On August 26, the Macalester class of 2028 officially moved in as the majority of incoming first-years joined fall sports athletes, international students and members of pre-orientation programs on campus. Throughout the day, Residential Life, Orientation Leaders (OLs), Residential Assistants (RAs) and fall athletes greeted new students as they pulled onto Summit Ave and Macalester Street. Macalester welcomed 564 new first-years and 21 transfer students to campus,  according to the New First-Years survey administered in June of 2024. The 564 first-years exceeded the previous class of 2027’s 523 students.

21% of the class of 2028, who participated in the International Student orientation, had already moved in by Aug. 26. This year’s first-years represent 59 countries of citizenship and 46 U.S. states and territories.

Residential Life began preparing for the new students weeks in advance, decorating the halls and planning floor meetings with their colleagues. RA Babs Nkomo ’27, having gone through her own move in previously, found that helping out with move-in was more rewarding as she connected with her residents.

“One specific moment that made me smile during move-in was when one of my residents, who is part of a set of triplets, introduced me to their sisters,” Nkomo said in an email to The Mac Weekly. “They playfully quizzed me on how to spot some of their differences, and it turned into a fun game of trying to figure out who was who. It was such a lighthearted and memorable moment that helped break the ice and made the move-in process more enjoyable.”

What followed move-in was a whirlwind of preliminary floor meetings, orientation week, and daily events from MaCarnival to Silent Disco, all designed to introduce the class to each other and orient them to campus life. OLs, who had undergone extensive training the week prior, facilitated discussions and welcome events for their groups of orientees, referred to as Scottish Houses. The connective experience of leading a group of first-year students had an impact on several OLs.

“I’m good friends with my orientation leader from when I was a first-year, so remembering what I liked from that and what I didn’t like was helpful,” OL Maddie Salunga ’27 reflected. “I loved the one-on-one [meetings] and getting to hear what my orientees were interested in doing here at Macalester and just getting a sense of personalities.”

OLs and RAs  were integral parts of the pre-semester experience for new students, allowing orientees to ask their peers’ questions and form built-in connections for their time at Mac. This year, orientation ran from Monday, Aug. 26 to Friday, Aug. 30 ,and preceded a weekend break. This was a change from previous years, when orientation events took place throughout Labor Day weekend.

“This change was designed to better support student success and employee wellbeing — key priorities in the college’s strategic plan,” Executive Director of the Center for Student Leadership and Engagement Laurie Adamson* explained in an email to The Mac Weekly. “The new schedule allowed new students and families a more realistic sense of campus life during the week, with improved access to resources. Students also benefited from more unscheduled time over the weekend to reflect, explore campus and the Twin Cities and connect with their new peers.”

Many Mac first-years appreciate the ability to explore the surrounding areas and connect to programs and communities on and off campus. Macalester’s location was an especially important factor in Violet Stepen ’28’s college decision.

“I remember when we were driving around the Twin Cities to see family [and] get food, we’d keep driving past the Mac campus by accident,” Stepen said in an email to The Mac Weekly. “That experience made me that much more excited to go to college in such a connected, centrally located place. I also really liked the emphasis that the college and the student body placed on community service, volunteering, and activism. It sounded to me like a place where our learning wouldn’t just pay dividends for us personally, but would educate and motivate us to apply it for the good of the world.”

Similarly, in the Mac First-Year Survey, 90% of students indicated that they plan to engage with communities beyond campus.

One organization that serves as a bridge between first years and the broader Twin Cities community is Lives of Commitment (LoC), which hosted its own orientation before the school year began. The group is centered around volunteering at different sites around the Twin Cities, and is led by sophomores with the assistance of faculty and a senior leader. Zayna Hopkins ’27, a sophomore leader for this year’s group, expressed her commitment to carrying her experience as a first year in LoC into  her leadership.

“When we, as sophomore leaders, work to model and embody the values of LoC, it’s a program that brings constant community to the first year experience,” Hopkins observed. “My first year, more than anything, was an experience of gaining a sense of self and growth in a consistently changing environment: new faces, places, conversations, experiences and reflections. As we wrote sticky notes with goals, discussed logistics for the semester, and shared our hopes, I felt an overwhelming sense of hope of converting energy and intention into action.”

As students begin to join new organizations at Macalester, they are able to find which aspects of the community most align with their goals. JJ Surigao ’28, a first-year member of LoC, emphasized how Mac plays an essential role in his goals of service and learning in his studies.

“I chose Macalester College because of its strong liberal arts education and emphasis on global citizenship, which really aligns with my passion for community health,” Surigao explained in an email to The Mac Weekly. “The small, close-knit community felt like a great environment to explore my interests in biology, biochemistry, and public health, while also being involved in meaningful extracurriculars like MacEMS. Plus, being in a city like St. Paul offers access to diverse opportunities, from internships to community health initiatives.”

As the class of 2028 settles into their next four years at Macalester, continued programming like LoC, Scottish House check ins and one-on-ones with Residential Life staff will ensure that new students remain connected and supported throughout their first year. The Mac Weekly welcomes the new students and is excited to meet them.

*Laurie Adamson is the staff advisor for The Mac Weekly.

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