On Friday, August 27, University of the Sciences will welcome 550 new students to campus for move-in day. After settling in to their new dorm rooms, a convocation ceremony will feature an address by Marc Mannella, CEO of KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) Philadelphia Schools, and a pinning ceremony. USciences’ new students will then participate in a week-long schedule of activities to become further acclimated to campus.
A busy move-in day begins with “luggers and tuggers,” current USciences upperclassmen, greeting the first-year and transfer students as they arrive on campus between 9-11 a.m. While 9 a.m. is the official start time, a line traditionally has formed as early as 7 a.m. in anticipation. The luggers and tuggers will assist the students and their parents in unpacking cars and getting settled into their dorm rooms.
At 1:30 p.m., new and returning students, as well as faculty will assemble in the Athletic/Recreation Center (ARC) for the eighth annual convocation ceremony. Marc Mannella, CEO of KIPP Philadelphia Schools, will address the crowd. KIPP Philadelphia Schools (KPS) is a network of open-enrollment, college-preparatory public charter schools, and part of the national KIPP Network of schools. Nationwide, KIPP serves nearly 20,000 students via 82 schools in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Since the opening of KIPP Philadelphia Schools, USciences has supported the “KIPPsters” through donations of sporting equipment, books, funds, tutoring programs, and more.
A pinning ceremony, during which faculty presents the new students with a USciences’ pin, marks the end of convocation and the start of the students’ collegiate experience. Classes begin on Monday, August 30.
The classes of 2014, 2015, and 2016 represent a diverse, dynamic group of aspiring healthcare professionals and leaders who will take on sophisticated disciplines such as bioinformatics, physical therapy, and pharmacy.