ESL (English as a second language) at Lasell

To assist Lasell College's growing International and English language learner populations, Lasell has developed a comprehensive English as a Second Language Program.

Incorporated into a students major (a unqiue feature of the Lasell ESL Program) and designed to begin during a student's first academic semester, new students enroll in up to two English courses, a first year seminar (FYS) focusing on American Culture, and an additional two or three Lasell College courses, totaling 12-15 credits. Lasell’s ESL program is a college credit bearing program, meaning a students ESL coursework counts towards their graduation requirements at Lasell. Complementing a students coursework are 3 hours per week of academic support at the Lasell College Center for Academic Achievement.

Designed to be inclusive, Lasell College's ESL Program is not limited to international students, it is open to anyone who may need to enhance their level of English proficiency. Students must first be academically eligible to be admitted to the college. Each student’s level of English proficiency is determined by the outcome of an English proficiency exam. Students may take the SAT, ACT, IELTS or the TOEFL exam, which will determine the level of ESL support necessary.

Students interested in learning more about Lasell Colleges’ ESL program should contact the Office of Admission at info@lasell.edu or Lou Greenwald, Associate Director of International and Multi-cultural Admission at lgreenwald@lasell.edu.

Lasell earns military honors

Lasell College has been selected by G.I. Jobs magazine as a Military Friendly School for 2011. This honor places Lasell in the top 15% of all schools nationwide.

"Lasell earned Military Friendly recognition for its steadfast committment to educating our great nation's military veterans, enabling the United States to prosper for generations to come," according to G.I Jobs magazine.

For more information about Lasell College's educational benefits for veterans visit: http://www.lasell.edu/Tuition-and-Aid/Veterans-Information.html.

Again, Lasell earns Great College's to work for honors...

Lasell College was recognized by the The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2010 Great Colleges to Work For® in three categories: Professional/Career-Development Programs, Teaching Environment and Supervisor or Department-Chair Relationship.

In all, only 97 of the 277 participating institutions achieved "Great College to Work For" recognition for specific best practices and policies. Results are reported for small, medium, and large institutions, with Lasell College included among the small institutions with enrollment under 2,999. This is the second year in a row Lasell College has been recognized.

The announcement appears in a special supplement of The Chronicle http://chronicle.com/academicworkplace.

Lasell Leftovers 2010!

From single-stream recycling throughout the campus buildings to the renovation and building of the new Center for the Creative and Applied Arts, Lasell College has taken on a Green perspective in daily operations! Throughout the year, there are many activities, events, and contests happening around campus to lessen the College’s carbon footprint, encourage students to recycle, and provide service to the local and global community.

April and May are bittersweet times here at Lasell College, with final exams wrapping up, undergraduate students moving home for the summer, and the Senior class preparing for Commencement. As the students are packing and repacking their bags and boxes for the trip home, there are countless items they may not want or have space for anymore! In many cases, this perfectly good “stuff” is usually destined to end up in a landfill, but not from our campus. Lasell students and staff initiated the “Lasell Leftovers” drive this spring to gather all of this material, from non-perishable food, clothing, and small appliances for donation to several local and national charities. Over 700 pounds of food was donated to Haiti relief efforts through the Church of God in Waltham, Massachusetts, and a whopping 1,400 pounds of clothing was donated to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. Art and Office supplies totaling over 250 pounds were donated to teachers throughout Boston through the Extras for Creative Learning program, and 100 pounds of small appliances and household items were given to The Wish Project in Lowell, Massachusetts.

The Lasell Leftovers program is not only rewarding in the fact that Lasell College students and staff are helping the local and global community, but we are able to promote reuse and recycling throughout the campus! To learn more about Lasell College’s efforts to become Green and sustainable, check out the Environmental Awareness website online, and follow Environmental Studies Professor Daly’s blog!

Calling all Transfer Students...

With the spring semester over and summer well underway, this just might be my favorite time of year because that means 1st year student orientation is complete, transfer orientation is rapidly approaching, and all of our new students are beginning to make their transition to Lasell.

This fall will be an exciting time to be a transfer student at Lasell - we have students transferring from more than 60 different colleges and universities nationwide, representing 20 different states, including Colorado, California, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Louisiana, Tennessee, and South Carolina, to name a few!

Transfer Orientation on August 17th, 2010, should prove to be a great time for our new transfer students to meet each other, become more familiar with campus, meet their advisor, and select classes. If you’re a transfer student who will be starting at Lasell this fall, be sure to mark your calendar for Tuesday, August 17th. You won’t want to miss it!

On the other hand, if you’re beginning the transfer process and are considering applying to Lasell for transfer admission, there are a few things you should know:

1. We make the transfer process straightforward and easy.
   
2. Anytime you have questions about the transfer process or Lasell College, myself and all of our Admission staff is here to assist you – just call, e-mail, send a letter, Tweet, send a message on Facebook, or just stop by!

We review transfer applications on a rolling basis for both the Fall and Spring terms and upon acceptance, you will receive a credit evaluation for any completed college-level courses (taken at an accredited institution) for which you received a “C” grade or higher.

If you’re ready for a change, I encourage you to see what the Lasell experience can do for you. Apply online here and don’t hesitate to contact myself or the Office of Undergraduate Admission if you have any questions – that’s why we’re here!

Best,

Sam

PS: For more information online about transferring to Lasell, be sure to check out these pages: Transfer Admission, Transfer Credit and Scholarship Information

C'mon up!

After two years as an Admission Counselor, I consider myself to be a hotel connoisseur. Hi, my name is Tyler Wentworth and the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland have all become like new homes for me. When the College Fair and High School visit season hits in mid-September through November, I pack my bags and say goodbye to Massachusetts (and Lasell) for close to 11 weeks. Visiting between 4 and 5 high schools a day, a college fair at night, and speaking to hundreds of students and families, are all in a day’s work for me and the Lasell College admission staff!

I have been traveling to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland for over 2 years now, and I have met so many fantastic students who have enrolled and now call Lasell College their second home. Coming from these areas may seem like a long trip for some, but it really is quite easy to get to and from Lasell (I make the drive every Sunday and Friday in the Fall!). Lasell College is conveniently located right off the Mass Pike and Interstate 95, so driving to campus is very simple.

If you prefer other modes of transportation, campus is just a short T ride (Boston’s subway system) from Boston. Southwest Airlines offers rates as low as $59 from Baltimore to Boston, and Amtrak trains travel daily from Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City to South Station in Boston for as low as $49. Greyhound buses also travel throughout the country straight to South Station. With so many options to get to and from campus, home is never too far away from your new home here at Lasell College.

During my travels, I have been able to enjoy much of what these three states have to offer, from rich history, amazing people, to the great food throughout the area (although Geno’s cheese steaks are delicious, Maryland’s crab cakes… they just can’t be beat). Touring the historic Camden Yards, watching some of the greatest high school football rivalries in the county, and learning (and re-learning) the exits off the Garden State Parkway have all been experiences that I will always remember. In each high school I have visited as well, I have been greeted with a smile and welcoming reception from both the students and guidance community.

The New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland areas have all become new homes for me, and I graciously offer to return the hospitality for each of you when you visit Lasell!

With school out for summer, you may be getting ready or looking for a summer vacation destination. There is no better place to visit than Newton and Boston. While you’re in the area take a tour of Lasell’s beautiful campus. Come for a day, or stay all weekend, but make sure Lasell College is part of your Boston itinerary!

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On a sad note, we'll be saying goodbye to Tyler later this month, as he begins a new opportunity and graduate study. Best of luck Tyler!

Visualize your future (the global perspective)

The future is so bright you’ll need shades!

Hi, I am Lou Greenwald, Lasell College’s Associate Director of International and Multicultural Admission, and I am responsible for recruiting students from around the Globe to Lasell College. I have traveled to over 70 countries meeting with students and families. My journeys have taken me around the world several times. It never gets boring! I have witnessed many different cultures and have been lucky enough to visit some of the most significant landmarks on the planet.

Students come to Lasell from 26 different states and over 22 different foreign countries, and this number continues to grow as our global recruitment expands. Lasell has been recognized by several governments and ministries of education, this recognition paves the way for international students to enroll at Lasell College.

Curious where I travel?

This is the Burj Al Arab at Jumeirah beach in Dubai. It is considered the most luxurious hotel in the world. It boasts a 7-star rating and has a tennis court/helicopter pad on the top floor. I have never stayed at the Burj, but as you can see I have taken many pictures of it. Dubai is a very diverse city. It has cutting edge architecture and has one of the most impressive skylines in the world. Lasell College now enrolls students from the United Arab Emirates, therefore I know I will be returning to Dubai in the future.


This is a picture of a wadi, which is the Arabic term for valley. This wadi campsite is in the country of Oman. I stayed at this wadi for an evening. It was extremely hot. I actually slept outside on a platform made of teak wood. It was so bright at night you could read a book by the star light!

Each year, students travel from around the world to study at Lasell College. Additionally, Lasell students have the opportunity to spend a semester or two, or a summer abroad. Lasell College has a home based tuition model, which means the tuition and fees you pay at Lasell is the same amount that you pay when you study abroad. The only other real expense is the air fare and money for shopping! Ireland, Australia, France, Italy and Russia are just a few of the popular destinations that Lasell students travel to.

Paris is considered the city of lights. Lasell College students are currently participating in two week seminars in Paris. Last year, students traveled to both Paris and Milan. These enriching trips help to further the Lasell philosophy of “connected learning.” What better way to learn about fashion than a seminar in Paris or Milan?

To learn more about applying to Lasell College as an international candidate, visit the International Admission Process or I encourage you to Skype "Lasell College". Yes, Lasell is on Skype, a free social networking site that provides voice and video "real-time" over the internet. I would love to have a face to face chat with you and tell you more about Lasell. If you would like to connect with Lasell College on Skype, set up a Skype account today and search for Lasell College. Additionally, if you are curious where I will be traveling this fall, follow my Fall Travel Schedule.

A gift of the arts

Following Monday's Board of Trustees meeting, I was invited to attend the official ground-breaking ceremony for The Donahue Center for the Creative and Applied Arts.

The building is named for Lasell alumna Nancy Lawson Donahue '49, trustee emerita who, along with her husband Richard, gave the lead gift for the creation of the new building.

The center will house state-of-the-art classrooms, faculty offices and will become the permanent home for the Lasell College Fashion Collection. Donahue and her family, have been major supporters of the College, providing funding for the Donahue Institute for Values and Public Life and the Donahue Bookstore.

Check out the complete press release, courtesy of Lasell's Office of Communication.

Been there, done that! And, I'd do it again.

Lasell's Undergraduate Admissions Team is a diverse group. For example, we have an expert in International Admission and Recruitment, a former Guidance Counselor, and a member of the team who has worked in the office for nearly twenty years.

However, we count on Sean McCullen '07, one of our Admission Counselors, to provide his unique perspective as a Lasell College alum.

Sean eagerly created our Alumni Admission Ambassador program when he joined the team, and has helped the Admission Office stay connected to our successful alums around the globe. Sean recruits and and reads applications from students who live in western Connecticut, parts of western Massachusetts, and from his home state of New York.

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With all this talk about events and programs like Orientation happening now, you may find yourself asking, “Well, what’s it going to be like when I get ON campus?” For me, as an alum, I always get this question from students and families. And believe me, I could go on forever about this subject; it’s my favorite thing to talk about!

Typically I speak of my experiences. For example, living in Holt Hall my freshmen year or being a part of S.G.A. (Student Government Association) as Junior Class President (’06) and Senior Class President (’07) or playing drums in the Jazz Band or being an athlete at Lasell as a member of the Men’s Volleyball team or about my study abroad experience in Dublin, Ireland (kissing the blarney stone!)

Of course, I'll never foregt supporting the Men’s Lacrosse team in the spring by running up and down the field (in full body paint!) or my most memorable moment at Lasell when I spoke at the graduation ceremony in 2007.

Nevertheless, the one aspect that stands out and what I believe truly sets Lasell apart from other institutions is the ability to forge and foster relationships through the close-knit community.

This is exactly how I met Ginnie Chow, my RA in Holt Hall during my freshmen year. Ginnie studied Fashion Design & Production at Lasell, and graduated in 2005. In her own words, “Students would hang out in the hallway playing music and others would hang out in the 3rd floor lounge.

I really connected to my residents in Holt. I'm glad that I was able to be a part their lives as much as they were a part of mine.” Ginnie interned at TJX Companies, Inc. and said that, “I learned the process of fashion production from prototype to the retail floor. I learned about fits and color standards, the different components that it takes to bring a single style to the stores, and also about the different testing standards required of children’s clothing has opposed to adult-ware.”

After graduating, Ginnie worked at Telluride Clothing Company (now known as Nic & Zoe) as an Assistant Technical Designer. Currently, Ginnie is an Associate Global Sourcing Manager at Talbots, Inc. “I deal with factory allocation, cost negotiations, and act as the filter between our headquarters and overseas offices.” Ginnie also adds that the best part of her job is the travel. “I've been to Hong Kong 3 times in the past 9 months. I've also traveled to Bahrain, Jordan and Turkey for factory visits.”

Ginnie and I are just two examples of where a Lasell education can take you. Begin you journey today by following Lasell on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

LASER LINK - Lasell's Summer Orientation Program

Katie Fulton has been a part of the Lasell College Admissions Team for over 3 years. Originally from Concord, Massachusetts, Katie has two younger siblings - a sister and a brother. As Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission, Katie keeps the entire team (when we're on the move) moving in the right direction, as she manages our hectic fall and spring recruitment travel. Also, Katie works closely with the Registrar’s Office helping students who would like to transfer to Lasell from other institutions or who have taken college or AP classes in high school. Katie's travel and application review territories include Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Essex County in Massachusetts, and Texas.

With today kicking off Lasell College's Summer Orientation Program - LASER LINK, Katie couldn't have picked a better subject to blog about.

Thanks Katie!

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As many of you have been hopping from one graduation party to another and counting down the days for school to end, we’ve been busy showing off our beautiful campus and getting everything ready for a summer-time welcome to the incoming class of 2014!

Over the next two weeks we will welcome over 500 new students to campus at four LASER LINK orientation sessions. Each summer, The Office of Student Activities and Orientation puts together an exciting program for our new students that includes icebreakers, sessions on student life, and an opportunity to spend a night in one of our many suite-style residence halls . It's a great time for new Lasell students to take all of the positive energy from their high school graduations and direct it toward meeting new friends as they begin the next chapter of their life!

Of course there are some academic elements to orientation as well – students will be meeting their advisors for the first time, signing up for fall classes, and learning how to use our interactive campus software. As you can tell, LASER LINK is not to be missed! If you’re haven’t signed up yet, please visit the Welcome Website ASAP!

I look forward to seeing you at Summer Orientation! To get an idea of what to expect, check out our latest LASER LINK video:

MassSTAR returns to Lasell

Lasell College's Undergraduate Admission Team is an amazing group, passionately committed to Lasell and its students. Throughout the Summer of 2010, I thought it would be interesting for you to get to know them and their interests as they take turns "guest blogging" on the Admission @ Lasell College Blog.


First, Christine Scafidi, Lasell's Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission. Christine coordinates and manages all of Lasell's on-campus recruitment events, as well as, supervising the Admission Counseling Team, and traveling and recruiting in MA and FL. A former High School Guidance Counselor, Christine's experience and knowledge (from both sides of the desk) has been essential to Lasell's success. However, it is her interest in working with young adults before, during, and after the college search and selection process that inspired her involvement with MassSTAR and her blog below.

Thanks Christine!

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This week, the 2010 MassSTAR leadership conference, organized by the Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation (MYLF) returns to Lasell College. Supported and hosted by Lasell and the Office of Undergraduate Admission, MassSTAR is a group I hold very near and dear to my heart! The conference is for high school sophomores and runs for three days, Friday June 4 to Sunday June 6.

MassSTAR is focused on developing leaders, commitment to community service and civility. MYLF is a non-profit organization seeking to recognize, teach, and empower leadership in high school sophomores across the state. MYLF sees the value and potential in young people as the future leaders and provides them with the tools to create positive change in their schools and communities. It is a rewarding and exciting program to participate in!

MassSTAR stands for (Massachusetts STudents Accepting Responsibility). The conference is held on a college campus each summer and Lasell has been the proud host for last two years. They invite one sophomore from every Massachusetts-accredited rural, suburban, and inner city high school, both public and private, to participate in an exciting, hands-on learning experience. Student delegates are nominated and chosen by their school principals, guidance counselors, teachers, and advisors, based on their demonstrated and potential leadership ability. For more than twenty-five years, MYLF's annual programs have reached over 5,000 students. Through a series of panel speakers, group learning activities, and intensive small group discussions, MassSTAR empowers young people and demonstrates to them how they can be proactive leaders in their own communities. These students then take these skills back to their home school environments.

MassSTAR’s commitment to community service and civility is very similar to Lasell’s. Lasell College's Center for Community-Based Learning (CCBL), integrates service-learning into the Lasell College undergraduate curriculum. Complimenting the Connected Learning educational philosophy at Lasell, where students learn by doing. For Lasell students, the community involvement deepens academic learning; promotes values of citizenship; provides practical, project-focused experiences; and develops initiatives that make a direct and lasting contribution to local communities.

The Lasell College Center for Community-Based Learning has developed partnerships with a variety of organizations in Newton and the metropolitan Boston area, including public schools at all levels, numerous mentoring programs, agencies serving survivors of abuse, economically disadvantaged populations, parks and recreation programs, and many others. With such similar philosophies and goals, MassSTAR and Lasell College have been a perfect match!

If you know an involved and motivated student who might like to attend MassSTAR or Lasell College, encourage them to go to Massstar.org and Lasell.edu!