Dear students,
This is one of my favorite weeks of the year. Watching our classrooms come back to life with spirited conversation and debate; seeing meeting rooms in the library, LaCava and the Student Center booked for club meetings; hearing the whistles from the athletic fields, and the laughter from the Adirondack chairs on the quad outside my office in Rauch. Together, it means one thing: A new academic year is upon us and Bentley is back to business. No matter where you are in your Bentley journey — whether it’s your first semester or you are finishing up a graduate degree — we are thrilled to welcome you to campus this fall.
You’ll note a pair of major campus construction projects that kept us busy this summer. We completed a major renovation of the Dana Center gymnasium. This updated space redesigns the court to be more accessible for all members of the community to play basketball, pickleball, volleyball, yoga, dance and other activities during more hours of the day, including when our talented varsity basketball and volleyball teams are practicing on the main court.
We also broke ground on the Adamian Academic Center, now on its way to becoming a cutting-edge facility that features new technology and unleashes innovative, entrepreneurial and collaborative classroom opportunities for students and faculty alike. I know the upper quad will look a bit different for a while and that we’ll be coexisting with a certain level of disruption due to the work. But know that while we await the physical transformation of Adamian, our faculty have already been reinventing our academic offerings and enhancing our curriculum to meet the ever-changing needs of the marketplace you are set to lead in the future.
Bentley is uniquely equipped with everything you need to pursue your greatest aspirations and indeed, help you discover your passion and purpose. You may have seen some of the recent rankings that show the immediate and lasting value of a Bentley education. For the third year running, The Princeton Review has ranked the Pulsifer Career Center No. #1 in the nation. A brand-new ranking from LinkedIn names Bentley No. #15 in the U.S. among colleges that “best set graduates up for long-term success.”
This academic year, I encourage you to take advantage of all that this community has to offer. From meeting new friends, to having conversations with those who think differently from you, cheering on our Falcon athletics teams to exploring leadership opportunities in student organizations. Build strong relationships with faculty and academic advisers and take a moment to introduce yourself to someone new. Most importantly, prioritize your wellbeing. Whether it’s connecting with your peers, reading for fun or taking a break at the WellNest in Copley North, creating balance in your life is essential for both happiness and success.
As you all settle into a new semester, I hope you feel — as I do — fortunate to be at Bentley, with all the unique advantages and opportunities this institution has to offer. We are a university set on making consistent progress, anticipating what the marketplace needs from our graduates, and preparing you today with the skills you need to compete and lead fulfilling careers and lives. You have earned your place here — make the most of it!
Sincerely,
President Chrite