“Excited but nervous.” That summed up the atmosphere around Widener University on Monday as the school began welcoming it’s largest-ever first year class of students to campus. In a time when many four-year colleges are struggling, or even closing, more than 900 students from 13 states and about a dozen other countries began moving into the 17 residence halls on the 110-acre Chester campus that has a total enrollment of over 5,600.
87 percent of new students live on campus. A steady stream of cars funneled along Old Main into the parking lot along Melrose Avenue where staff, student leaders and student organizations were waiting to quickly unload the new students belongings into carts for the walk to Moll, Kapelski and Sharples halls. Mary Allen, Widener University executive director of communications, said the school plans extensively to make sure move-in day runs smoothly.
Among those helping was longtime volleyball coach Donovan Anglin and his players. “We’ve been doing it for years. It’s good stuff, he said.
“So far everything has been smooth. Everybody has been helpful. Security and all the people helping us downstairs guided us in the right direction,” said Michael Acquarolo of South Philadelphia, who was bringing his daughter Gloria to campus.
“It’s a good school.” Acquarolo also has a son who attends Widener. Stacey Robertson , who is heading into her third year as Widener’s president, was on hand to greet the students and their parents as they rolled in, ready to start their new adventure.
“Best day of the year besides graduation,” Robertson said. With music playing, vehicles pulled into campus and Robertson was there to make the new students feel at home and to welcome their parents. “Hi beautiful, what is your name?” she asked one.
“Juliana,” was the answer. Juliana, you are literally the third Juliana I’ve met today ..
. the other two are nursing majors. Here’s the crazy thing: They are roommates.
We have three Juliana nursing majors starting right now, crazy,” she said. “You’re going to have so much fun.” “Are you nervous?” she asked the student in the next car.
“You’ll love it here.” Asked about the keys to their growth, Robertson said the school creates a sense of belonging for students, and parents feel comfortable. “We create a sense of belonging for every single person who comes to our campus.
We welcome you. We make you feel at home,” she said. “Our faculty are phenomenal.
We have this great exciting vibe of belonging. Parents feel comfortable leaving their students with us because they know we are going to take care of them.” First year student Jade Young of Philadelphia said she liked the campus at Widener and what the school has to offer.
“It’s spacious and I like that teachers get involved with the students,” Young said. At Sharples Hall, a steady stream of students and parents were carrying boxes in as new roommates Gionna Fleming of Claymont and Alyssa Czepiel of Philadelphia started putting away items in their new home. “We’re trying to get organized,” Czepiel said.
“This is actually pretty roomy.” The two had already spoken over social media, online and in person. “I’m nervous mostly but also excited,” said Fleming.
“It’s scary but it’s also exciting. It’s new,” Czepiel. “She’s great.
” Fleming learned about Widener after she was invited to a leadership conference, and she was invited to join their leadership program. She said the school appealed to her because of the nice scholarship offered, and she liked the campus. She plans to major in marketing and minor in communications, but may switch.
Czepiel became aware of Widener through the many brochures the school sends out. She is planning to major in business and marketing and found the scholarship the school offered enticing, and a visit to campus sealed it. “This is where I’m going,” she said.
Back out front, Robertson said students are still recovering from lost learning due to the pandemic “We still feel the learning loss that resulted from all those kids coming up learning online but our faculty and staff have created a learning environment that meets students wherever they are. If they need extra in math they get a math tutor, if they need extra in science or writing they get the assistance. We have restructured the university to be student centric,” she said.
Robertson said she believes the school has the opportunity to change the lives of every single student who arrives on campus. “By changing their lives, we change the life of every single generation that comes after them. We take that very seriously, every single student,” she said.
“It’s our goal that they graduate on time, and they have an amazing experience.” She said parents are “excited and nervous.” “I tell them, I had two boys who went off to college, I know what you feel.
We try to reassure them: We’ve got your student. We’re going to take care of them, and everything they need.” However she made clear, they won’t be coddled, and she tells parents: “We give them the tools but they’ve got to pick it up.
I’m not going to pick it up for them, they’ve got to pick up those tools.” She said that later in the day they have an event and say goodbye to the parents: “We’re like you have to leave now. We love you but now it is time to let them be adults.
It’s an important moment.” She said they don’t see a lot of helicopter parents. Widener offers signing of a FERPA form — Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act — which allows the school to communicate with parents, keeping them informed on how the student is doing.
Robertson said this actually helps more students to graduate. With COVID-19 rates rising this summer, Robertson said the school is ready for any outbreak, with the medical team and the ability to isolate if necessary. She also spoke well of the Chester Mayor Stefan Roots and working with the city as it puts parking issues in the past.
“He is a great partner to Widener ...
He knows we take pride in being a part of the Chester community,” Robertson said. “Our students are in Chester every single day volunteering, interning, doing co-ops. Our facility and staff are in the community.
We believe we will all rise together,” she said..
