Raised in rural North Carolina, ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s associate vice president for student life and dean of student health and well-being came from a family that valued education but had little firsthand experience with higher education.

Her parents, whose lives were shaped by the Great Depression and World War II, never attended college. The first person who helped Patterson imagine a different future was her first-grade teacher. ā€œI donā€™t think anyone had ever told me I was smart,ā€ Patterson recalls.

Once she arrived at North Carolina State University, Patterson discovered how much she didnā€™t know. There was no roadmap for managing finances, selecting courses or understanding that struggling academically at times was normal, a lesson that has stayed with her.

Patterson has since worked to ensure ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ students receive the guidance and reassurance she often lacked. Yet grades and academics were only part of the story.

Patterson remembers a time when being a first-generation student felt like something to hide. Students rarely talked about parents who had not attended college, and many worried they would be judged for backgrounds that fell outside the perceived norm.

ā€œWhile my immediate family and teachers were proud of me, there were other members of my extended family who said they donā€™t see why I didnā€™t just go in the military,ā€ Patterson says. ā€œOthers were like, ā€˜Why donā€™t you just get married and settle down?ā€™ā€

Today, she describes first-generation status not as a disadvantage but as an identity worthy of celebration. ā€œItā€™s not just a status,ā€ sheā€™ll tell you. ā€œItā€™s an identity.ā€

That commitment to inclusive excellence became a hallmark of her work. For Patterson, who retires in September following four decades of faithful service to ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ, supporting students has always been about more than helping them succeed in college. It has been about helping them believe they belong.

ā€œOne of the things I am most proud of with my work is that we have moved how we think and talk about first-generation students,ā€ she said. ā€œMaking connections with others that embrace both shared and differing identities provides so much joy and interest to your life.ā€

Jana Lynn Patterson is part of Huemanity of People, a series by the Division of Inclusive Excellence highlighting the people, paradigms and praxis of inclusive excellence that shape ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s community. Learn more on theĀ Inclusive Excellence website.

As an assistant director for the Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education, Gutierrez-Luviano manages El Centro, a space that promotes celebration, collaboration, dialogue and research to support advocacy, cultural appreciation and academic achievement related to Latin American cultures and the Spanish language.

ā€œI want to help build belonging at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ by proactively engaging with our students’ voices to understand their needs and create inclusive spaces where they can feel supported,ā€ she said.

Gutierrez-Luviano achieves this each day by supervising and mentoring students, organizing programming and events and developing educational workshops. Outside of her professional role, Gutierrez-Luviano participates in the Latinx/Hispanic Employee Resource Group, which she says is an important program at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ that supports her cultural identity as she navigates her professional role.

A first-generation Mexican-American, Gutierrez-Luvianoā€™s parents moved from MichoacĆ”n, Mexico, to Wilson, North Carolina, where she was born and raised. She remembers regularly going to a Hispanic flea market growing up, where her parents allowed her and her siblings to buy one item during most visits. Gutierrez-Luviano would often pick a snack like raspado (shaved ice), nieve de coco or fresh cut fruit with tajin and Chamoy while navigating vendors with the backdrop of loud music coming from each stand.

She attended Barton College in her hometown for her undergraduate degrees in business administration and Spanish and earned a masterā€™s at the University of Georgia in college student affairs administration.

ā€œAs a first-generation Mexican-American, there were times throughout my undergraduate experience where I did not know what questions to ask, or what I should be doing to be successful,ā€ said Gutierrez-Luvianos, highlighting why she values playing a mentoring role for students.

ā€œI had wonderful mentors who saw potential in me and guided me in the right direction,ā€ she added. ā€œI want to serve my students in that same way, especially if we may share similar cultural experiences because it adds a layer of connection.ā€

Gutierrez-Luviano said her mentorship begins with curiosity ā€“ understanding where students want to be in the future, what worries them and ways to build confidence. ā€œI see potential in my students and guide them in the right direction by listening to their hopes, their goals, and their worries,ā€ she shared.

Hispanic Heritage Month, she said, ā€œhonors our contributions, while inviting everyone to immerse themselves into our culture, and traditions that keep our community strong.ā€

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ honors Hispanic Heritage Month

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ is sharing stories that celebrate the contributions, identities and experiences of students, faculty and staff. This month recognizes the rich histories and cultures of Hispanic and Latinx communities, while also honoring the ways these traditions connect with and inspire people of all backgrounds. This month provides a special opportunity to honor Hispanic and Latinx heritage, but it also serves as an invitation for all members of the university to engage, learn and celebrate together.

Plain White T’sĀ headlined last yearĀ with overĀ 2,000Ā alumni, students and friendsĀ in attendance!Ā As a fan-favorite Homecoming event,Ā Rock the Block will once again transform into a full music festival experience featuring a variety of food trucks, a bar, activities and an end-of-night fireworks show.

Oā€™NealĀ willĀ performĀ from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Rock the Block and the HomecomingĀ Concert are open to all members of the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ community for free, so register for today!

ā€œWe invite the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ community to join us in celebrating and honoring Hispanic Heritage Month by immersing ourselves in the vibrant art, music, food, and traditions that unite and inspire the community,ā€ Amy Gutierrez-Luviano, assistant director of the CREDE, said. ā€œBy doing so, we are creating supportive spaces focused on mental, physical and holistic health that uplift the community.

Observed annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and honors the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities in the United States. Established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, the celebration expanded to a month-long observance under President Ronald Reagan in 1988 and became law on Aug. 17 that year. The month highlights the lasting impact of Hispanic and Latinx individuals across various fields, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their vital role in shaping American society.

The celebration begins with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with Mexico and Chile following shortly after on Sept. 16 and 18.

Hispanic Heritage Month programming at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ will run from Sept. 10 to Oct. 30. Highlights of this yearā€™s events include the annual Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff and ā€œCrossing Borders: Images of Migration and Voices of Minorities,ā€ featuring film producer and poet FranƧoise Nieto-Fong, sponsored by Latin American Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, the Department of World Languages and Cultures, the Center for Advancement of Teaching nd Learning, and Belk Library.

Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 events at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ

Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff

Tuesday, Sept. 15

5:30 p.m. | Medallion Plaza

Crossing Borders: Images of Migration and Voices of Minorities

Wednesday, Sept. 16Ā 

2-3:40 p.m. | Turner Theatre

Campus Screening: Sunset over America and The Return-Family Separation

Sponsored by Latin American Studies; Peace and Conflict Studies; the Department of World Languages and Cultures; the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning; Belk Library.

Noche Latina

Tuesday, Sept. 29

7 p.m. | Rudd Field

Perspectivas

Wednesday, Sept. 30

5:30-7 p.m. | McKinnon Hall

Soccer Tournament

Friday, Oct. 2

4-8 p.m. | Intramural Fields

Perspectivas

Thursday, Oct. 8

5:30-7 p.m. | McKinnon Hall

CafƩ con Leche Homecoming Edition

Friday, Oct. 9

3:30-5 p.m. | El Centro (Carlton 114)

CafƩ con Leche w/ friends!

Monday, Oct. 19

5:30-7 p.m. | IrazĆŗ

Gala Latina

Friday, Oct. 30

5:30-8 p.m. | McKinnon Hall

Explore the detailed schedule of events for Hispanic Heritage Month on the CREDE website. For questions or more information, please contact Amy Gutierrez-Luviano at agutierrezluviano@elon.edu.

For Jacob Bradshaw ’27, the answer turned out to be milk.

During his first weeks at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ, Bradshaw was eating lunch in McEwen Dining Hall with two new friends when they noticed that all three happened to be drinking glasses of milk. They joked about making it a regular gathering. Days later, Bradshaw brought the idea to ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ’s Organization Fair. Armed with little more than a handwritten interest sheet, he collected 68 signatures in two hours.

What began as a spontaneous idea has since become an award-winning student organization whose events have brought hundreds of students together. But as Bradshaw and President Connie Ledoux Book discuss in the latest episode of “ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Beyond the Bricks,” Milk Club has never really been about the milk.

“The real magic of the Milk Club is that it’s the relationships that form,” Book said during their conversation. “Milk is really just the vehicle for forming the relationship.”

That vehicle has taken many forms, including Spilled Milk Poetry Night, the Cownival and the Milk SoirĆ©e, where roughly 300 students dressed formally to listen to live jazz and drink milk ā€” and dairy alternatives ā€” from wine glasses. The organization also collaborated with Student Union Board on Milk Bingo, filling Sato Commons with roughly 500 students. Book remembered the event, too, because she announced a few of the rounds that evening.

Behind the playful names, however, is something Bradshaw and his fellow club leaders have taken seriously: cultivating an inclusive environment that gives students a reason to spend time together.

Bradshaw said the club’s executive board often begins with an activity and asks a simple question: How can they make it milk-related? Those conversations have helped the students create events around a theme almost anyone can join, regardless of whether they prefer whole milk, chocolate milk, oat milk or no milk at all.

That low barrier to participation has helped Milk Club become a place where students can form friendships and shared memories without needing a particular academic, professional or athletic interest to bring them together. It also connects closely with ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ’s broader focus on well-being.

During the episode, Book connected Milk Club with HealthEU, ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ’s university-wide initiative centered on six dimensions of well-being. For Bradshaw, those ideas have shaped more than the organization he founded.

An Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow studying neuroscience and psychology on a pre-med track, Bradshaw has also served as an Orientation Leader and biology teaching assistant. He said conversations about the dimensions of well-being through Leadership Fellows helped shape how he approaches his different roles at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ.

“Trying to integrate all of that has been one of the most valuable things that I have been able to take away from my ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ experience,” Bradshaw said.

That intentionality extends into his everyday life. During the episode’s recording, Book noticed a wall behind Bradshaw covered in colorful sticky notes. For roughly a year, he had been writing down one thing each night that made him happy or grateful that day. The practice gives him another reason to stop and reflect on the people and experiences filling his life.

Milk Club operates on a similar principle. Milk may provide the theme, but the reason students return is the opportunity to laugh, participate and spend time with one another.

As Bradshaw begins his senior year, the organization that started around a dining hall table has become part of his ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ legacy, serving as an example of how even the simplest idea can give people the reason they need to come together.

Learn more about “ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Beyond the Bricks.”

The HEED Award is a prestigious honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to academic excellence, belonging and community-building across all levels of campus life.

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ will be featured, along with 60 other recipients, in the October 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine. This latest honor recognizes the work ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ as an institution, and its students do to make a more inclusive community.

“What continues to distinguish ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ is that inclusive excellence is central to how we define educational excellence. We put people, relationships, and human differences at the heart of learning and at the foundation of a meaningful personal, professional, and civic life,” said Randy Williams, vice president for inclusive excellence. “Across the university, we share responsibility for creating an environment where people are seen, valued, and affirmed in their identities and can experience a genuine sense of belonging.”

The magazine uses a detailed scoring process, a holistic approach and a team of experienced higher education professionals to review each application.

“Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where academic excellence and belonging are woven into the work being done every day across their campus,ā€ said Lenore Pearlstein, co-publisher of Insight into Academia magazine.

Over the past several years, ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ has expanded its SMART mentor program (which connects first-year students with upperclass students) to support and mentor more students. The university has also expanded use of Living Learning Communities, including the new Mi Casa community. International student support efforts have also increased with the addition of a new staff member in that office to better support students with visas at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ.

In the summer of 2026, ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ will also begin the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Launch program, a 6-credit, 3-week residential transition program to give incoming students an intentional start on college life. ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Launch is intentionally designed to meet the needs of neurodiverse students, including those with ADHD, autism spectrum conditions, anxiety or executive functioning challenges.

The university’s fly-in program, ĀŅĀ׏ÓʵYOU, is specifically designed to open access for students who would otherwise not be able to visit campus. The program fully funds travel and an overnight stay at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ. Additionally, the program offers up to $250 in travel support for parents/guardians/supporters.

Williams acknowledged the following ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ faculty and staff who contributed information and suggestions for the award application:

• Naeemah Clark, Associate Provost for Academic Inclusive Excellence
• Mike Haskins, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
• Monica Isbell, Director of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility
• Kimberly Romero, Assistant Dean of ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ for Inclusive Excellence
• Rob Springer, Senior Advisor for Institutional Effectiveness
• Paul Tongsri, Assistant Dean for Student Success and Retention

For more information about the 2026 HEED Award, visit .

About Insight Into Academia

Insight Into Academia magazine is the leader in advancing best practices in higher education excellence. Through thought-provoking print and online articles, we share expert advice, valuable resources, in-depth profiles of top programs at colleges and universities, headline news, and much more to help keep our readers informed and empower them to advance initiatives at their institutions. Current, archived, and digital issues of Insight Into Academia magazine are available online at insightintoacademia.com.

The first Phoenix Five of the year is here! Each Sunday afternoon, I’ll send you a quick email with five things you need to know for the week ahead. This could include important deadlines and campus events or helpful reminders and opportunities to get involved.Ā  My goal is simple: keep you as informed as possible with one Sunday email you can use to plan your week ahead.

With classes beginning on Tuesday, here are five things to help you start the semester off right.

Get Connected on Social Media

Social media is one of the easiest ways to stay plugged in at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ. If you want to know whatā€™s happening on campus in real time, here are a few Instagram accounts I recommend:

• ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ (main)
• Phoenix Athletics and Phoenix Phanatics
• Student Life
• ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Dining
• Student Union Board
• ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ News Network
• HealthEU

Hypnotist

Monday, Aug. 24, 8:30-11 p.m., Alumni Gym

Join the Student Union Board (SUB) for the annual hypnotist show ā€“ a student favorite! Come ready to watch your friends (or maybe even yourself!) take the stage for an unforgettable, hilarious performance. .

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Campus Traditions ā€“ Starting this Week!

College Coffee

Tuesdays, 9:40-10:20 a.m., Alumni Gym

College Coffee is one of ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s most beloved traditions. Every Tuesday morning, the entire campus gathers for coffee, treats and conversation. Itā€™s a chance to meet people, connect with faculty and staff, and hear about whatā€™s happening around campus. If your student organization wants to host an information table at College Coffee, information on .

Numen Lumen: A Thursday Inspiration

Thursdays, 9:50-10:20 a.m., Numen Lumen Pavilion

On Thursday mornings, we pause for a moment of reflection and inspiration. Youā€™ll hear music from student, faculty, and staff performers and reflections from members of our community. This yearā€™s theme is and the first Numen Lumen of the year will be held this Thursday.

Getting Started with Canvas

Beginning with the Fall 2026 semester, ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ is using Canvas instead of Moodle. Youā€™ll use it to access course materials, submit assignments, communicate with your instructors, and view your grades. Before classes begin:

• Log in to Canvas using your ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ account.
• After logging in for the first time, as part of setting up your Canvas account. Your account will not be fully functional until you do.
• Visit the for student guides, FAQs and support resources.
• Learn the basics by enrolling in the course.

When you log in, you may not see all of your Fall courses immediately. Your instructors will make courses available before or on the first day of class.

Cheer on Phoenix at First Home Football Game

Thursday, Aug. 27

Student Tailgate

2-7 p.m., Hunt B (back parking lot of the Schar Center)

Before football kickoff, get ready to ignite your game day with Phoenix spirit at the student tailgate. Parking passes are available in Student Involvement and are limited to one pass per student and three passes per student organization or group.

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ v. Glenville State

7 p.m., Rhodes Stadium

Start off the fall semester by cheering on the Phoenix as ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ opens the football season against Glenville State. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. in Rhodes Stadium.

Welcome to ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ! Welcome first years, welcome back returning students, and welcome families. We are so very glad that you have chosen to be here with us.

This weekā€™s Torah portion (parshah) is called . Ki Teitzei means ā€œwhen you go outā€. In the parshah, this going out refers to war and is immediately followed by laws governing the taking of captives. The parshah then provides an extensive collection of commandments.

Iā€™m going to go out on a limb and say that while I imagine that moving into ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ may have been a rough or challenging experience for many of you, it probably didnā€™t feel like going to war. At the very least, I hope it did not! However, I imagine that going out from the homes and families you have grown up in has also involved taking care of an extensive list of seemingly unconnected details, just like the parshah.

In looking over these detailed commandments, one struck me as essential to thriving here at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ. says ā€œIf you see your brotherā€™s [or your fellowā€™s] donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it; you must raise it together.ā€
At first glance, this verse may not appear to be relevant to our lives. I am unaware of any donkeys or oxen present on ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s campus, although if senior administrators know differently, please let me know! [Correction: apparently have been an issue!] However, if you bear with me, I will show you why this verse still matters for us here today.

The Talmud () ā€“ an ancient collection of commentary on rabbinic law considered authoritative for traditional observance even today ā€“ connects this passage with a similar passage from : ā€œWhen you see a donkey of your enemy lying under its burden and would refrain from raising it, you must nevertheless help raise it.ā€

According to traditional rabbinic interpretation (), the verse from Exodus commands us to remove undue burdens from animals, even animals belonging to people who hate us. This command shows us that we should alleviate animal suffering whenever possible.

However, the verse from this weekā€™s parsha in Deuteronomy is understood to command us to put a load back onto an animal if its load has fallen off. This verse teaches us that we should not just care for the animal, but also for the owner of the animal, honoring their intentions to build a secure life for themselves. The verse also clarifies that we are meant to put the load back onto the animal with the owner. We are meant to care for the economic success and flourishing of our fellows with our fellows.

So why does this matter? These laws in these verses matter in three ways.

First, many of us live our lives carrying heavy emotional burdens. We are not donkeys or oxen, but college life can sometimes be a lot to bear. If the Torah asks us to alleviate animal suffering, how much more so would it want us to assist each other in relieving our own suffering? We at Jewish Life (Betsy, Boaz, Jay, Sarah, Tal, and myself) want you to know that we are here for you and will be here for you whenever you need us.

Second, college is also a time of growth and opportunity. There are some burdens (such as the responsibilities and privileges of adulthood) you will want to take on! Classes, internships, study abroad, leadership experiences, Greek life, clubs ā€“ these are aspects of college life that I know many of you are already excited about! We are also here to help you grow in the ways you want to grow and support your flourishing!

Finally, you may have heard the phrase ā€“ all of the Jewish people are responsible for one another. I believe that forming relationships ā€“ with mentors and with each other ā€“ is the most important part of the college experience. I know that it can sometimes take time to make friends at college and to find your place. It is totally normal to feel anxious about making friends. If you do feel this way, know youā€™re not alone!

As you and your families adjust your being in college, I hope all of you gathered here today know that you will always have a home with Jewish Life at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ. Weā€™re here to help you let go of or manage the burdens you donā€™t want, take on the burdens you do want, and help you form the relationships with one another that will sustain you through college and beyond. We are so happy that you have chosen to make your home with us. Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh. Let us all take care of one another. Shabbat shalom.

Nearly 1,600 new students arrived at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ on Friday, Aug. 21, as the university welcomed the Class of 2030.

Despite a mix of rain and sunshine, staff members in Student Life and Residence Life worked to make the Move-In Day process as seamless as possible for students and their families. Student organizations and ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Athletics teams also lent a hand, helping unload vehicles and carry studentsā€™ belongings into their new homes.

Familiar items in a new home

For many members of the Class of 2030, those belongings include more than the essentials for college life. As they begin a new chapter at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ, students brought photographs, books, keepsakes and other reminders of the people and places they call home.

Ale Furano ā€™30 arrived at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ from Greenwich, Connecticut, with three Polaroid photos of his family and friends. A Communications Fellow who plans to study sport management, Furano said he is looking forward to the opportunities ahead.

ā€œIā€™m excited to meet new people and have a great opportunity and a new way of life,ā€ Furano said. ā€œI think the opportunities at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ are really great, especially in the sport management field.ā€

Avery McTigue ā€™30, who plans to study nursing, is looking forward to joining clubs and organizations and exploring study abroad opportunities. Among the items making her new room feel more like home is an ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ-themed Jellycat plush toy with a special connection to her friends.

ā€œThe special item I brought from home is my ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ ā€˜Jellycat,ā€™ā€ said McTigue, who is from Bergen County, New Jersey. ā€œMy friends threw a ā€˜bed partyā€™ for me, and it reminds me of them. Basically, they decorate your whole room, and itā€™s all ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ stuff.ā€

For George Schneider ā€™30, from Seattle, Washington, the move to ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ meant finding room for his vinyl collection. Schneider chose ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ because of its acting program. The Princeton Review recently ranked ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ No. 1 for Best College Theater, while The Hollywood Reporter included ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ on its list of the “25 Best Drama Schools in the World.”

ā€œIā€™m very excited to be independent and expand on my training,ā€ Schneider said. ā€œI brought my record player and about 20 of my records. I knew I wasnā€™t going to bring a lot for my room, but I wanted to bring something to remember home by.ā€

An avid reader, Ryan Parker ā€™30, who plans to study journalism, made sure one of her books made the trip from Dallas, Texas. For Parker, attending ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ also means experiencing a new part of the country.

ā€œI chose ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ because I felt it was the best for me, and I felt it would be a good transition as well,ā€ Parker said. ā€œIā€™m most excited to meet new people, especially being from Texas and being in a different part of the country.ā€

A class from around the world

The students arriving on campus bring a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and academic interests. Members of the incoming class come from 40 states and Washington, D.C., as well as 19 countries, including Singapore, Spain, Norway, Canada, Serbia, South Korea, China and New Zealand.

The most represented states are North Carolina, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Illinois.

Fourteen percent of incoming students are the first in their families to attend college. The class also enters ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ with a strong academic record, with an average high school GPA of 4.09.

Students are bringing a broad range of academic interests to campus. The 10 most popular intended majors among incoming students are psychology, finance, biology, business analytics & AI, marketing, nursing, exercise science, elementary education, sport management and political science.

Several programs are seeing notable increases in interest compared with last yearā€™s incoming class. The number of new students intending to major in elementary education increased 41%, while finance increased 39% and biology increased 16%.

The community classroom experience

Those statistics are reflected in the individual journeys bringing students to ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ.

Alexis Jacobs ā€™30 of Westport, Connecticut, was drawn to the university because of its size and sense of community. To personalize her new space, Jacobs brought handmade frames filled with reminders of the people, places and experiences important to her.

ā€œI made these frames with different prints, photos, places Iā€™ve been and family members,ā€ Jacobs said.

Peter Matijevic ā€™30, who plans to study business analytics and applied mathematics, brought a reminder of his Massachusetts roots: a Drake Maye NFL jersey.

ā€œIt reminds me of Massachusetts and my favorite NFL player,ā€ Matijevic said. ā€œI chose ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ because itā€™s a beautiful campus and has small classes, so I could get to know my teachers.ā€

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ’s teacher-scholar-mentor model among its faculty is a touchstone of the university’s academic experience. For five years in a row, ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ has been ranked best in the nation for undergraduate teaching, and The Princeton Review recently ranked the university as No. 4 Best Classroom Experience.

Following Move-In Day, students attend New Student Orientation, including New Student Convocation on Saturday, Aug. 22.

The Princeton Review has again featured ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ in a popular college guide that annually recognizes excellence in dozens of categories, with the university placing among the top 25 schools in 15 categories and in the top 10 of eight categories, including #1 Best College Theater.

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s profile in ā€œā€Ā includes more than a dozen recognitions:

• #1 Best College Theater
• #4 Best Classroom Experience
• #6 Best Student Support and Counseling Services
• #6 Best College Dorms
• #8 Happiest Students
• #9 Most Beautiful Campus
• #9 Everyone Plays Intramural Sports
• #10 Their Students Love These Colleges
• #11 Best Campus Food
• #12 Best Career Services
• #12 Best-Run Colleges
• #18 Most Active Student Government
• #23 Professors Get High Marks
• #24 Best Quality of Life
• #25 Green Matters: Everyone Cares About Conservation

The Princeton Review chose the 392 colleges for the book based on its surveys in 2025-26 of 2,000 college administrators about their school’s academic offerings. The company also surveyed students attending the colleges in the book who rated their schools on dozens of topics and reported on their campus experiences at them. Only about 14% of Americaā€™s nearly 2,800 four-year colleges are in the book.

“We are delighted to name ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ one of our Best Colleges for 2027, and we recommend it to students searching for their ā€˜best-fitā€™ college,ā€ said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief and lead author of The Best 392 Colleges.Ā  “ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ has outstanding academic programs; we also took into account the candid feedback we received about it from its very own customersā€”its enrolled students.”

The rankings are entirely based on the company’s surveys of students attending the schools in the book who reported on their campus experiences at their schools. Surveys of 172,000 students (about 439 per school on average) were tallied for the rankings in The Best 392 Colleges.

Information on the for the rankings and the student is published in the book and on .

Select Responses Cited in ā€œThe Best 391 Collegesā€

• ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ provides “meaningful access to professors, research opportunities, internships, and leadership roles earlyā€¦which allows (students) to explore their interests in practical, hands-on ways.ā€
• ā€œEveryone from the most esteemed professors to our incredible dining hall workers, to the student life staff, to our groundskeepersā€Ā is described as ā€œthe most incredible support system.ā€
• Faculty are “highly experienced and enthusiastic” who do “constant check-ups and meetings with you. They want to make sure that youā€™re not only succeeding in their class, but also having an amazing, enriching time in college.ā€
• Students praised the small class sizes, which allow for bondingĀ ā€œwith both my professors and my peers, and it gives me more opportunities for success.ā€
• ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ’s experiential learning model provides an opportunity “where students can use both classroom learning and real-world experience to understand the information being taught.ā€
• Students highlighted the university’s “strong culture of involvement” where “students are constantly balancing academics with leadership roles, service organizations, research, athletics, and creative projects, and that energy creates an environment where it feels normal to want to do big things.ā€

About the Princeton Review

The Princeton Review (), founded in 1981, is an education services company known for its tutoring, test-prep, admission services, school rankings, books, and other resources. Headquartered in New York, NY, it is not affiliated with Princeton University, and it is not a magazine.

The Best 392 Colleges is the 35th annual edition of The Princeton Review’s flagship college guide which debuted in 1992. It is one of more than 150 Princeton Review books in a published by Penguin Random House. The book and its annual student-survey-based college rankings have been featured on NBC TODAY more than two dozen times over the years and referenced by media from NPR to The Wall Street Journal and The Chronicle of Higher Education.