Briar Cliff University holds 8th Annual Academic Convocation

Posted Oct. 3, 2002

Briar Cliff University officially welcomed its biggest freshman class in 18 years with an "Academic Convocation" on Oct. 2. The event was held at Our Lady of Grace Chapel on the campus of Briar Cliff.

The convocation was an invitation of membership in the Briar Cliff academic community. It was a contemporary revival of the "Capping Ceremony" used to welcome Briar Cliff first year students in the 1950s.

Provost and Academic Dean for Briar Cliff, Dr. Thomas Boeke, explained that an academic convocation is an important event in the life of liberal arts colleges and universities.

"This convocation reminds our faculty, our students and our administrators of one of our most important purposes. That is, the responsibility that we have to liberally educate students so that they will graduate as individuals of character - liberally educated, sensitive to the needs of their community, competent in their ability to contribute to society and civil in their habits of thought, speech and action," said Dr. Boeke.

Briar Cliff welcomed 247 freshmen this fall. This compares with 195 last year, which is a 27 percent increase. This is the largest class since 1984. Additionally, 69 new transfer students are enrolled, bringing 316 new full-time faces to Briar Cliff this fall.

The Liberal Arts Program faculty mentors, attired in full academic regalia, will lead the first year students into the Chapel. After the music processional and opening song, the convocation will begin with a prayer from Valerie Kolarik, director of Campus Ministry at BCU. Briar Cliff Interim President Bev Wharton, and president of the Student Government Association, Kendra Welp, offered welcoming remarks.

Dr. Eric Juhnke, assistant professor of history presented an address titled, "Turn on, Tune in, and Branch Out: Timothy Leary and the Value of Liberal Arts Education."

During the ceremony each first year student was called by name and received a personalized journal from Paul Ermak and Sister Grace Ann Witte, directors of the first year Liberal Arts programs on the Human Person and the Human Community. The event closed with a performance by the Cliff Singers.