Genesis
For students who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) and/or first-generation (a student whose parent(s) did not complete a four-year college or university degree)
Read more
The Genesis pre-Orientation program is designed to acclimate, support, and empower Connecticut College first-generation and/or first-year students of color. Over the course of the day, first-year students have the opportunity to connect with their peer mentors, who help them navigate the transition to being full-time college students on our campus. This program also informs parents and families about the different resources available for their students.
Who can participate?
Any first-year student of color or first-generation college student is eligible to participate in the Genesis pre-Orientation program. We also encourage parents/guardians to participate in portions of our programming if they are able to.
What are the benefits of participating?
Before the start of Welcome Weekend, first-year Genesis students will meet their peer mentors who will help them navigate campus and engage in a series of activities, workshops, and team-building exercises. They will also have the opportunity to connect with various campus resources, learn more about our year-long Genesis programming (the LA 102 How College Works course) and discover what the Hale Center for Career Development offers. We also encourage our first-years and their mentors to attend a whole group dinner in Harris Dining Hall, which helps foster connections among the larger Genesis community.
Parents and families will have the opportunity to help their students move into their residence halls and learn about various campus offices and resources available to their students. We also offer a reception to our first-year families, where they will hear from President Chapdelaine and learn about Race and Ethnicity Programs and the greater Division of Equity and Inclusion. The parent and family portion of our programming ends with a formal send-off, which allows students to say their goodbyes and take pictures with their parents/guardians.
How can you register for the program?
Registration for the Genesis Pre-Orientation program is completed as part of your New Camel Enrollment form which will be made available after May 1 on our online Camel Experience platform. Our registration list is updated weekly, and as students register, they will receive an email directly from the Race and Ethnicity Programs Office with a link to the “Genesis Application and Matching Survey” to be matched with a peer mentor. Students must complete this survey to guarantee participation and being paired with a mentor.
What is the schedule for the program? What types of activities are planned?
We are finalizing our plans for Genesis this spring, but to last year’s Pre-Orientation Program included the following activities:
- Student Move-In and Big Sib Connections - As students arrive, they are paired with their peer mentor (Big Sib) and given time to locate their residence hall and move in their belongings.
- Making the Transition Panel (Parents/Guardians) - A time and space for parents/guardians to hear from offices and resource centers around campus.
- Odyssey and Genesis Welcome Rally (Students): Students from both the Odyssey and Genesis Pre-Orientation programs have time to come together, participate in a team-building activity, and create community.
- Genesis Reception (Parents/Guardians and Students): We bring students and parents/guardians back together for a reception, where they will hear from the President Chapdelaine and some representatives from the Division of Equity and Inclusion.
- Family Send-Off and Pictures (Parents/Guardians and Students): This is a time for families to say their goodbyes, take pictures, etc. before students break off for student-led programming.
- Team-Building Activities (Students): Students continue to get to know one another and come together as a community through activities led by some of our Genesis student leaders.
- Genesis Year Long Mentoring Program and Hale Center for Career Development (Students): Students will hear from the Director of Race and Ethnicity Programs and the Hale Center for Career Development to learn about some of the course offerings available to them as first/second-year students and some of the programming available within each of the respective offices.
- Big Sib/Lil’ Sib Dinner at Harris Dining (Students): First-year students and their peer mentors are invited to a community dinner in Harris Dining Hall to close out the day and continue getting to know one another.
Can parents/guardians/family members attend the program?
Parents and guardians are welcome to participate in as much of our parent and guardian-focused programming as they would like throughout the day. We ask that you encourage and allow your student to participate independently in all of our student-focused team-building and informational sessions.
How does the program continue during the first year? What is the time commitment? Is it required?
Genesis is a year-long program designed to acclimate, support, and empower first-generation and/or first-year students of color at Connecticut College.
During their first semester on campus, all first-year Genesis students are required to enroll in LA 102: How College Works, a 1-credit course designed to introduce them to various campus resources that will support their successful transition to Connecticut College. Throughout the course, as well as through other Genesis-focused programming, participants are provided with tools to start them on a path for success here at Connecticut College. LA 102: How College Works is mandatory for all first-year Genesis students.
Over the course of the academic year, the Genesis program provides weekly study groups, peer group support, holistic advising, and college empowerment workshops. Every aspect of the Genesis program has been created to provide participants with a firm foundation for their college career. We also strongly encourage our students to connect with their peer mentors at least once a week during the first semester and once every other week during their second semester. The program is designed to provide support while students develop their independence on campus.
Does the program provide transportation from the airport to campus?
The Genesis pre-Orientation program does not provide transportation from the airport or train station to campus. First-year students who need transportation from the airport or train station should visit Conn’s Transportation Office for available transportation options and/or contact the office via email at transportation@conncoll.edu.
Are there any additional costs associated with the program? (supplies, meals, etc.)
There are no costs associated with the Genesis pre-Orientation program. However, we strongly encourage students and their families to review the Over the Hump guide that students will receive by email this summer and make note of items their students may need for their residence hall room as they move in, which may result in additional costs (e.g., a bedside fan, hangers, etc.).
Can a student participate in more than one pre-Orientation program? How do they intersect?
Students participating in Genesis are not currently able to participate in our Odyssey or Helix programs. However, students participating in the Science Leaders program may also participate in either the Genesis, Helix or Odyssey programs.