Dear Alumni and Friends,
The start of the academic year is always one of my favorite times, and this year feels especially exciting. We just welcomed new and returning students to campus for Opening Day, celebrating the Class of 2028 with bagpipes, academic regalia, and the Monon Bell. Given the high number of legacy students, it was fun seeing so many alumni return to campus as well.
Students in this class are bright scholars, gifted leaders, and poised to make a significant impact at DePauw and beyond.
Personally, I’m looking forward to getting to know several of them as students as I teach my first First-Year Seminar: "Creating Community and Building Belonging," where we’ll discuss how they can build the skills of belonging for themselves and create a welcoming community for everyone at DePauw.
We are also excited about the opportunities for the entire DePauw community to come together this year. From hosting the Monon Bell and launching the Creative School to concerts on the lawn in Bowman Park, religious celebrations, intramurals, and hundreds of events for students, this will be a busy year full of memories. We’re also discussing with students their role in our society and how we "Discover, Dialogue, and Disagree" well. Additionally, the work of the Housing Renewal Task Force is well underway, and we look forward to sharing with the community our plans to enhance the residential experience at DePauw in early 2025.
The Division of Student Affairs at DePauw focuses on four key domains of the exemplary student experience: belonging, engagement, learning, and well-being. Our goal is that every student at DePauw has the opportunities, resources, and relationships to thrive and become those leaders the world needs. I have enjoyed meeting so many of you and learning how DePauw built that foundation for you, and I’m looking forward to hearing more stories about your transformational DePauw experience throughout the year. Come find me cheering on Tiger Athletics, taking in one of the Creative School events, or at Old Gold weekend and say hello!
Sincerely,
John Mark Day
Vice President for Student Affairs