Meredith Holds Successful Move-In for Class of 2009
By Betsy Rhame, '01
On Saturday, August 13 many members of Meredith's class of 2009 and their families lined up waiting for move-in to begin at 8 a.m. Families from across the Southeast and such states as Maryland, Pennsylvania and Indiana waited in line for move-in to begin. While families circled around the front lawn and Main Campus Drive they were greeted by members of Meredith's orientation crew who answered questions, gave directions and handed out welcome gifts.
The areas around Barefoot, Heilman and Poteat residence halls were filled with freshmen and their families unloading vehicles and carrying in refrigerators, televisions, clothing and other items. Heidi LeCount, director of residence life, reported that approximately 428 incoming freshman moved in to the three residence halls on Saturday morning. Also checking in on campus were 29 freshman commuter students.
The freshman class includes 28 Honors Scholars, 21 N.C. Teaching Fellows, and three Presidential Scholars.
As the freshmen and their families began unpacking many new students began receiving visitors who spent the summer preparing for the students' arrival. Student advisors, resident assistants, faculty members and deans made special visits to dorm rooms to personally welcome students to campus. Student services offices were open across campus to assist freshmen and their families.
In Barefoot, while unpacking boxes, hanging pictures, arranging the room and making the bed, one mother reminisced about her own move in day at Meredith 26 years ago.
"It's a lot easier [now] than when I moved in," said Cinda Alexander, '83. "It's very organized [now]."
"We got two cars unloaded in 45 minutes," agreed Meredith Alexander, Cinda's daughter, an incoming freshman.
For the Alexander family, Saturday was a day they had been anxiously awaiting for months. They traveled to Raleigh from Winston-Salem the day before so they could be among the first to begin the move-in process.
"We've been excited all summer," Meredith said.
Meredith says it's not just a coincidence that she and her mom's alma mater share the same name.
"I named her [Meredith] because I loved this school," Cinda said. "I guess it was destiny that she is here."
Move-in ended before lunch was served in the courtyard. President Maureen Hartford addressed the class of 2009 at a welcome session after lunch. Later freshmen met with their student assistants and their families attended information sessions. Freshmen and their families enjoyed a barbeque in the courtyard before families departed in the evening.
To read profiles of some of the newest members of the Meredith community, visit
http://www.meredith.edu/studentstories/new-students/default.htm.
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Meredith Reaches Out to Students Displaced by Hurricane
By Kristi Eaves-McLennan
Meredith President Maureen A. Hartford has extended an offer that will allow female undergraduate students displaced by Hurricane Katrina the opportunity to continue their educations at Meredith during the fall term.
Female students who were enrolled at colleges and universities in the Gulf Coast region that have been closed because of Hurricane Katrina will be granted guest status and will be able to attend fall semester classes at Meredith tuition free.
As space allows, students may enroll in classes for academic credit or on an audit basis. The College will work with faculty to place students in available classes. On-campus housing will also be provided on a space-available basis.
Meredith will provide transcripts and academic records for students who have completed classes upon their return to their home institutions.
Meredith's offer to enroll displaced college students temporarily is just one of the ways that President Hartford expects the campus to support disaster victims.
"The people affected by this tragedy are in desperate need of the thoughtfulness, compassion and generosity that characterize the Meredith campus," Hartford said. "I have no doubt that our students, faculty, staff and alumnae will mount an inspirational effort to help our neighbors on the Gulf Coast whose lives have been torn apart by this disaster."
Additional information about the College's disaster relief efforts will be available at www.meredith.edu/response.
Meredith Recognized by U.S. News, The Princeton Review
By Betsy Rhame, '01
Early in the fall 2005 semester, Meredith College earned recognition from both the U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review.
Meredith ranks third on the U.S. News & World Report 2006 America's Best Colleges list of the highest graduation rates among master's universities in the South. Meredith is tied with Elon University.
Meredith has moved up two spots since being recognized for having the fifth highest graduation rate in 2004. U.S. News & World Report cites graduation rates as one of the key criteria in judging schools.
Meredith College also ranks 15th among the Best Master's Universities in the southern region, tied with Belmont University in Tennessee. Meredith is the highest ranked women's college in its category.
In recent years, Meredith has consistently ranked among top 20 schools in the southern region.
In the Best Value Category, Meredith ranked 11th among the master's universities in the South, and is the only N.C. master's institution to be named one of U.S. News's "Great Schools, Great Values of the South." Meredith moved up from 14th last year.
According to U.S. News, "the formula used to determine which schools offer the best value relates a school's academic quality, as indicated by its U.S. News ranking, to the net cost of attendance for a student who receives the average level of need-based financial aid."
In addition, Meredith is one of 140 schools to receive the Best in the Southeast designation from The Princeton Review.
The Princeton Review makes its selection by surveying college students about their schools. Student opinion data from a total of 646 schools is featured on the Best Colleges: Region by Region section of PrincetonReview.com.
Meredith students responding the survey said Meredith "focuses strongly on the education and the aspirations of women but still has very strong traditions and knows how to have fun." They also call Meredith "an awesome place for women to excel," and cite the faculty as Meredith's greatest strength.
Visit the following web sites for more information: www.usnews.com or www.princetonreview.com
