Some traditions never die, no matter the circumstances.
That includes staff lining The Avenue to welcome the new students arriving on campus to move in on Aug. 14. President Dottie King also welcomed students as she always does – appropriately distanced with a mask.
While move in was separated by last name this year to limit the number of students and families going in and out of Le Fer Hall, campus was still bustling with the Class of 2024.
When Maura Secret, an incoming biology major who plans on entering the pre-medicine program, first came to campus she knew it would be a special place. She used to come to The Woods with her grandmother to have brunch and see the alpacas.
“They were smart, calling it the ‘Avenue Moment.’ From the moment I toured SMWC, I knew that this would be my home for the next four years, and here I am,” said Secrest of Sullivan, Indiana.
Secrest is looking forward to getting to know her roommate and “creating new relationships that will last a lifetime.”
While getting students moved in was slightly different, those helping thought it went smoothly.
“I like that it is split up into groups this year, that way it gives us more time to get everything situated,” Corre Matherly, an orientation leader and senior at SMWC.
As a safety precaution, carts were operated by orientation leaders – families were not allowed to touch the carts, and the orientation leaders were not allowed to touch the new student’s belongings. This helped keep contact to a minimum.
Janet Clark, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs and student life, and the COVID-19 Task Force worked over the summer to create a plan as students returned to campus this fall.
“We have adjusted our environments and activities to promote physical distancing and protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and communities, while maintaining as robust a student experience as possible,” she said.
A parent dropping off her student agreed that what the College is doing was making her more at-ease.
“I’m not nervous or scared – I have complete faith in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods,” Natalie Teeters said in the lobby of Le Fer Hall. “From the first time we came here I knew it was going to be OK, and the College would do the best it could. I’m not scared about her being here, I think it’s going to be a great for her.”
Her daughter, Olivia Danels of Princeton, Indiana, will be studying elementary education.
Not all of the Class of 2024 moved in, however. Some will be learning online or commuting.
Tyson Cargal of Terre Haute, who is transferring from Ivy Tech, plans on earning his bachelor’s in human services with a minor in psychology. He will be a commuter student in the fall.
He is the director of five recovery homes in Vigo County, so getting his degree will help him assist others in the community. Cargal, a single father of four, will be juggling classes and his work along with his family.
“I can’t do any of it without help. They just seem like they are so willing to help – that was the selling point, really. I came out to campus and the atmosphere is just amazing,” he said. “I did go a couple of places before I came to SMWC and it didn’t feel right.”
Cargal said he thrives in the smaller class sizes, so he thought SMWC was the perfect fit for him.
“I’m always full of questions, therefore the teachers can be more hands-on with me,” Cargal said.
Secrest said the small classes also enticed her when looking at her next step. She is glad that she will be having face-to-face lectures.
“I feel so blessed to be having small, in-person classes. A lot of my friends are already down to just one in-person lecture and the rest online,” she said.
Secrest, who was active in extracurricular activities in high school, is looking forward to learning more about what The Woods has to offer. “I know that I will be getting involved this fall,” she said.
Matherly agreed that it is always a good idea to put yourself out there.
“Being an orientation leader is a great opportunity,” Matherly said. This is her third year helping during move in. “They can really get a feel of what it’s like to be here at The Woods.”
The Woods welcomed 185 new students on Aug. 14, which is an 11% increase from 2019. SMWC has its highest campus enrollment since the 1960s with 501 students.
The incoming class includes 26% male students, and 30% who identify as students of color.
Transfer and returning students move in on Aug. 16.
A total of 1,138 students are enrolled, including on-campus, online and graduate students, an increase of 6% over last academic year.
Six new academic programs have been added to the College, which will begin in fall.
See more photos on Flickr