Class of 2018 arrives, semester starts

The new academic year got off to a great start with the arrival of the largest-ever freshman class on campus. With a little help from their parents, faculty, staff and students–especially student athletes–the Class of 2018 moved in on August 21 before taking part in four days of orientation activities.

Sue Kimak, left, was one of many move-in day volunteers who made freshmen and families feel welcome.

For the students themselves, it was a bubbling mixture of excitement and nervousness as they carried their items from the car and into the residence halls. For freshman Mike Acquesta, it was the first time living away from his family in Staten Island.

“I feel like I should be nervous, but I’m more excited than nervous,” he said. “I just hit me a few weeks ago about leaving my family, so that does make me a little sad. I think I’ll be looking up the Amtrak schedules to visit my family back home because I didn’t bring my car. I don’t think it could handle the snow here.” Majoring in electrical engineering, Acquesta was excited to get started with his classes. “I chose this college because it’s a very renowned school in upstate New York and I hear the electrical engineering program is phenomenal.”

Checking in to their dorm rooms for the first time, picking up books for the book store and getting photo IDs were just some of the stops during this initial welcome to campus, as students made their way around what will be their new home for the next several months. (Photos of move-in day and orientation can be viewed here.)

“I feel I made a connection with the professors during my trips here, and with the small classes, I feel that I’ll get the focus I need,” said Dani Baldwin of South Glens Falls, N.Y., who is majoring in mechanical engineering.

Baldwin made that connection with her future professors by attending several organized trips to campus, as well as Accepted Student Day, taking advantage of the chance to meet, sit down with, and talk with her future instructors.

“I’m interested in alternative energies, such as solar panels and wind turbines. It’s grouped into different majors at some other colleges,” she said. “But here, Dr. [Mason] Somerville, I learned through my visits, is very big into alternative energies. So I wanted to be somewhere where the professors are interested and focused on that.”

A small campus and class size is also what drew Miranda Guarino of Brownville, N.Y., to Utica where she is not only majoring in nursing, but keeping up a family tradition as well.

“My grandfather was a nurse. A lot of people in my family are nurses,” she said. “I really like the idea of helping people and being able to do that for a living.”

This year’s class of more than 350 is up dramatically from last year’s 275 freshmen. The number of new, full-time graduate and transfer students compared to last year is up substantially as well. Final enrollment figures won’t be official for some time.

“This is our biggest freshmen class to date and it’s very exciting,” said Rit Fuller, vice president for enrollment management. “The programs we have here, the people, the facilities, are just bringing in more attention than ever.”

“It’s been terrific and I’m so excited to see them. We’ve been prepping for this for months,” said Jennifer Adams, director of residential life. “This is the day that makes you glad about what you do.”

Separate orientation programs were held for transfer students, and returning students moved back onto campus during Opening Weekend, August 23-24. The weekend’s activities concluded with a “Welcome Back Carnival” and a Taste of Utica dinner for students, faculty and staff.