August 8, 2016

Largest turnout of new students expected for Boiler Gold Rush

bgr loadingdock Purdue student volunteers assist with move-in during Boiler Gold Rush. (Purdue University file photo/Mark Simons) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Organizers of Boiler Gold Rush, Purdue University's orientation program, expect 6,500 new students, the most ever, when it begins Aug. 15.

"It will be our biggest ever, and we're very excited," said Kasi Jones, senior assistant director of Student Success and coordinator of orientation programs. "We also have 600 student leaders ready to greet and welcome them."

Students will move in to residence halls Aug. 15-16 (Monday and Tuesday). BGR programming will take place Aug. 16-20, and Aug. 21 will be a free day. The first day of fall semester classes is Aug. 22.

"Moving in during the week and then having programming the rest of that week worked out very well last year, so we're continuing that schedule," Jones said.

BGR and Boiler Gold Rush International (BGRi) are closely connected, Jones said. BGRi leaders also are BGR leaders and will continue into BGR with their new students.

BGRi, which takes place Aug. 12-16, is designed to help new and transferring international undergraduate students adjust and acclimate to university life in the United States and help them transition into the BGR program.

Jones said BGRi will feature one new session on safety.

"Safety on campus is a little different for our international students. It's important for them to learn American policies and to learn what the cultural and educational expectations are," she said. "It's also important for international students to know facts about living in Indiana and West Lafayette. The goal is to get them used to American culture and Purdue culture."

BGR also will have a new session on freedom of expression.

"We want students to be aware of the policies around freedom of expression and to realize that they do have a right to express their opinions," Jones said. "We want them to have respect for other Boilers."

Faculty- and campus-taught orientations (Boiler Success Sessions) will continue this year, Jones said.

Faculty-taught sessions will include Academics 101 (expectations, success and integrity) and Information Literacy. Sessions led by experts will include Campus Safety (health and wellness, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and sexual assault), and Diversity and Intercultural Awareness. Peers will lead a session on financial literacy.

Jones said all new Purdue students will take an assessment called StrengthsFinder.

"It's a tool used to identify a student's strengths and how to use them in leadership opportunities," she said. "Our team leaders and new students will talk about how to use their strengths throughout their college journey."

Another popular feature of BGR, the new-student induction ceremony, also will return, on Aug. 16. It will be held in Mackey Arena.

The commencement-like ceremony will feature the following speakers: President Mitch Daniels; Debasish (Deba) Dutta, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity; Geralyn Denger, president of Purdue Student Government; and Brittany Judge, a sophomore who participated in last year's BGR.

Other BGR highlights include a Boiler Up rally and the B-Involved Fair.

A send-off celebration on the evening of Aug. 20 will close the BGR program.  

Writer: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, gmcclure@purdue.edu 

Source: Kasi Jones, 765-496-3627, jones114@purdue.edu

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