4:43 p.m., July 25, 2008--
Sixty-five Associate in Arts (AA) Program graduates entering the University as juniors this fall took part in Transitions Day, Thursday, July 24, on the Newark campus.

Students, many of whom brought their parents as guests, gathered at the outset of the day in the Trabant University Center Multipurpose Rooms to mingle with classmates and hear advice from program leaders on what to expect from full-time campus life. Following opening remarks by John Courtright, director of Undergraduate Studies and the Associate in Arts Program, and Havidán Rodríguez, vice provost for Academic Affairs and International Programs, students and their guests separated to meet up later in the day for lunch and campus tours.

In the interim, students had opportunities to take closer looks at their chosen colleges, while parents got to meet with Marcia Watson, associate director of the Associate in Arts Program, as well as recent graduates who'd transitioned from the program.

“I did the array of classes in the Associate in Arts Program at Georgetown while I decided for certain what I wanted to do, because when I graduated from high school, I really didn't know,” said Kristen Miller, a sociology major from Felton, Del., whose plans now stretch well into the future. “Now I know that sociology is really what I want to study, because it gives me what I need to join the Peace Corps.”

Shawneek Davis, a nutrition major from New Castle, Del., who attended Transitions Day with her parents, David and Remonia Davis, said that the classes she took in the Associate in Arts Program likewise gave her the freedom to explore various subjects before settling on one. “I knew that I wanted to come to the University of Delaware, because it's nearby home and I know a lot of people here,” she said, “but now I know that I want to work in prenatal nutrition at a nearby hospital after I graduate.”

Kayla Lahijani, an international relations major from Greenville, Del., said that although her plans eventually include leaving Delaware for New York City, where she hopes to pursue a degree in international law, she chose UD for her undergraduate work because of its academic reputation and access to good professors. “The University is close to home, so that's nice for me,” she said, “but even compared to colleges in New York, it's got a great reputation and everything I need.”

Kevin Wall, from Clayton, Del., who was attending Transitions Day with his daughter, Samantha, a double-major in psychology and human services, said that he was using the event as a way to get even more acquainted with the offerings of UD.

“We've lived in Delaware all our lives, so the University is a natural choice,” Wall said. “We've already been through the process of picking classes and deciding on a major and discussing the options of a double-major, so this is an opportunity to gather more information.”

All students attending the event on Thursday had just completed or were in the process of completing freshman and sophomore courses at the UD Academic Centers on Delaware Technical and Community College campuses in Wilmington, Dover and Georgetown to earn their two-year associate's degree and had made the decision to transition to the Newark campus to complete a four-year bachelor's degree.

Courtright congratulated the students on both their decision to go on and on their academic success in the two-year program.

“I guess instead of saying 'Welcome,' I should really be saying 'Goodbye,'” Courtright said in his welcoming remarks, “because this event is really about transitioning to the Newark campus as juniors and about making that transition smoothly and successfully.”

Rodríguez, who followed Courtright to the podium with a rundown of the day's agenda, also congratulated students on their achievements and perseverance and urged them to broaden their horizons even further with service-learning and study-abroad opportunities.

“This is a time for celebration and to highlight what you have achieved,” Rodríguez said. “You should be pleased with your hard work, your perseverance and your success that has gotten you this far. This is a very important achievement, and thank you for letting us at the University of Delaware be a part of your academic career. We are proud to have you as part of our institution.

“I urge you to take advantage of students and others who have been at the University for some time during your transition process,” Rodríguez said, “because success requires several things besides hard work and dedication. It requires outstanding teaching, research facilities, a demanding and outstanding faculty and a commitment to seek out challenges and mentors.”

All students who attended received orientation folders that held an array of literature on campus programs and services, including UD1-Flex accounts, meal plans, housing options, study-abroad semesters, student health services and property registration protocol.

During lunch, information tables in the Food Court also provided parents and students with information on how to purchase and connect computers, get involved with service learning and access Student Centers programming.

Article by Becca Hutchinson
Photos by Kathy Atkinson