Welcome Week: The Start of a Successful Semester
91视频 kicked off the Fall 2025 semester on Aug. 25 with a college-wide, fun-filled
Welcome Week featuring music, games, giveaways, pop-up events, and resource fairs
designed to energize students and connect them with campus life.
The week included two student convocations that celebrated new beginnings, reinforced institutional pride, and encouraged students to take full advantage of 91视频檚 support systems and student life.
Students were welcomed with warmth and encouragement from faculty and administrators. The convocation emphasized the importance of self-advocacy, time management, and early communication.
淭his is where you learn to advocate for yourself,� said Dr. Carol Ash, vice president
of academic affairs and workforce development. 淲e can檛 solve a problem that we don檛
know about.� Students were reminded that college offers more freedom than high school攂ut
with that freedom comes responsibility.
Support services were spotlighted throughout the event. The Academic Support Center was promoted as a vital resource offering tutoring in person, online, and across all campuses攅ven evenings and weekends. 淚f you're getting behind in class, make sure you reach out,� students were urged.
Student engagement was another key theme. Honor societies like Phi Theta Kappa were praised for their community-building and scholarship opportunities. 淥ne of the greatest benefits of Phi Theta Kappa is the community you create with your fellow students,� Ash said. 淲e give out scholarships to Phi Theta Kappa students every single year.�
Students were encouraged to identify peers in their academic divisions using color-coded
lanyards攁 simple but effective way to foster study groups and shared support. 淲e
created those so that you can create community with other students who are studying
the same areas as you,� Ash said.
The Saluqi Den, a student lounge space, was also highlighted as a place to gather, study, and relax. 淎 couple of students said, 業 didn檛 know this existed,櫇 Ash noted. 淚檓 depending on you to tell the other students so that they檙e not hanging out in the heat or in the cold.�
Dr. Jose E. da Silva, chief enrollment officer, closed with a message of partnership and purpose. 淏eing successful in college is not solely up to you. It is our responsibility to make sure that you all are successful as well,� he said. 淵our level of engagement will catapult your level of success at 91视频.�
With two convocations now part of the fall tradition, 91视频 continues to build momentum around student-centered programming and inclusive campus culture.
As da Silva reminded students, 淚t takes an entire college to make sure that you all are successful. We want to make sure that you not only get admitted and enrolled攂ut that you graduate.�