KGI’s Newest Class of Innovators Begins School Year at Orientation

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Keck Graduate Institute’s (KGI) newest cohort of students began their graduate school journeys on Thursday, August 22 by attending Orientation and learning about resources within The Claremont Colleges.

More than 240 students from the Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences (Riggs School) and School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (SPHS) sported navy t-shirts with KGI’s tagline, “Innovators Start Here,” and participated in a full day of activities and presentations at Pitzer College’s Benson Auditorium.

After breakfast and a fun game of human bingo, KGI President Sheldon Schuster, Riggs School Dean Steve Casper, SPHS Dean Martin Zdanowicz, and Dean of Students Cynthia Martinez welcomed the students to KGI.

Following a group photo, students embarked on a walking tour of The Claremont Colleges, and later participated in a resource fair to learn about the many support systems available to students.

“New Student Orientation is our first chance to engage new students in the culture, expectations, and resources KGI and The Claremont Colleges Services has to offer.”

“Our goal is to bring together a number of different departments in order to help students feel valued, excited, and supported,” said Dean Martinez. 

Prior to lunch, KGI’s Division of Student Affairs partnered with Human Resources to discuss Campus Safety, Title IX, and how to navigate the graduate experience.

In the afternoon, students attended breakout sessions with their program directors from both SPHS and Riggs School. To end the day, students attended a social mixer at Walter’s Restaurant in the Claremont Village.

The next day, new students participated in Academic Prologue, which is a week-long requirement to help familiarize students with their degree programs.

KGI’s White Coat Ceremony honoring the incoming Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2023 is scheduled for August 24, with the first day of classes beginning September 3.