Vice President's Welcome

Dear Dickinsonians:                                                                                    

Whether you are a returning, first-year or transfer student, I’m sure that you are looking forward to the opportunities, challenges and experiences that the coming year will bring. The primary reason for you to be at Dickinson College is to immerse yourself in the exceptional academic programs offered here. You will be guided by outstanding faculty who will challenge and support you as you expand your capacity for complex thinking and understanding. Ultimately, Dickinson offers a useful education that will prepare you for citizenship and leadership in the wider world.    

You will also realize a useful education through meaningful engagement in life outside the classroom. Involvement in clubs, organizations, and other student initiatives has much to teach about group work, democratic principles, organizational dynamics, leadership, interpersonal skills, communication skills, conflict mediation, and so much more. These skills and abilities create a strong foundation for engaged citizenship. Additionally, many out-of-class experiences allow you to make direct connections between what is learned in the classroom and how it applies outside the classroom.

As you explore the student handbook, you will find information about getting involved and taking full advantage of the opportunities for learning at Dickinson. It’s true that getting involved is a meaningful way to enhance your learning experience. But, it’s also true that over-involvement can detract from your learning experience. Many students that I talk with believe that “more is better” when it comes to activities outside the classroom, and that employers and graduate schools will be impressed by a long list of activities. That’s typically not the case. Demonstrating commitment and action in a few areas in which you have strong interest is a much more impressive and compelling credential for the world beyond Dickinson. And so, in the coming year, find the things you care about, make a substantive commitment to them, and learn from them.    

The student handbook contains information about policies that help our community work effectively.  It's your responsibility to be familiar with the contents of this handbook, and I thank you in advance for taking the time to review the contents.

Welcome to another academic year. I hope that I will have the opportunity to meet and interact with many of you over the coming months.

Best,

April Vari ’82
Vice President for Student Development