Bentley Orientation Newsletter - June 2016

Welcome Falcons!

Bentley University

June 2016

Newsletter Edition 1

Falcons Take Flight Welcome to the Bentley University Community Congratulations on your acceptance, we are excited to see you in the fall. Whether you’re an incoming freshman experiencing college for the first time, an international student studying in the United States, or joining us from another institution, Bentley is happy to have you and has something unique to offer

UPCOMING DEADLINES 

 Submit Technology Ethics Agreement » Due ASAP

everyone. Before you join us on campus, there are

**Completing this agreement will

several tasks that need to be completed in order for

trigger the creation of your

you to have a smooth transition into life on campus.

Bentley email**

You should have received the Bentley Transition Guide, which provides you with everything you need to know before arriving. You will receive a newsletter, like this one, eve ry month during the summer, so be on the lookout! Please use the se newsletters to remind you of upcoming deadlines, and to get to know the ins and outs of campus l ife.

You’re joining our community at a gr eat time – this

 Complete your preliminary writing assessment » PAST DUE (June 6th)  Complete Bentley Beginnings: Online Orientation » Due June 30th

year is the school’s cente nnial anniversary, which is

**Completing Online Orientation

a definite cause for celebration. We look forward to

will allow you to submit your

meeting you, and cannot wait for an incredible year!

schedule preferences**

 Submit Housing Application » Due June 30th  Submit Housing and Meal Plan Contract » Due June 30th  Complete Health History and Input Immunization record » Due July 1st

Bentley Kicks Butt!

Our Campus is now Smoke Free!

Hey Falcons! As some of you may have heard, Bentley became a Smoke-Free campus on June 1st, 2016. You may be wondering: what does this mean for you, as an incoming student? Well, this policy applies to all Bentley university students, employees, visitors, guests and contractors. It restricts the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes and any other smoked or vaporized nicotine producing products anywhere on campus, including parking lots and in vehicles. The new smoke free policy looks to increase the health and safety of the entire Bentley community, and it will make certain that the beauty and professional image of our campus is maintained. We ask all community members to comply with this new policy to ensure its success. For information or support regarding quitting or cutting back, head to www.bentley.edu/cessation, and feel free to contact GA_smokefree@bentley.edu with any questions or concerns. We look forward to kicking butt with you this fall!

Who is Flex?

Flex the Falcon is our Bentley University mascot!

You can find Flex at many of our athletic events and campus celebrations, as he is the core of our school spirit. He loves to get the crowd going, whether he is throwing t-shirts to the liveliest fans or taking pictures with fellow Falcons. Flex is very excited to welcome all of you and celebrate Bentley’s centennial anniversary! Follow him on twitter at @BentleyFlex for updates and interactions throughout the year.

Get ready for Bentley by following the Bentley roadmap, pictured to the right. In the coming months, you will receive plenty of information on how to complete or sign up for these opportunities.

Greetings from the Bentley Residential Center!

Brent Ploughe, an Assistant Director in the Residential Center, is excited to welcome you!

Welcome to Bentley University! In the Residential Center, we are anxiously awaiting your arrival and working diligently to ensure your residence halls are welcoming upon your move-in. We hope to make your on campus living experience one that is memorable. By now, you have received a variety of information related to campus housing. I wanted to reiterate the following information to ensure a successful transition. 

The link to the housing contract and application became available as an

administrative responsibility in your MyBentley on May 23, 2016. 

All housing applications and contracts are due by June 30, 2016.



Housing assignments will be e-mailed to all residents on July 27, 2016.



Electronic student bill will be e-mailed in early July and will include a

housing charge for a double room and super value meal. Once actual assignments are completed, your student account will be adjusted to reflect the appropriate charge.

As you begin your first year, I want to remind you of the wonderful opportunities that exist in our residence halls.

We have a variety of defined communities available to first-year students; the Arts Community, the Social Justice Community, the Honors Community, the Wellness Community, and the Women’s Leadership Community. Each community is designed to provide opportunities for students with similar interest to live and engage together in a dedicated area of a residence hall. More information can be found on our website, or by contacting, Justin Woodard, Assistant Director of the Residential Center, at jwoodard@bentley.edu.

In addition, each residence hall will elect a Hall Council that will serve as a leadership experience in programming and creating policy within the hall. You will want to check your email early in the fall semester for this wonderful opportunity. It is one of the easiest ways to get involved on campus and begin making meaningful connections.

There is information about Hall Councils and our Residence Hall Association (RHA) on our website.

Finally, our Resident Assistants (RAs) and your Residence Director (RD) are spending the summer preparing for your arrival to campus. Your RAs will be available on your floors throughout the academic year to serve as a resource and mentor as you transition into Bentley. Additionally, your Residence Director will oversee the daily operations of the building while also focusing their attention on community development. Be sure to stop by their offices—they want to meet you!

I hope that you spend this summer relaxing and enjoying time with family and friends. At the same time, get excited to begin your career at Bentley University. As the Assistant Director of the First Year Area, I hope you will find ways to connect with the residential population, the Bentley community, and the greater Boston area. Take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities that will be presented to you. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at bploughe@bentley.edu. I’m happy to answer any questions that might assist in your transition to Bentley University. Enjoy your summer!

The Student Center The Student Center is the hub of student life on campus. Inside, you can find our campus dining hall (The 921), Russo’s Market, Argo Tea, Harry’s Pub, the Bubble (a study area with group work rooms), the Living Room (a seating/lounge area with pool tables and a fireplace), the Business Center (which has several printers, a copy machine, and a help desk), as well as various offices and centers, including the Residential Center, Equity Center, Multicultural Center, Center for International Students and Scholars, Spiritual Life Center, Student Programs and Engagement and the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs.

THE EQUITY CENTER, located on the third floor of Bentley’s Student Center, provides a safe space for students who seek to create a more inclusive, informed, and compassionate community. This resource center promotes an ethos of leadership focused on social justice and provides campus-wide workshops, dialogues, and programs for students, faculty, and staff. We welcome all members of campus to this space and strive to develop leaders who celebrate gender, sexuality, and their intersection with other dimensions of identity.

There are two student organizations housed in the space that are committed to creating change on campus – PRIDE and the Women’s Center. These groups promote values of inclusion and social justice and empower students of all genders and sexualities to feel welcome on campus. This space also hosts a peer education group called the Equity Center Educators (ECEs). The ECEs undergo a semester-long training to better understand gender-based violence and discrimination, and they act as referral agents for all students.

Additionally, the ECEs offer programs about gender roles, the hook up culture, Title IX, and privilege.

In addition to the various student groups, the Equity Center supports engaging events that occur on campus each year. These initiatives include the White Ribbon Campaign, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, and Take

Back the Night. We also provide numerous workshops and trainings for students, including bystander education and intergroup dialogues.

SPIRITUAL LIFE CENTER The Spiritual Life center celebrates various religious beliefs throughout the year, and has advisers who oversee Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Protestant faiths, while also offering resources to those who are atheist or agnostic. The Sacred Space is an inviting area for multi-faith worship or spiritual practice, located on the third floor of the Student Center. All are welcome at the worship services and meditations that are held here several times a week. There are also several religious student groups on campus that students are welcome to join, if they so desire. Questions may be directed to the director of Spiritual Life, Dr. Rev. Robin Olson.

THE MULTICULTURAL CENTER is the hub of our efforts to create a diverse and inclusive campus community. The center is a resource for our ALANA (African-American, Latino, Asian-American, Native American and multiracial) students, providing academic support, professional development opportunities, leadership programs and more. The MCC coordinates the ALANA Experience Program, as described in your transition guide. Additionally, the center organizes the Summer Transition Education Program (STEP), a college admission bridge program that offers support for high-potential students who may have faced academic, socioeconomic, or personal challenges beyond their control. During the academic year, the center sponsors a First Friday event each month. These First Friday’s provide opportunities for students to meet ally faculty and staff from various departments. The center also seeks to empower students through men’s (Mankind Movement) and women’s groups (Coming Full Circle) that participate in a multitude of activities and discussions throughout the year. Lastly, the center also runs a mentorship program called ASAP (ALANA Student Advancement Program) where incoming ALANA students are connected to and mentored by current upperclassmen to help them navigate through their

first year at Bentley and beyond. You can find the MCC on the third floor of the Student Center in the Student Affairs suite. In addition, you’ll also find the Cultural Lounge, just outside of the center, open for any and all students to drop in, get involved, or just study! If you have any questions prior to your arrival on campus, visit us online at bentley.edu/campus-life/student-life/multicultural-center, email GA_Multicultural_Center@bentley.edu, or call 781-891-2132. You can also connect with the Multicultural Center on social media on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS (CISS) is the go-to campus resource for international students. The mission of our Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS) is to assist international students, scholars and their dependents to be in compliance with immigration regulations. The staff members welcome over 400 new international students each year, are committed to assisting international students in regard to their cultural adjustment, and also provide counseling for personal and academic issues. The CISS also promotes cross-cultural awareness and global citizenship within the Bentley community through educational programming. The Center serves as a resource for the Bentley, Waltham, and surrounding communities; and in general seeks to promote the benefits of international education. During the year, the CISS is open from 8:30am-4:30pm. More information including Walk-In hours and contact information is posted on the website at www.bentley.edu/ciss. Also be sure to follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BentleyCISS and stay tuned for upcoming programs and events! Feel free to email GA_CISS@bentley.edu or call 781.891.2829 with any questions. (Graphic from 2013-14 data).

STUDENT PROGRAMS AND ENGAGEMENT (SP&E) collaboratively approaches student development by empowering, challenging, and connecting with students in meaningful ways. Their dynamic programming and resources promote student and community development. There are many opportunities for Bentley students to get involved on campus, through leadership programs, Greek life, and student organizations. Bentley currently

has over 100 diverse Student Organizations, related to Arts, Culture, Athletics, Politics, Academics, Governance, Religion, Community Service, Programming and more! SP&E also manages the bustling Student Center and various spaces inside it where students can relax and get involved, such as the Living Room, Harry’s Pub and the Business Center. Today N’ Tonight, also known as TNT, is SP&E’s student run programming team that provides exciting daytime, late night, Pub and substance free Falcons UNite (FUN) programming throughout the year. SP&E encourages students to explore and pursue their passions outside of the classroom, and to make the most of their Bentley Experience! If you would like to reach the office, feel free to contact GA_SPE@bentley.edu or call 781-891-2700.

OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF STUDENT AFFAIRS Staff within the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs (ODSA) are motivated by the common goal of ensuring that Bentley students are aware of and receive all possible benefits afforded by their enrollment at this institution. We strive to develop students, Bentley pride and spirit, and connections on campus using our shared community values as a guide. ODSA has various functional areas that include supporting new student programs (like Orientation), building pride in Bentley through campus traditions and programming, maintaining community values through the student conduct system, and promoting gender equity initiatives to ensure that all members of our community feel safe and included in our campus. The staff are excited to welcome you to campus and are located in Student Center 320.

IMAGE: This is an action shot of the Student Center Living Room. Various programming is held here throughout the year, and you can find students relaxing with friends all the time.

The Orientation Team is working hard to create a great experience for you.

We would like to introduce several of the people who are working hard to create a memorable orientation program, and who will be in contact with you all summer.

Introducing: Bobbi-Lynn Kekic and Stephanie Cohen Staff Spotlight Bobbi-Lynn Kekic (aka BL) Assistant Director, New Student Programs & Development Bobbi-Lynn or BL, as many people on campus call her, joined the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs in the Fall of 2013 and has loved coordinating orientation programs for new falcons ever since! In addition to coordinating new student orientation programs, BL also advises the Freshmen Class Cabinet, one of our sororities, and she enjoys supporting the endless number of student events across campus. Prior to working at Bentley, BL earned her Bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University and her Master’s Degree from the University of Akron. While BL did not attend Bentley University, she does have lots of Bentley and falcon pride!

Stephanie Cohen Program Coordinator Stephanie joined the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs in the summer of 2015 as a graduate intern, working with the orientation program. After completing her Master’s degree this past January, she was excited to be able to return to Bentley full time as a Program Coordinator.

In her role, Stephanie coordinates programs to generate excitement and pride around athletic events here at Bentley, as well as recruiting and training student staff for the orientation program. In addition, she advises one of the sororities on campus. Before coming to Bentley, Stephanie earned her Bachelor’s degree from Hartwick College and her Master’s degree from Suffolk University. Stephanie really enjoys being a member of the Bentley community and cannot wait to welcome all of the new falcons to Bentley in August!

Meet your Orientation Student Coordinators

Contact Us at: 781-891-2271 or GA_orientation@bentley.edu

Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:00 – 5:30 Andrew Alario Andrew is a rising junior with a marketing major and minor in business management. He is a member of the Men of Alliance group, through the Center for Women and Business. He is also an Equity Center Educator. In Andrew’s free time, he eats, sleeps and dreams of pizza, New York bagels, skiing, the New York Rangers, Corgis (really any puppy) and FIFA. He resides in the lovely, apple farm filled town of Warwick NY.

Rion Pashalidis Originating from Rochester, NY, Rion is a rising junior, and is a Marketing major with a liberal studies major in Global Perspectives. You can often find Rion giving tours as a Bentley Ambassador, participating in events through the Sigma Chi Fraternity, chilling in his room playing the guitar, or kicking a soccer ball around outside, and doing anything he can to avoid his homework.

Kyle White Kyle, a native of the small town of Athol, MA is also a Marketing major and a rising junior, sticking to the common theme. He works as an Equity Center Educator on campus, and is a brother of the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi. When he’s not grinding in the classroom, he enjoys attending concerts and playing soccer with friends.

Jordan Ballantyne Jordan adds some diversity to our team, as the only non-Marketing major. She is studying Information Systems Audit and Control (don’t worry if you don’t know what that means - she barely does either). Originally from Poughkeepsie, NY, she is a rising junior and plays for the Bentley Varsity Softball team. She also works for SP&E on the Event Management team in the Student Center. In her spare time, Jordan likes to dance the night away at the weekly Ballroom Dance Club, but it takes two to tango, so she hopes to see you there!

If you haven’t checked out our introductory video, which includes Flex and your summer Roadmap, click here! Have fun with Online Orientation, and don’t forget to keep checking out social media and MyBentley for updates. See

you soon, Falcons!