Welcome Back Letter from Robin, The Vice President of Student Life

Welcome Back!

After a long summer without students we missed you and are so excited to welcome you all back to campus! I especially want to extend a warm welcome to our new first-year students. I hope that you had a great experience during New Student Orientation and that you take advantage of all that Lewis & Clark has to offer.

There is going to be so much going on this year! This fall in the Division of Student Life, we will support the student voice as we explore “Re-imagining the LC Student Experience.” With your help, we will take a deep look into what is needed to make your LC Student Experience even better. What spaces need to be improved or added, especially in Templeton? How can we make sure our campus activities are engaging, exciting and representative of the needs of the student body? How are our dining operations fitting your needs? What about transportation? Do we go to the places in the City that you want to visit? Should we consider different routes? And finally, what can we do to develop platforms that allow students to communicate with each other as well as know what is going on in and around campus? The comprehensive look at the student experience is called the Campus Engagement and Programming Plan. With your feedback, we will consider upgrades to all of the student spaces we have around campus with an eye toward improving them so that you have what you need for your success. We will bring in the national consulting firm Brailsford and Dunlavey to help us re-imagine the LC student experience. It will be fun, enlightening and so very important to the future of our College.  It only works if you let your voice be heard, so be on the lookout for invitations to get involved - we need to hear from you!

Whether you are a first-year student or a senior, I hope you will do all that you can to get involved this year. Take a new course, try a new club or organization, explore this beautiful area that we call home - Portland. College is a time to get a bit out of your comfort zone and discover all that you hope to be, so take advantage of this time! As always, we in the Division of Student Life are your partners in engagement. Visit our Career Center (often); get involved in the Inclusion and Multicultural Education activities and celebrations; take care of your health both physically and mentally; get to know someone who is from a country different from yours; volunteer to create a cool campus activity; get involved in College Outdoors; participate in as many service-learning events as you can; consider becoming an RA, an NSO Leader, or a Trip Leader; get to know how you can get involved in student government, or a club or organization; attend a sporting event or play club sports or intramurals—there is so much to do and to become involved in. Now is the time! And, above all else, remember that your academic experience and goals are the reason that you are here, so take advantage of the fact that you are attending one of the coolest and best liberal arts colleges in the nation.  

So, here’s to a fantastic year for all of us.  We are so glad you are here! Please feel free to stop by and visit the Student Life Office over in East Hall—we love it when students visit!  Go Pios!