DE PERE (NBC 26) — College move-in day is already emotional.
Now, add COVID-19 to the mix.
That's what students and parents are feeling today as the St. Norbert College class of 2025 moves into their new homes.
Six hundred new students moved-in today. That's the largest class in St. Norbert's history. The school's president Brian Bruess said he's confident in the protocols in place will give students as normal of an experience as possible.
“I’m excited to follow up on last year’s great success," Bruess said. "We're one of few schools that could start in person and end in person. And so having that momentum coming to this year, knowing that we can navigate COVID-19 and having students returning to more of a normal experience is exciting.”
For move-in today, the college required masks in all buildings (and for the rest of the year), a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival, staggered move-in times throughout the day for social distancing, and no extra RA "helpers" to limit touch. In addition, the school is strongly recommending its students get vaccinated.
"I can't say I've ever felt more excited and more hopeful as I do this year," Bruess said. "With such a talented, smart group of students coming in, it's so exciting to be here. And they bring such hope and promise for the college, and for society."
The current and new students today, however, said they're excited for the school year, and the next four years to come.
"It's really great for it to just feel like things are normal again," incoming student Brooke Thoren said. "I hope that, you know, it's not going to be too different and my college experience won't be affected that much by it [COVID-19]."
One returning student said she's happy to have classes back in-person, as well.
"It's great," Resident Assistant Bonnie Raechal Beres said. "It's great to have time to connect with professors, as well, and to be able to go to office hours, to be able to learn with others, have study groups, and have a full college experience."
When asked to give advice to the incoming class, Buress and Beres said the same thing: Get involved.
"Make effort to get involved," Beres said. "But don't over commit yourself, because you want to have time to bond with friends and also time to just catch up on what you need to do to personally feel good and fulfilled."
President Bruess added he wants to let the students and faculty know how proud he is of them.
"As a community last year to rally around each other, to make such sacrifices to stay in session, and that kind of sense of community is all about the students and the faculty staff coming together," Buress said.
Upperclassman will move-in in the next few days. School starts next Monday, August 30.
