{"id":4474,"date":"2018-05-31T15:44:42","date_gmt":"2018-05-31T19:44:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/ebuckhor\/?page_id=4474"},"modified":"2018-09-26T16:38:39","modified_gmt":"2018-09-26T20:38:39","slug":"great-start-to-j-start","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter-spring2018\/along-the-walk\/great-start-to-j-start\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Start to J-Start"},"content":{"rendered":"
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J-Start students begin the Trinity journey. Melanie Stein, dean of academic affairs and professor of mathematics, looks on as Laiba Bahrawar \u201921 signs the matriculation book. Photo: Helder Mira<\/p><\/div>\n

Gathered in the Chapel, new Trinity students learned about time-honored college traditions, signed the matriculation book, and heard words of welcome. But unlike previous Matriculation ceremonies, this one was held on a cold morning in early January and involved just six new students.<\/p>\n

As the first participants in the new January entry program, the \u201cJ-Start\u201d students\u2014two international students and four from the United States\u2014spent the next two weeks embarking on a busy schedule of orientation activities, academic preparation, and outings in advance of the start of the spring semester\u2014their first as Bantams.<\/p>\n

Students admitted as part of the J-Start program meet the same enrollment standards as those admitted in the fall semester. They also study the same curriculum and meet the same graduation requirements. J-Start is not designed as an accelerated program, but students may take extra credits to graduate in three and a half years.<\/p>\n

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Megan Brown, center, director of the Liberal Arts Action Lab, works with Mandisa Harewood \u201921 and Izzy Bruno \u201921. Photo: Helder Mira<\/p><\/div>\n

During the program\u2019s first day, Dean of Student Success and Career Development Jennifer Baszile kicked off a series of workshops called \u201cDesigning Your Trinity,\u201d which introduced students to what it feels like to transition to college and described how to get the most out of their experiences. The half-credit course called \u201cDoing College,\u201d taught by Director of Educational Technology Jason Jones and Director of Research Services Erin Valentino, exposed students to campus resources, both physical and digital. \u201cThe benefit is that these students have a lot of welcoming experiences,\u201d Valentino said. \u201cThey learn what kind of place Trinity is, what kind of place they want it to be, and how they can contribute to that.\u201d Students also were introduced to Trinity\u2019s e-portfolio program, with which they document and reflect on their experiences and academic work at Trinity.<\/p>\n

The \u201cDoing College\u201d course led directly into their first-year seminar, \u201cMemoirs and Memories,\u201d taught by\u00a0Sara Kippur<\/a>, Charles A. Dana Research Associate Professor of Language and Culture Studies. \u201cThe class looks at different modes of self-representation, including memoirs, documentary, films, photography, and online media,\u201d Kippur said. \u201cIt aligns naturally with the portfolio concept.\u201d<\/p>\n

The students grew more comfortable and confident through the course of the two-week program. John Nichols-Daley \u201921 said, \u201cAfter meeting so many different people, I already feel like I have a good grasp of the campus.\u201d<\/p>\n