Student Convocation festivities ring in new academic year (8/28)

Purdue University Calumet plans to ring in the 2008-09 academic year in festive fashion Thursday (8/28) with plenty of fun, food, focus and flash drives, as the university hosts its second annual Student Convocation festivities.

The three-hour event kicks off at 11 a.m. with a processional of academic cap- and gown-attired Purdue Calumet faculty and administrators to the university’s Founders Plaza. There, a brief program will be held featuring remarks by Chancellor Howard Cohen and a panel discussion of students and faculty sharing Purdue Calumet experiences.

Then, it’ll be time to fire up the hamburger grill and for students, faculty and staff to enjoy live music, partake of food booths and informational resource tables, and interact informally.

“We introduced this convocation event last year as a way to welcome students into the Purdue Calumet community of scholars,” Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Melinda Dalgarn said. “The event was so well-received that we anticipate making it a start-of-the-academic year tradition.”

Dalgarn expects some 2,000 students, faculty and staff members to attend.

Student attendees who visit the ‘Welcome Tent’ will receive a computer flash drive.

“Our intent is to provide students a welcoming, festive start to their academic year and, for our freshmen, their college lives, at Purdue Calumet,” Dalgarn said.

Fall term classes at Purdue Calumet’s Hammond campus and Academic Learning Center in Merrillville officially begin Monday (8/25). Late registration takes place Monday through Friday (8/25-29). Other enrollment-related information can be obtained by contacting the Enrollment Services Center at 219/989-2213 or 800/HI-PURDUE, ext. 2213.

News Release Date: August 21, 2008