11 things students should know for the fall semester

We’re looking forward to greeting our Clark students — including the largest first-year class in University history —  and welcoming everyone to campus. Before you get settled in your place of residence and head to class, we want to share some information to help you prepare for the semester.

Here are some things students should know about new dining options, getting involved in the Worcester community, and where to find resources on campus — a nice start to a healthy, productive, and fun semester.

1. You’ll notice some construction

Please excuse our appearance while we continue some construction work, including renovations to the exterior of Goddard Library that will help ensure this iconic campus structure remains a hub for study and research — and some socializing. You’ll be able to access the library during construction. A short walk away, construction is underway on the Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design between Woodland and Hawthorne streets. The building will be home to the Becker School of Design & Technology, Computer Science, and some Visual and Performing Arts programs. It’s expected to be open for the Fall 2023 semester.

2. Raising the curtain on a transformed theater

Clark’s Little Center and Michelson Theater will look very different this year, thanks to a top-to-bottom renovation that has reimagined and reenergized this performing arts cornerstone at Clark. The enhanced black box theater will provide a powerful new space for student-led productions, and the Riccardo & Spencer Lobby, a gift from Clark Trustee Vickie Riccardo, P ’17, and her husband Don Spencer, offers an attractive art-filled space for socializing before the show.

3. New dining app to be served up

Expect a few updates in the dining halls this semester. Please download Everyday, a mobile-ordering app students can use the app to order meals ahead of time and check menus. If you add allergy information to your profile, you’ll receive an alert if an item in your order contains an allergen.

The dining halls are going digital. Menu screens will be going digital in Higgins Café, and in The Bistro sometime in the future. Clark Dining Services wants to get your feedback online. Napkin dispensers will have a QR code to help students submit feedback digitally, eliminating the need for paper feedback forms.

Finally, you may have seen that Jazzman’s Café is being rebranded. Students have been encouraged to submit name suggestions. This process will continue into the fall so new and returning students can have a voice in the future of the space. Stay up to date by following @clarkdining on Instagram and checking out the dining website.

4. Get involved

From arts and culture to government to club sports, there are plenty of ways to be involved on campus. Save the date for the Involvement Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 7. Visit Clark Engage to peruse a list of student clubs and a calendar of events and activities. This is where clubs can advertise events and check their budgets. Be sure to download the CORQ app, which is another way to access Clark Engage and to find events, clubs, and opportunities that interest you. The app is also your “ticket” into events on campus. Think something is missing from our list? Turn your idea into a club!

5. Game on!

Clark’s athletes compete throughout the year, and you’re invited to come out and cheer them on. Two Clark teams even competed internationally this summer—women’s soccer in Italy, and women’s rowing in Great Britain. Remember that athletic facilities are at your disposal as well. Use your Clark ID to access the Bickman Fitness Center, Kneller Gymnasium, swimming pool, and racquetball/squash courts. Find more information here.

6. Focus on wellness

Between class, activities, and time with friends, be sure to prioritize mental wellness. Students in search of emotional support can make an appointment with one of the counselors at the Center for Counseling and Personal Growth. One-on-one counseling services include short-term therapy and same-day crisis appointments. The CPG will resume seeing students starting Aug. 29. All therapy services offered through the center are free.

You can check out Wellness Education’s weekly wellness staples, such as Monday morning stretch and walk it out Wednesday. Health Services is also available to students.

7. Moving forward with COVID

As COVID-19 has entered a new endemic phase, we have restored fully normal campus operations and no longer require mask-wearing and testing. If you are experiencing symptoms, rapid antigen tests are available in the Higgins University Center and at Clark Services with a Clark ID. Each individual will take the measures they believe are most effective for keeping themselves healthy and protected, and we as a caring community will continue to respect and honor those choices. Be sure to visit Healthy Clark to learn the latest about the policies and practices that allow our community to engage in a full and vibrant campus life.

8. Explore Worcester

Get to know Worcester in many different ways. You can enjoy discovering the city’s cultural offerings, restaurants, and parks. Worcester celebrates Pride in September, and events kick off just as the semester begins. You can also experience the city through The Office of Community Engagement and Volunteering at Clark. The Office helps students connect with local organizations for academic and co-curricular experiences. Clark’s commitment to the Main South neighborhood, particularly through the University Park Partnership, is just one example. Feel free to reach out to new director Domenica Perrone and check out the CEV fair on Thursday, Sept. 8.

9. The bus is at your service

ClarkRIDE provides transportation for students to and from campus within a mile radius of Clark. The Clark Shuttle transports students between the main campus and the Becker School of Design & Technology classrooms at 80 William St. and 61 Sever St. This fall, shuttle routes will include a pickup at graduate housing at Worcester State University. The Clark Shuttle also stops at commercial locations during weekday evenings and popular Worcester destinations on the weekends. Visit Clark’s transportation website to learn more.

Worcester Regional Transit Authority buses are another option to travel around Worcester and neighboring towns.

10. Find resources at ISEA

The Office for Identity, Student Engagement, and Access (ISEA) is a reimagination and renaming of the former office of Multicultural & First Gen Student Support. ISEA’s goal is to empower students to find their voice, build community, and honor advocacy, activism, and legacy.

ISEA currently supports students who identify as:

• Students of African American/Black, Latine/Latinx, Asian/Desi-American, Pacific Islander, Native/Indigenous, and Multiracial descent
• Students in the LGBTQIA+ community, exploring their identity as it relates to gender and sexuality, and the larger gender-diverse population
• First-generation college students

Feel free to drop by the Dana Commons office of E. Tejada III, Clark’s new associate director for gender and sexuality, Josiah Cook, assistant director of programming and belonging, and Naomi Campbell, assistant director of programming and first-generation student support. The three will be focused on community support and programming, including more affinity spaces.

Clark community members are invited to the ISEA Open House on Thursday, Sept. 1, to learn more.

11. Build your community

Four residence halls are currently dedicated to first-year students: Bullock, Wright, Dana, and Hughes. Dodd has a mixed-student population, but a majority are first-years. To help new Clarkies build community, first-year students can access their own buildings and the other first-year residence halls during the day and early evening.

Through the academic year, there will be plenty of programming and community building within the residence halls. Feel free to reach out to housing staff, who support students living on campus.