Gustie Gear-Up! Welcomes Class of 2021Incoming students were on campus June 13-15 to register for classes and get to know the Gustavus campus.
Posted on June 16th, 2017 by JJ Akin '11

Music professor James Patrick Miller helps a new Gustie register for classes during Gustie Gear-Up!

Over 500 members of the incoming Gustavus Adolphus College Class of 2021 were on campus June 13-15 for Gustie Gear-Up!, the College’s summer registration and orientation sessions.

Students selected one of six half-day sessions, beginning with a welcome from Provost Brenda Kelly on behalf of the faculty and Director of Campus Activities Andrea Junso on behalf of the student life division. Then, Interim Director of the Center for Academic Resources and Enhancement (CARE) Kate Knutson released students to their registration sessions with faculty advisers while parents and families took part in a question-and-answer session with representatives from the dean of students office.

In Alumni Hall, the new students met individually or in pairs with Gustavus professors to set their course schedule for first semester. “The in-person registration process gives students the space and time to make good decisions about the classes that they’ll take,” said Knutson, whose office coordinated the campuswide efforts to welcome the first-year students. “It’s been exciting to see them meet one another and get to know the faces of the students, faculty, and staff that they’ll be seeing on campus for the next four years.”

“It was great to have the professors there to help us through registration,” said Isabel St. Dennis, a recent graduate of Edina High School who is considering a major in communication studies.

Gustie Gear-Up! also included opportunities for students to attend information sessions on textbooks, study-away opportunities, residential life, student clubs and organizations, and athletics. A popular resource fair in the lobby of Beck Academic hall allowed the new Gusties to connect with current students and staff representing offices and programs ranging from CARE and the Diversity Center to Career Development and Reading in Common.

As her session came to a close, St. Dennis paused near Beck Hall to reflect on the day. “After walking around campus and learning more about classes and other opportunities, I can really visualize what day-to-day life will be like here at Gustavus,” she said. “ I can’t wait to move in and get started.”

“It was a great week,” agreed Knutson. “Now that classes are set, we’re excited to welcome our newest Gusties back to campus this fall.”

Members of the Class of 2021 will begin their Gustavus journey with move-in day on Friday, September 1.