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students renew hopes for public higher ed, for the 'public good' Greetings! It is Labor Day Week, classes resume, and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is energized by 5,400 students back on campus. These first days can be hectic, but there also is something calming in the way a certain orderliness takes hold as people adjust to the rhythms of a new academic year. Compared with the last few days of August, opening week is a return to reassuring routine. I say that because I’m writing from the vantage point of a pre-semester “welcome week” schedule as full—and fulfilling—as any I can recall. Last Wednesday was typical. It began at student housing with members of our leadership team, staff and faculty helping with move-in. We helped students and parents unpack their jam-packed vehicles, and pitched in to carry things inside. It was good exercise, but even better conversation. Every pause to rest was a chance to chat. I had several parents tell me they were really impressed with UWGB’s caring atmos-phere; everything from FOCUS, our new orientation program, to all the people present to help welcome and move in. I also tried to express empathy for those parents I met who were about to transition to a big change in their lives: the “empty next.” At least one of the parents, though, looked at me like I was crazy and exclaimed, “We have really been so looking forward to this day.” At mid-day, we welcomed the entire group to an introductory session at the Weidner Center. Afterward, I managed to get back to the office for a meeting or three and the chance to return some phone calls and e-mail. I closed the day as a designated ice cream scooper at the freshman get-acquainted social. It was a full day made complete by sharing the excitement of these young people as they took their first tentative-yet-confident steps as university students. Our UW-Green Bay colleagues who planned these “Great Beginnings” orientation events did a superb job. I heard nothing but compliments. |
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 Move-in day was a huge success. We heard comments such as "awesome" and "that's quality!" regarding our campus, our residence halls, and the fact that more than 200 faculty, staff and students turned out to greet the new freshmen and their parents. |
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