UMASS DARTMOUTH PREPARES FOR NEW ACADEMIC YEAR

Class of 2020 arrives Sept. 4, new Charlton College building opens, university-wide
“This We Believe” dialogue launched

UMass Dartmouth will start its new academic year by welcoming the Class of 2020 for
move-in day on September 4. Other highlights of the new academic year will be a
September-long, university-wide “This We Believe” dialogue focused on violence and
peace around the nation and world.

Classes begin September 7 with some being held in the new $15 million, 20,000 square
foot Charlton College of Business Learning Pavilion. The official ribbon cutting for
the new facility will take place in October.

Selected events and activities for the start of the academic year:

THIS WE BELIEVE
The new Corsairs spent the summer engaging with each other as part of the “This We
Believe” blog writing project . Based on the international “This I Believe”
phenomenon, the initiative gives new students an opportunity to get to know one
another and to join the conversation about student life and community life that we
so highly value here at UMass Dartmouth. Among the topics discussed on the blog:
anxiety, faith, family, generosity, grief, justice, love, and perseverance.

MOVE-IN DAY – September 4, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Chestnut, Elmwood, Maple Ridge, Roberts Halls
More than 1,300 first-year students from across Massachusetts, the U.S. and world,
will begin arriving on campus Sunday, Sept. 4. They will be assisted in their
move-in by dozens of the volunteer faculty, staff and students. They will be joined
later by more than 500 new undergraduate transfer students, and nearly 400 new
graduate students.

DRAMATIC DIALOGUES – September 5, multiple times
Main Auditorium
Dramatic Dialogues will address issues of racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia,
sexual assault, and substance abuse head on with frank and open dialogue.

CONVOCATION – September 6, 10:30 a.m.
Vietnam Veterans Peace Memorial Amphitheater
First-year students will be formally welcomed as members of the academic community.
Chancellor Peyton “Randy” Helm will discuss the theme “This We Believe UMass
Dartmouth” and will address the campus community’s responsibility to take action
against violence.

NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBERANCE – September 11, 1 p.m.
YMCA Share the Harvest Farm, Dartmouth, MA
Students will assist with the harvest at the YMCA farm where all the harvest is
donated to local food pantries.

CAMPUS PEACE POLE RE-DEDICATION – September 21, 1 p.m.
Peace Pole Garden at the top of Centennial Way
The International Day of Peace is observed around the world each year on the 21st of
September. Students will have an opportunity to share their thoughts about achieving
peace.

UMASSD “LIGHT THE WAY” – September 21, 6 p.m.
Vietnam Veterans Peace Memorial Amphitheater
Candlelight Vigil to reflect on the wave of violence that has swept the country.

INTERFAITH DINNER & CONVERSATION – September 26, 7 p.m.
Woodlands Commons
A conversation focused on interfaith understanding.

PERSPECTIVES ON GUN VIOLENCE PANEL DISCUSSION – September 28, 4 p.m.
Library Grand Reading Room
Panelists to be announced