Welcome back

Welcome back to the start of another academic semester. It’s always rewarding to see our campus so alive with activity.

If you weren’t on campus over winter break, you may have been surprised to see how much progress construction crews have made on the Integrated Sciences Complex. Framing of the ISC began around the holidays last month, and already we can imagine the appearance of the new building. 

Managing the planning and construction of the first new academic building on campus since 1974 is an enormous task shared by many. To everyone involved in this process, I owe a debt of gratitude. I also thank the campus community for your patience in dealing with the inconveniences from construction that occasionally arise.

Our Welcome Week has been a great success. This week culminates with “A Conversation with Cuba Gooding, Jr.” this afternoon and continues next week, capping off with a visit from actress America Ferrera, who will be on campus to discuss gender and race with the new Women’s Leadership Initiative, and with a free Chinese New Year performance by Zhejiang University’s Wenqin Arts Troupe. Check out the full schedule of events here.  

Thanks to the staff at the Office of Student Affairs for making this return to school a joy for us all.

I am looking forward to another productive and fulfilling semester with the university community.