Belleville, Ontario, Sept. 12, 2023 – Loyalist College was buzzing with excitement as students, faculty, and staff flocked to campus last week, officially marking the beginning of the 2023 fall semester.
“This is one of my favourite times of the year,” says Loyalist College President and CEO Mark Kirkpatrick. “The excitement on campus was palpable as we welcomed students for orientation and the first day of classes. We know that their success entails a series of small steps, and our students have taken the first step toward achieving their personal and professional goals by choosing Loyalist as the destination for their post-secondary education.”
On Sunday, Sept. 3, college staff and Loyalist Lancers varsity athletes donned bright green T-shirts and big smiles to welcome new students and families to main campus for residence move-in day. Together, they carried boxes, furniture and decorations into the students’ new home-away-from-home. The Loyalist Student Life team reassured families, while resident assistants greeted new students and helped them settle into their new surroundings The day was characterized by both new beginnings and emotional good-byes to loved ones with many students experiencing independent living for the first time.
Orientation officially kicked off the next day, opening the academic year with two weeks of engaging activities and information sessions on important student services. On Tuesday, students received their signature red Loyalist College hoodies. They attended a foam party, followed by other events, including a silent disco, beach volleyball, cricket matches and more.
Students also prepared for scholarly success at Academic Orientation, meeting their instructors and gearing up for a semester of hands-on learning and development. They toured state-of-the-art labs and classrooms, and learned about projects that will challenge their skills and refine their knowledge in the year ahead. At every turn, faculty encouraged students to embrace opportunities, pursue excellence and try new things on their path to career success.
“Loyalist College provides a uniquely supportive learning environment for students to gain skills and train for their futures,” says Interim Senior Vice-President Academic and Chief Learning Officer Amanda Baskwill. “Students should feel secure knowing that our expert faculty will move mountains to support them as they work toward their goals.”
The week concluded with Loyalist’s annual Friday Night Lights, where students from Loyalist’s Port Hope and Toronto campuses also joined the celebrations. Community members, students, staff and faculty cheered on the Loyalist’s Women’s Soccer team for the season’s first game against Durham College, followed by fireworks at dusk.
“It’s been fantastic to reconnect with familiar faces and embrace the fresh energy of new students during Orientation,” says Loyalist Student Government President Raven Chartrand. “We had an amazing lineup of events to start the semester. It was a great opportunity for new and returning students to meet their student government, connect with staff and faculty, and enjoy Loyalist’s close-knit community.”
Over the past year, Loyalist has been on an ambitious journey of growth and development, including historic investments to enhance teaching and learning spaces at the Belleville campus. The college also welcomed the first cohort to its Port Hope campus last week, opening doors to new post-secondary education opportunities in Northumberland County.
“It’s going to be another wonderful fall semester at the college,” says Sandra Dupret, Senior Vice-President, Students. “When it comes to our students, we see the whole picture – it’s not just about what happens in the classroom; it’s about their journey. We are committed to providing transformative experiences to shape the leaders of tomorrow, and to create memories and friendships that last a lifetime.”
About Loyalist College
Loyalist College is built upon the lands governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement. We affirm and thank the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and Huron-Wendat nations for their continued caretaking of the land. At Loyalist, we empower our students with wraparound support services and hands-on training to succeed on any path they choose. Our academic programs are responsive and innovative, designed to solve pressing social and economic challenges and meet the evolving needs of our regional industry and community partners. Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge they need to be better global citizens, and with future-focused skills to lead change in their fields. With a presence in Belleville, Bancroft, Port Hope, Tyendinaga and Toronto, we believe our institutional responsibility extends beyond the classroom to seeing the big picture for the communities we serve. Our expertise in applied research and deep connections to local industry support economic development, to the benefit of businesses, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Our commitment to decolonization, and the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable world, means we hold ourselves accountable to the diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences that shape our communities.
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Contact:
Hannah Brown
Acting Director, Marketing and Communications
hbrown@loyalistcollege.com