The Culminating Year Experience Committee is working hard this year to further their goal of impacting students’ last year at RPI. The committee, formed in October of last year, strives to “do all [they] can to provide seniors with a final year that is memorable, reinforces the bonds established throughout the undergraduate experience, and facilitates connections with the Rensselaer alumni family,” according to CYE materials. Toward that end, the group has already helped in sponsoring several events, including last year’s Guster concert and several workshops presented by the Career Development Center on topics pertaining to life after RPI such as finances and careers.
One of CYE’s major projects for this year is the creation of a per-person early review of graduation requirements. The committee hopes that this will ensure that students complete all required credits so that they are able to graduate when intended. The plan for the system includes a pre-registration notification for seniors about which classes they still need to take. By sending the notice before registration, “there’s still time to get on track and graduate on time,” said Sharon Kunkel, registrar and CYE chair.
Another change being implemented by the committee, mostly aimed at helping the staff of the registrar and other departments, is the earlier posting of the graduation list, this year to be done at the end of October. Because this precedes the degree application process, e-mails were sent out during the summer to all students that could graduate in May. Out of 1,400 e-mails sent, 900 students had responded as of last week. The early list was then compiled from these responses, and people on this list will benefit from CYE’s new programs such as the graduation check. Kunkel said that students who did not receive an e-mail over the summer and plan to graduate in May 2005 should contact Student Records and Financial Services.
CYE is planning on sponsoring another event for the campus, most likely either another concert or a comedian. They have also scheduled, in conjunction with the CDC, three dates in September for a series of programs during which CYE plans to survey the senior class to determine what programs and entertainment should be planned for the year. Several ideas are already being thought about by the committee, including a post graduation trip. They are also organizing a week in the fall semester to bring together all the information on school rings and yearbook photos, as well as other activities.
CYE also hopes to have an impact on the activities of this year’s “transition week,” scheduled for April 18 through April 22. The events of this week are designed to ease the transition from college to life after college, and include the senior showcase, financial workshops, and seminars on the work place and corporate politics.
Calendars for all the events planned by CYE will be available during the September events.
