Incoming freshmen welcome summer with Summer Welcome

Reservation numbers are lower than last year.

By Rachel Krause

Published June 3, 2009

Within the next two months, nearly 14,000 parents and incoming freshmen will come to MU for Summer Welcome, the university's advising, registration and orientation program.

New Student Programs Director David Rielley said there's not a definite total for Summer Welcome reservation numbers this year but they're running slightly less than last year's numbers.

Housing changes have also been made for students. Although housing for parents and guests remains in Excellence Hall, student housing will be moved to Hatch and Schurz halls for the next two to three years while Gillett and Hudson undergo extensive renovations.

"I don't anticipate the switch to Hatch and Schurz to have much impact on the Summer Welcome experience beyond the fact that students will be staying in halls that were just recently renovated," Rielley said. "The floor plans of Hudson, Gillett, Hatch and Schurz are very similar."

Rielley said the slight decrease in Summer Welcome enrollment from last year is to be expected since total freshmen enrollment has also slightly dropped.

"Last year's freshmen enrollment was an all-time high," Rielley said. "This year's enrollment in the freshmen class is looking to be down slightly so it's natural that attendance at Summer Welcome is down a little bit in comparison to last year."

Rielley said, on average 60 to 70 percent of transfer students and 94 percent of freshmen attend one of the two day Summer Welcome sessions.

"Those that don't attend are mostly made up of a mix of students who either have military obligations, were admitted too late to attend, live a great distance from Columbia or have a pre-existing commitment, such as traveling abroad," Rielley said.

Despite the distances some students have to travel in order to attend Summer Welcome, junior and Summer Welcome leader Katie Doerhoff said it's worth it.

"Summer welcome is very important for incoming students because it allows them to get a look at how MU will be before they come to school," Doerhoff said. "Students get to register for classes, meet with advisors, get their immunizations, learn about their major and meet many people that could potentially be living with them."

After going through an intensive selection process, the 36 selected leaders have gone through training since February to ensure they are all able to answer nearly every question that may be asked about MU.

"Students should expect to meet new people and get a feel for the Mizzou environment and atmosphere," Doerhoff said. "They will get to see what it's like to stay in the dorms and live in the res. halls and just have a blast."

Rachel Dorn, an incoming freshman from Saint Paul, Minn., said she's looking forward to attending her Summer Welcome session on June 11 and 12.

"I'm really excited to meet lots of other incoming freshman, especially since I'm coming from so far away and don't know very many people at Mizzou," Dorn said. "Also, it will be nice to just get better acquainted with the campus before moving there in the fall."