Worcester State will officially welcome new first-year and transfer students through a virtual Convocation ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Convocation usually takes place on campus in the Sullivan Auditorium, but the event was moved to a virtual format due to the ongoing pandemic. Students, faculty, and staff will all have the opportunity to watch Convocation from the comfort of their homes or other locations.
Convocation is an annual, formal academic ceremony that serves to welcome new students to the University and foster a sense of community. It’s also an opportunity for students to get a sense of Worcester State’s values and traditions, as well as to hear directly from top leadership, faculty, and alumni, who typically offer words of encouragement and valuable nuggets of wisdom for navigating college.
This year, remarks will be given by Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Lois Wims, Ph.D, President Barry M. Maloney, Alumni Association’s Advisory Board President Elizabeth Bitar ’11, Student Government Association President Jaymi-Lyn Souza ’21, and Associate Professor of Biology Jennifer Hood-DeGrenier, Ph.D.
The University’s annual academic year kickoff meeting for faculty and staff will also be occurring virtually earlier in the day, starting at 9 a.m. The keynote speaker will be JED Foundation Director and Yale University Professor Nance Roy, Ed.D., a nationally recognized expert on student mental health and wellbeing.
More information about Convocation, including how to view it, is available at www.worcester.edu/convocation [1].