This Friday and Saturday, Aug. 16 and 17, were the official move-in dates for student housing on the Barton Community College campus. Vice President of Student Services Angie Maddy reported that as of Aug. 13, approximately 100 students had already moved into the dorms. Most were early arriving student athletes.

Limited food service has been available over the noon hour for those early arriving students, Maddy said. Evening meals have been provided by “host” families, friends of the college, and area churches. Regular food service begins Saturday, Aug. 17, with brunch. 

Student Housing had made close to 400 room assignments by Thursday evening, Maddy estimated, leaving fewer than 20 vacancies.

The first day of classes will be Wednesday, Aug. 21. Students are invited to Roll Cougs, where they will be served cinnamon rolls and meet Barton President Dr. Marcus Garstecki. 

The BCC Welcome Week starts Sunday with a hamburger and hotdog feed for housing students only. A meal will be served at 5 p.m. and yard games will follow from 5-7 p.m.

Monday includes a housing meeting and new student orientation. Welcome week activities will also include a student movie night at Great Bend Cinema 6 and an activity called “Popcorn Passport.”

“This is basically a way to get students to move around the campus and meet different people in various departments,” Maddy said. “Students are given a reusable Barton tumbler filled with popcorn and make their way across the campus learning about the services in different areas and getting popcorn toppings at each stop. This will take place on Thursday, Aug. 22.”

In her report for the BCC Board of Trustees study session on Aug. 13, Maddy also noted that 231 students took advantage of spring and summer 2024 Enrollment Days for the fall semester. The college anticipates approximately 92 new international students this year, and 65 returners.