The arrival of the freshman class and the opening of a new home for the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership highlight the opening of Wilkes University’s 82nd academic year. Classes begin for the 2014-2015 year on Monday, Aug. 25.
The new year is officially kicked off on Friday, Aug. 22 with the arrival of freshmen for the University’s Welcome Weekend. Freshmen move in to residence halls from 6 a.m. to noon that day. The approximately 575 members of the freshmen class will be formally welcomed at Freshmen Convocation at 2 p.m. on Friday. The event, which is in the Arnaud C. Marts Sports and Conference Center, includes addresses from Wilkes President Patrick Leahy, Provost Anne A. Skleder, and a talk by alumnus Jamie Gwynn, a member of Wilkes Class of 2009. A reception for students and parents follows.
Students in the Sidhu School of Business return to classes in the newly renovated University Center on Main. The facility at 169 S. Main Street has been transformed into a state-of-the-art business school building with new classroom space, faculty offices and a financial market trading room that simulates a New York Stock Exchange trading floor complete with an electronic stock ticker. The building project was announced in March 2014 and was completed during the summer months. The rededication of the building will held during Homecoming Weekend, Sept. 26-28.
Other highlights of the new year include the debut of the University’s marching band, the Marching Colonels. The band is the first collegiate marching band in northeast Pennsylvania and includes a color guard and drum line. The band’s first performance will be at the Wilkes’ first home football game on Sept. 6 against Muhlenberg College.
