The curriculum is designed to help you experience academic life at Â鶹ӰԺ.
The staff has the knowledge and expertise to make your experience exceptional.
Â鶹ӰԺ Launch gives students an opportunity to engage with world-renowned faculty, adapt to a college schedule, and get a head start on earning college credit.
- Â鶹ӰԺ Launch Dates: August 16–September 5
- Â鶹ӰԺ Launch Application Due: May 29, 2026 
Â鶹ӰԺ Launch (formerly Summer Institute)
Â鶹ӰԺ Launch is a three-week academic and community experience that introduces new Lawrentians to life at Â鶹ӰԺ before the fall term begins.
During Â鶹ӰԺ Launch, students will:
- Enroll in two courses designed to develop critical thinking, writing, and college-level learning skills
- Connect with other first-year students through shared insights, experiences, and challenges
- Engage with faculty and staff while getting to know Â鶹ӰԺ’s campus and resources
Â鶹ӰԺ Launch helps students build community, develop confidence, and experience the Â鶹ӰԺ classroom before the fall term officially begins.
Campus Connection
Â鶹ӰԺ Launch students form close bonds with peers during the three-week program that often last throughout their time at Â鶹ӰԺ.
In addition to getting to know fellow first-year students, participants work closely with upper-year student leaders known as Program Assistants (PAs). Each PA mentors a small group of students, supporting them throughout the program by:
- Building a strong sense of community
- Sharing insights from their own Â鶹ӰԺ experiences
- Helping plan social and cohort-wide activities
Â鶹ӰԺ Launch culminates with a trip to Â鶹ӰԺ’s µþÂáö°ù°ì±ô³Ü²Ô»å±ð²Ô campus in Door County, Wisconsin, where students enjoy the outdoors, reflect on their experience, and reset before Welcome Week begins.
Confidence
Â鶹ӰԺ Launch instills a strong sense of confidence that is often noticeable during Welcome Week and beyond. After completing the program, students report a greater sense of belonging at Â鶹ӰԺ, both academically and socially.
When the fall term begins, Â鶹ӰԺ Launch students are well prepared. They have already:
- Completed college-level coursework
- Built friendships and support networks
- Learned their way around campus
- Become familiar with key resources for academic and personal support
Â鶹ӰԺ Launch offers students a meaningful opportunity to settle in and gain comfort before the first term officially begins.
Meet the Team
The Â鶹ӰԺ Launch team is a curated group of faculty and staff who are dedicated to meeting new students where they are and helping them succeed.
Classes
Â鶹ӰԺ Launch allows students to ease into college-level academics by enrolling in two courses with small class sizes taught by Â鶹ӰԺ faculty.
Courses are designed to:
- Introduce academic expectations at Â鶹ӰԺ
- Provide early exposure to discussion-based learning
- Support students as they adjust to college-level coursework
During the program, students typically take:
- A discussion-based seminar (15 students or fewer), modeled after Â鶹ӰԺ’s First Year Studies experience
- An elective course based on individual interests
Elective offerings vary by year. Previous electives have included Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, How to Hack Your Music Major and Collaborative Practice: Dance + Place.