Freshmen and transfer students arrive for move-in on Thursday, Aug. 21

Freshmen ring the Old Main bell in Memorial Plaza on Friday, Aug. 22

Westminster Welcome walk takes place Saturday, Aug. 23

Classes begin Monday, Aug. 25

WHO/WHAT:  

McDaniel College welcomes 525 freshmen and transfer students at move-in and orientation. 

Facts about the Class of 2029: 

• 525 freshmen and transfer students

• More than 5,700 applications received 

• 17 states represented, including Maryland, plus Washington, D.C.

-Other states are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin

• 9 countries represented (based on citizenship): Bermuda, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Jamaica, Nigeria, Philippines, United States 

• 269 high schools represented

• 30 incoming first-year students are from Carroll County, Maryland

Students will be greeted with recently completed renovations, including the Learning Commons @ Hoover Library, which combines academic deans and student success coaches, Writing Center, STEM Center, and Student Accessibility and Support Services, with library and information technology resources, and the Economics and Business Administration department in Lewis Recitation Hall.

• More information about the renovation of the Learning Commons @ Hoover Library: https://www.mcdaniel.edu/news/new-learning-commons-hoover-library
• More information about the renovation of Lewis Recitation Hall: https://www.mcdaniel.edu/news/renovation-lewis-recitation-hall-begins-mcdaniel

WHEN:             

Freshmen and new transfer students arrive for move-in and orientation on Thursday, Aug. 21, 9 a.m.- noon  

Vehicles enter from the West Main Street entrance and students’ check-in and pick up their dorm room keys from Gill Center.

Traffic Advisory: One-way traffic pattern in effect entering McDaniel College’s campus from West Main Street at the stadium entrance starting prior to 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21. Best way to enter campus is from West Main Street off MD-140 and Route 31 (no one will be able to enter campus from Pennsylvania Ave.).  

Additionally, some students, including fall athletes (football, men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, volleyball, and men’s and women’s cross country), move in early. Football reported Monday, Aug. 11, and other fall athletes on Friday, Aug. 15. Contact Jason Eichelberger, director of athletic communications, at 410-857-2291 or jeichelberger@mcdaniel.edu for additional information.

Move-in Traditions include: 

• All first-year students “ring in” their time at McDaniel at Old Main bell located in Memorial Plaza at approximately 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 22, following the official welcome for the Class of 2029 during Introduction Convocation at 3:30 p.m. 

• On Saturday, Aug. 23, students participate in the Westminster Welcome where they are officially greeted by representatives from the City of Westminster and can explore downtown businesses and restaurants. The students are led by McDaniel President Julia Jasken on a walk from McDaniel’s campus through Ward Memorial Arch starting at 10 a.m. to the Carroll County Public Library, Westminster Branch (50 East Main St., Westminster, Md.). President Jasken along with Westminster Mayor Mona Becker will provide brief remarks at approximately 10:30 a.m. 

Sophomores, juniors, and seniors return to campus on Saturday, Aug. 23, and Sunday, Aug. 24. Classes at McDaniel begin Monday, Aug. 25. 

WHERE:          

McDaniel College 

2 College Hill, Westminster, Maryland

Freshmen residence halls include Rouzer Hall and Whiteford Hall. Select first-year students also reside in Daniel MacLea Hall. 

WHY:               

McDaniel College, founded in 1867, is a four-year, independent college of the liberal arts and sciences with 1,600 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate students. A student-centered community, McDaniel offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs.

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Editor’s Note: To attend and/or arrange coverage of McDaniel’s move-in, orientation activities or first day of classes, contact Cheryl Knauer, director of public relations, at 410-857-2294 or cknauer@mcdaniel.edu. 

*Contact Cheryl Knauer on Aug. 21 for move-in day by calling 443-487-1645.