Incoming freshmen came to campus for IWU’s annual Admitted Student Weekend on Saturday.
During Admitted Student Weekend, new students register for classes, fill out housing forms, receive their student ID and connect with faculty and other incoming freshmen.
“This is why we exist, is for students,” University President Jon Kulaga said. “So these kind of days remind us of our reason for existence.”
While Kulaga’s job is to welcome parents and students, he said that a lot of the planning for the event falls on the backs of the admissions department.
“We’re trying to get our students actually here now to register for classes, so it’s really all hands on deck,” Kulaga said. “We have the registrar’s office, people want to talk about financial aid, you know, all the recruiters who’ve been working with students all these years are looking forward to seeing students arrive.”
Ashley Boggs, an admissions ambassador said that she and her team interact with around 300 students during the day.
“I’m just here all day planning events and helping students get to connect with one another and getting them to learn what life at IWU looks like,” said Boggs.
Boggs had many jobs, including checking students in, preparing and handing out folders, walking students to academic division meetings and eating lunch with students. Boggs said that she prepares for the event by remembering how important Admitted Students Weekend was to her when she was a new student.
Saturday was also a busy day for a lot of student workers. McConn barista Micaiah Clapper said that between Admitted Students Weekend and Saturday’s basketball game, McConn was a lot busier than usual.
“Before we opened, there was a line,” Clapper said.
Clapper said that the McConn staff is doing their part to make new students feel welcome.
“We have a little mirror that we write on,” Clapper said. “So today we wrote out any advice that students might have for the new students coming in.”
Alex Kramer, an incoming civil engineering student and football recruit, said that the admissions staff and student workers helped him navigate through the day.
“They’ve all been very helpful,” Kramer said. “I feel like every time I turn a corner there’s someone there waiting to help me if I have a question, or even if I don’t have a question, they can help guide my way to a new place.”
Kramer said that he is most excited to meet other athletes and find a roommate.
