Planning for Opening Week 2015 is underway and get ready for a new day.

The Opening Week Planning Committee has been meeting and working since June, starting with a clean slate for imagining the five days leading up to the opening of fall term and the 2015-16 academic year.

“Opening Week is a critically important time to come together as a college,” President Cheryl Roberts said. “This is an opportunity for us to learn how we can focus and align our efforts on students and what they care about. Whenever we focus on student success, great things happen for our students, the communities we serve and the college.”

To take full advantage, one significant change is being made to our opening week schedule for Sept. 16-22:

Fall Convocation will be one full day of discussion and learning for faculty and staff and it will take place on the first day of Opening Week, scheduled for Sept. 16.

“In looking at the structure and sequence of Opening Week, and with input from the committee, the Executive Leadership Team, and Dean Team members, the thought is to hold Convocation on the first day, Wednesday, Sept. 16, to set the stage for the entire week with energy and excitement about the major directions for the college,” Roberts said.

In addition, Convocation will be a day-long event for faculty and staff.

The day will be modeled like a conference with an opening plenary session, lunch, an afternoon session and a closing plenary session followed by a reception/social time. Sessions throughout Opening Week will relate to what was shared during Convocation on Sept. 16.

“We know that the week before classes is also an important time for our students,” Roberts said. “Those key services will continue to operate with hourly employees so we can serve students, yet have time for our college community to learn together.”

The Opening Week Committee is continuing to meet and solidify the schedule. More details regarding the full schedule will be available in early September and posted at www.shoreline.edu/openingweek.