Laker Leader, Resident Assistant, or a staff facilitator.
New Student Welcome consisted of opportunities to listen to keynote speakers such as Curtis Zimmerman. Zimmerman encouraged students to live their lives at performance level. Your student is the “director” of their life and are currently “writing their script” for what they want their MU experience to be. Diversity University with Julia Garcia and Monti Washington made students aware of the world around them, highlighted their similarities and differences and Mercyhurst’s inclusive and caring community. No Zebras, No Excuses shared stories highlighting the importance of bystander intervention, stepping up to help peers facing sexual violence and assault. David Coleman, America’s Dating Doctor, talked to our students about how to foster safe and healthy relationships in a virtual world. Each day was packed with entertaining evening programming. These programs included a Kickoff Video and Movie Night on Sunday and Keith Karkut’s show on Monday, which highlights the importance of alcohol education.
New Student Welcome concluded with two of Mercyhurst's long-standing traditions: a Service Project, where students were able to compile welcome videos for a local elementary school and the New Student Convocation, which was done virtually for the first time ever, and where our 12th President, Michael T. Victor, welcomed our students into the Mercyhurst family.
On Tuesday, August 18 students were invited to the annual Campus Involvement Fair, which was also done virtually using FlipGrid. Student-run clubs and organizations submitted short videos about their clubs and new students were able to sign up online.
Upon move-in and the start of classes, students were given a New Student Welcome Bag that contained many gifts that promote a healthy lifestyle on campus. Items included a thermometer, two reusable masks, two disposable masks, a small bottle of hand sanitizer, and the campus Pledge to Health & Well-Being. Students that are new to the University were also given a reusable mug with an imprint that says “Earth Is Home.” On Sunday night, students also received a blue Mercyhurst branded beach towel to use for the outdoor events.
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Encourage your student to check out the HUB (hub.mercyhurst.edu) for campus events. There is a specific tab for The Weekender which outlines all events happening on or around Mercyhurst each day! There is always something to do!
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Multicultural & Student Activities Council (MAC/SAC) |
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Every Friday and Saturday night the Student & Multicultural Activities Council plans socially and educationally engaging events that are free to the student body. These events range in variety and starting this year, we will begin implementing more virtual options to promote the safety of our students and create a more inclusive environment. MAC/SAC also strives to plan culturally rich programs that celebrate and honor the diversity of our students on campus. All programs will follow COVID-19 Safety Guidelines including proper sanitation efforts and social distancing. |
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Recognized Student Clubs/Organizations (RSCOs) |
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RSCOs are a great way for students to get involved on campus! We have over 80 RSCOs, plus other opportunities for involvement such as our programming boards MAC & SAC, Mercyhurst Student Government, Laker Leaders, Leadership Development Program, and more. Students can navigate to the Campus Involvement Fair by visiting the Student Hub page. The Campus Involvement Fair is virtual this year through the online platform FlipGrid. Students can watch short videos made by the student leadership of the many clubs and organizations and then they can use the link on the video to sign up for more information. If students have additional questions about clubs or organizations, they can stop by the Campus Involvement Center on the 2nd floor of the Student Union to learn more about how to get involved.
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The Leadership Development Program (LDP) |
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LDP is a non-credit, multilevel program designed to recognize and develop the leadership potential of students at Mercyhurst. LDP engages participants and allows them to discover their own leadership interest and styles while developing specific leadership skills. LDP is a dynamic, high quality leadership training program, which is a combination of workshops, speakers, breakout sessions, and a variety of leadership activities. Students start at Level 1 and can choose to progress through Level 2 and 3 as they continue their time at Mercyhurst. Each level lasts for the whole academic year. Interested students can apply online by going to the Student Hub>Campus Life>Campus Involvement>Leadership Development Program. Level 1 applications are due September 21st and Level 1 has their first meeting on September 30th.
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The Department of Advancement is excited to announce the restructuring of our Mercyhurst Annual Fund to allow alumni, friends, and parents to support Areas and Student Scholarships that matter most to our donors.
Learn more about the Mercyhurst Annual Fund and how our donors generously support Mercyhurst here.
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The Mercyhurst REC Center is open for the 2020-21 school year, with changes to follow CDC guidelines.
You’ll see that equipment usage is limited to maintain social distancing, and the REC is closed at times throughout the day in order to sanitize thoroughly.
To use the REC Center, you must download the Vagaro App, make an account, search for MU Rec, and schedule your appointment time. You can find a tutorial here.
Remember everyone must wear a mask at all times and practice social distancing.
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The Senior Class Gift is a long-running tradition at Mercyhurst for over 30 years. Annually, the Senior Class comes together to fundraise to leave behind a gift to the University. For the fourth year in a row, the seniors will gift a scholarship to support future Lakers. Efforts are underway to select a name and criteria for the scholarship.
All seniors are welcome to join the planning committee which meets weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in-person and virtually.
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