In Two Weeks Coker will have a large first-year class

Photo captions -- these photos are some of the shots of the 2010 move in to the Coker dorms. Families get a welcome respite from having to carry all of the clothes, computers, refrigerators, ironing boards, televisions, etc. into the dorms. This only happens for first-time students and it is a good bet that when students move out in the Spring or move back as sophomores they wonder where all the help disappeared to.




One of the small traditions that sets Coker College apart is the Commissioner Family. The first-year classes are divided into "families" headed by a sophomore student who is part of this long-standing campus tradition. The family names are traditional and sometimes nonsensical but in the spirit of college. They are also an amazing tool for helping students adapt quickly to the new environment of the college.

This coming year the Commissioners are going to be working with quite likely the largest first-year class ever and 2011/2012 could be the largest student enrollment in recent history. The campus is abuzz with the projected numbers and plans are in place for accommodating a larger than expected residence life component. These greater numbers are a signal that the growth initiatives are working. That is exciting!

The new first-year students are due on Saturday, August 13 and they and their families will be greeted not only by Commissioners but also by a group of "honorary" commissioners who will make quick work of unloading the vehicles that bring all the comforts for the new life. It will be a hot, sweaty, exercise-filled day with some of the "honorary" commissioners (movers) making upwards of a hundred trips up and down stairs. It is a great workout that may rival both P-90X and Insanity.

Looking forward to August 13 and the beginning of the new academic year.