The residence hall move-in process can be stressful for both students and parents at the start of a new school year. To make the experience more fun and welcoming, the Kent InterHall Council sponsors the Movers and Groovers program. Each fall during freshman move-in day, 91ֿ faculty, staff and students volunteer to assist incoming freshmen get settled in their new university accommodations.
Freshman move-in day took place on Aug. 22, and 91ֿ President Lester A. Lefton personally welcomed new freshmen and lent a hand. Other university executive officers joined Lefton and a host of volunteers in welcoming students and parents, and assisting with the heavy lifting.
“The Movers and Groovers program provides an opportunity for upper-division students, student groups, alumni, faculty and staff to help new students get adjusted and moved into the residence halls,” said Jill Church, director for Residence Services at 91ֿ. “The Movers and Groovers help keep things flowing during a very busy day. With more than 4,000 students moving in on Thursday, the extra hands keep the traffic flowing. Families are able to get their cars unloaded quicker and get on to the important things like setting up the room for the year.”
The Movers and Groovers program is part of 91ֿ’s Welcome Weekend, an orientation program that runs Aug. 22–25. Welcome Weekend includes a variety of activities that help students explore the 91ֿ community and transition into the university environment.
“Our volunteers love the chance to meet new students when they are moving in,” Church said. “They remember Movers and Groovers helping them when they were coming their first year. Move-in day is a long day, but everyone is working toward the same goal – helping students get moved in and connected quickly to campus.”
One of the Welcome Weekend events is Freshman Convocation. Freshman Convocation takes place Friday, Aug. 23, at 10:30 a.m. at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. This special ceremony marks the beginning of first-year students’ college careers and their entrance into higher education.
Welcome Weekend concludes Aug. 25 with Blastoff, a 91ֿ tradition where student organizations and community groups gather to welcome students to campus. The event includes hot air balloon rides, live music, fun activities and 91ֿ’s annual fireworks display, sponsored by Undergraduate Student Government, at 9 p.m. This year’s Blastoff occurs on the Student Green.
For more information about 91ֿ’s Residence Services, visit www.kent.edu/housing.