News Release (September 4, 1966)

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NEW COLLEGE NEWS RELEASE NEW COLLEGE, SARASOTA, FLORIDA FURMAN C. ARTHUR INFORMATION FOR RELEASE: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1966 students begin arriving on the tlet-t College campus ready to take part in an intensive six-day orientation period before classes begin Monday, September 12. The class of 1969, made up of 109 students from some 33 states, will be the third enrolled since the colleg e opened in 1964. Hhen all have arrived by Tuesday afternoon, they begin a busy week which will see them welcomed, assigned to rooms, greeted by the president and the faculty, tested, briefed on all college regulations, introduced to the curriculum, cautioned about the hard work ahead, and then given a Saturday after-noon picnic on the beach. President and l1rs. John Elmendorf will welcome all new students and parents at a reception in College Hall Tuesday afternoon. That evening the fa-culty will have an opportunity to meet members of the Class of 1969 at an in-formal "smoker". Hednesday t-till be the first of tt-to days of testing of the net-1 students under a program instituted by the college at its inception. All must take a series of tests, the College Comprehensive Tests, which help to indicate academic aptitudes and also serve as a basis of evaluation of learning progress at the end of the first year when similar ones are given. This program was developed by the College Examiner, Dr. John l\T. French. -more-

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NEH COLLEGE Page 2 Friday morning the new students meet the three chairmen of the academic divisions of the college and Hill hear brief outlines of what is in store for them in the core program in Social Sciences, Humanities, and Natural Sciences. Making the presentations will be Dr. Rollin B. Posey, Dr. Arthur R. Borden Jr., and Dr. Peter F. Buri, 'lith this introduction to the basic curriculum, students next meet informally in College Hall with members of the faculty to discuss other academic offerings. This provides them Hith the material they need to make their elective course selections in the afternoon. Evenings are equally busy for the students. On their first full day on campus, Wednesday, they hear. an explanation of the full range of regulations and customs govern their lives on campus. Speaking t-till be Dean of Students, Robert J. Director of Plant Capt. Ralph E. Styles, Controller Charles Harra, and Nurse Frances Letfasters. Thursday night students Hill be guests for dinner at the homes of their faculty advisers, which is the beginning of a counseling relationship tJhich will be greatly expanded this year. Friday evening t-till be the first of the "candlelight suppers," a traditional weekly social activity for students and faculty, follo'ted by a forumtype discussion. -more-

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NEH COLLEGE Page 3 The first real free time for the first year students comes on Satur day morning, First planned activity is a combined student-faculty picnic on Lido Beach beginning at 3 p.m. and lastinp, until 7, to be followed at College Hall by an evening of entertainment by second and third year students who are scheduled to arrive that morning. Upperclass students register Sunday afternoon, a procedure which must be completed by 4 p.m. when President Elmendorf opens the first convocation of the college with all students and faculty attending. This occasion is followed by a dinner in College Hall and a movie program planned by upperclass students. Although classes start early Honday morning, the orientation process moves ahead during the tveek. Three evenings are set aside for a studentfaculty forum on Monday, a discussion of library use and study habits, and finally an explanation of all student activities and recreational opportunities. This marks the first time that all three classes --first-, second-, and third-year students --will be enrolled as the charter class that entered in September 1964 its final year. Hith the expanded student body and the curriculum, the faculty has been enlarged to more than 41, In the netv class, despite the tvide geographical distribution, there will be 16 Florida students, the largest from any state. Of the total entering class, 64 are boys and 45 are girls. Fourteen second-and third-year students are assisting during Orien tation Week and will help in the plannmng and operation of themany activities that will be held. They will welcome the new students, guide them about the campus, and help to make them feel at home. -more-

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NEttJ COLLEGE Page 4 11embers of the editorial staff of The Catalyst, the student-run ne\..rs paper, will publish a special edition appearing durinp, Orientation Heek. The same staff members also assisted in the publishing of a student handbook will be given to all incoming students to acquaint them with the college. Coordination of the entire week has been under the direction of Earl A. Helgeson Jr., assistant to the president. -30-