墨西拿大学 prepares to welcome its first class
墨西拿大学, the new two-year degree program of 电子游戏软件, is building up—quite literally and figuratively—to the days in July when it will welcome its inaugural class of first-generation students to the Brookline Campus.
墨西拿大学 Dean Erick Berrelleza, S.J., is the one simultaneously guiding upgrades to classrooms, 实验室, 社区, 用餐空间, overseeing student recruitment and admission, 还有教师招聘, while assembling staff and a leadership team.
After a walk around the campus, the obvious question emerges: Is this at all overwhelming?
“不，”神父说. Berrelleza on a recent day, under the watchful eyes of a flock of Canada geese cooling their wings outside the administration building. “I tell people all the time that there are lots of people helping me and helping 墨西拿大学. This is a University-wide initiative.”
Office of Student Involvement Director Roatha Kong speaking at Admitted Students Day. First-year students will arrive in July for a six-week program that introduces them to college life.
He cites the close partnerships with the departments and offices of Admission and Financial Aid, 设施, 辅助服务, Institutional Research and Planning, and the Career Center—to name a few—as well as the offices of President William P. 莱希,年代.J., and Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley.
“Students will be here in July,” Fr. Berrelleza说. “We don’t have time to get overwhelmed. We just keep moving toward the goal.”
墨西拿大学 is part of the University’s $100 million Pine Manor Institute for Student Success initiative to enhance educational opportunity for underrepresented, first-generation students, who will pursue an associate’s degree—the first time in its history that BC has offered such an academic program. 总共, Messina will eventually enroll 200 students, who will live in residence halls on the Brookline Campus.
墨西拿大学 is working toward its goal to enroll approximately 100 students in its inaugural class, Berrelleza说. So far 64 students have been admitted. Fr. Berrelleza has hosted one Admitted Eagles Day and more are scheduled to take place. Recruitment efforts are focused on high schools in the areas in and around Boston, 布罗克顿, 布里奇沃特, 洛厄尔, 劳伦斯, 斯普林菲尔德, 伍斯特, 和普罗维登斯.
“It is a pleasure to meet with these students and tell them about the opportunity to study at 电子游戏软件,” Fr. Berrelleza说. “Like them, I was the first in my family to go to college. Like many of them, I spoke Spanish at home. I like to share my academic and personal journey with them so they can see what is possible here at Messina and in their futures. It is an exciting part of this job.”
Aligned with BC’s Undergraduate Core Curriculum, Messina offers the majors of Applied Data Science, 应用心理学 & Human Development, General Business, and Health Sciences. 他们的学位, students can apply to earn bachelor’s degrees at BC or other four-year colleges and universities, or go on to other programs focused on specialized skills, 职业生涯, 或者公共服务.
教授, Deluca Chair of Biology, and Vice Provost for Research Thomas Chiles (left) and Vice President for University Mission & 牧师杰克·巴特勒，S.J., were in attendance at the first Admitted Students Day; more events are in the works.
Career discernment and preparation are built into the Messina curriculum, Fr. Berrelleza说. In the fall of their second year, students will complete an internship or clinical rotation, take an accompanying course, and work closely with a 电子游戏软件 Career Center coach throughout the internship process.
“We are preparing them to be citizens of the world,” said Fr. Berrelleza.
First-year students will arrive in July for a six-week program that introduces them to the curriculum, 要求, and rhythms of college life, modeled after Options Through Education, a long-standing summer program and a pillar of the Pine Manor Institute for Student Success.
Of all his tasks launching Messina, Fr. Berrelleza prizes the chance to welcome admitted students to 电子游戏软件.
“One of the most meaningful steps in the admissions process for me is calling students to let them know they have been accepted,” Fr. Berrelleza说. “It’s really heartwarming to hear their reactions. It’s clear that we are making history here.”
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