Students Experience Community

A new class joined the Gustavus community.

Gustavus welcomed the Class of 2012 for the first time June 17-19 as next fall’s first-year students visited the campus to register for classes, tour their new home away from home, and meet some of the people with whom they will spend the next four years.

Nearly 520 students, representing 43 states, visited campus during the three-day registration and participated in sessions on college technology, finances, and being a student-athlete.

Registration begins their Gustavus collegiate experience and ends a process that for many began 18 months ago. “It affirms their decision. The contact, the care, the communication that is extended is clearly affirming of their choice—in terms of being really satisfied and impressed for what awaits them when they arrive in the fall,” said Senior Associate Director of Admission Bob Neuman. “We hope that it is really indicative of their experience for the next four years.”

Registration is also the first step for many on a road to independence. “It’s the first time that we’re totally separating the student from the parent. The parent isn’t allowed to participate in the advising process and that is a turning point at which the student starts to take ownership of their academic experience,” said Associate Director of Admission Megan Coe.

While students register, parents meet with Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Hank Toutain, who tells them what to expect as their sons and daughters start college. “If there is a theme to what I have to say, it’s about conversation. I really encourage them to talk about a whole bunch of things, primarily about their expectations, and not only parental expectations, but student expectations,” said Toutain. “We talk about transitions—social, academic, and personal transitions.”

The new students, the college’s Sesquicentennial graduates, will return to campus for orientation August 29 and begin Fall Semester classes September 2.