Maryville College invites prospective students to ‘Meet Maryville’

Sept. 1, 2010
Contact:  Karen B. Eldridge, Director of Communications
865.981.8207; karen.eldridge@maryvillecollege.edu

High school students, adult learners and community college students who are planning to transfer to a four-year institution are all invited to “Meet Maryville” on Sat., Sept. 25.

Hosted by Maryville College’s Admissions staff, the “Meet Maryville” fall Open House event is designed to help people become more familiar with the nationally recognized liberal arts college.

“We want students and their parents to experience Maryville College up close and personal. They will do this by meeting with faculty about different majors and meeting with staff members about the Center for Calling and Career, Study Abroad, Faith and Learning, Mountain Challenge and Senior Study,” said Wendy Wheeler, associate director of admissions at the College.

The “Meet Maryville” event begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. in the Alumni Gymnasium. At 9 a.m., students will be divided into groups for the College’s “Alterna-tour,” a unique and fun alternative to the traditional college tour. On the Alterna-tour, prospective students visit residence halls, campus hangouts and dining facilities, but also learn about classroom buildings, library resources and historic landmarks in an interactive and engaging way. The tour ends with a welcome session at 10:05 a.m. at Isaac’s Café, which is located in the Bartlett Hall Student Center.

The main information sessions, collectively entitled “Learning 24/7,” include information on academic programs from each academic division, the Maryville Curriculum and the College’s distinctive “learning by experience” programs (such as Mountain Challenge and the Center for Calling & Career). They will be held at various locations around campus beginning at 10:35 a.m. During these events, visitors will hear directly from MC faculty and staff members.

A lunch in Pearsons Hall is scheduled for 12:15 p.m., followed by sessions with current MC students.

Following a wrap-up in the Alumni Gym, students will be invited to Cooper Athletic Center for presentations on varsity athletics, intramural programming and wellness initiatives at the College. A tour of the new Clayton Center for the Arts will be offered, also.  

Families encouraged to attend

Parents and family members of prospective students are encouraged to attend, but their morning agenda is slightly different from that of their students. For example, while students are participating in the “Alterna-tour,” parents and family members will be welcomed in the Alumni Gym by Dr. Dolph Henry, interim vice president of enrollment; President Tom Bogart; Jeffrey Fager, vice president and dean of the College; and Vandy Kemp, vice president and dean of students.

A panel of current students will be on hand to answer questions following the welcome. Family members will be guided on a campus tour at noon, and at lunch, they will learn about financial aid and affordability from Richard Brand, the College’s director of financial aid.

“Given the economic climate that students and families are facing right now, I believe it is even more imperative that families attend events like ‘Meet Maryville,’” Henry said. “Maryville College is committed to providing a quality, affordable education and has the resources necessary to assist families in their pursuit of higher education. Here, we are able to make financial aid decisions at the individual level and are not state-mandated in our aid policies. We want our students to stretch their minds and not their budgets.”

Additional opportunities to visit campus are planned for the fall, Wheeler said. The Blount County College Fair is scheduled for Tues., Sept. 28 from 6:30 until 8 p.m. Saturday tours will be offered at 10 a.m. on Sept. 11, Sept. 18, Oct. 2, Oct. 16, Oct. 23, Oct. 30, Nov. 6 and Nov. 20.

The next “Meet Maryville” event is scheduled for Sat., Nov. 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information on “Meet Maryville” or Saturday tours, please call 865.981.8092 or visit http://www.maryvillecollege.edu/admissions/events/meet-maryville/index.asp.

Maryville College is ideally situated in Maryville, Tenn., between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Knoxville, the state‘s third largest city. Founded in 1819, it is the 12th oldest institution of higher learning in the South and maintains an affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Known for its academic rigor and its focus on the liberal arts, Maryville is where students come to stretch their minds, stretch themselves and learn how to make a difference in the world. Total enrollment for the fall 2011 semester was 1,078.