Academic support services program welcomes new, returning students

12:46 p.m., Sept. 8, 2014--More than 150 new and returning University of Delaware students celebrated the new academic year at a Sept. 3 reception hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences’ NUCLEUS program, which this year has a record number of participants. 

NUCLEUS provides academic support, networking, opportunities such as undergraduate research, and information about career services and other available resources. 

Campus Stories

From graduates, faculty

As it neared time for the processional to open the University of Delaware Commencement ceremonies, graduating students and faculty members shared their feelings about what the event means to them.

Doctoral hooding

It was a day of triumph, cheers and collective relief as more than 160 students from 21 nations participated in the University of Delaware's Doctoral Hooding Convocation held Friday morning on The Green.

• Doctoral hooding
• Old Swedes
• Summer SAT, ACT prep
• 'Opus 13' pre-sale

The program, which expanded significantly in 2011, supports students in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), as well as those with selected majors in other UD colleges.

The reception included remarks by CAS Dean George Watson, who welcomed new and returning students to the 2014-15 academic year, and Jenifer Laird, assistant director of the Career Services Center, who highlighted the resources offered by the center.

Seven returning members of the program also spoke at the event, describing how NUCLEUS had helped them succeed and offering time-management and other advice to freshmen.

One of the speakers, Robert Jacquette, a sophomore majoring in physics, told the audience that, as a first-generation college student, coming to campus was like traveling to a foreign country. NUCLEUS, he said, has been his tour guide at UD.

The other students who spoke were: Nafissatou Dicko, a senior majoring in criminal justice; juniors Gerti Wilson (political science) and Miguel Nava (medical laboratory sciences); and sophomores Angelo Glover (criminal justice), Junius Thomas (biochemistry) and Priyha Mahesh (biological sciences).

More about NUCLEUS 

NUCLEUS is located in 118 Brown Lab, which includes a student study area. The program is led by Rosalind Johnson, assistant CAS dean for student success, and Tara Falcone, academic program coordinator.

The staff will expand this year to include Diana Aviles, who will help support student success, and Brielle Gerry, a 2014 graduate who is working with NUCLEUS as a program assistant. 

Article by Ann Manser

Photos by Lane McLaughlin