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- The Academic Year
- The Daily Routine
- Morning Lineup
- Chapel
- First Year Experience and Freshman Orientation
- Annual Events
The Academic Year
The academic year consists of fall and spring semesters. Classes regularly begin the week preceding Labor Day and run until just before Christmas. Classes resume in mid-January and conclude with Commencement in May. Williamson’s annual academic calendar is available for review on the Student Management System (Blackbaud) and the college website.
The Daily Routine
To prepare students for full-time employment, Williamson requires its students to follow a structured daily schedule. The typical daily schedule is as follows:
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Breakfast (Optional) | 6:30 - 7:15 a.m. |
| Lineup | 7:15 a.m. |
| Chapel | 7:30 a.m. |
| Classes/Shops: | |
| Period 1 | 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. |
| Period 2 | 8:55 - 9:45 a.m. |
| Period 3 | 9:50 - 10:40 a.m. |
| Period 4 | 10:45 - 11:35 a.m. |
| Lunch | 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. |
| Period 5 | 12:45 - 1:35 p.m. |
| Period 6 | 1:40 - 2:30 p.m. |
| Period 7 | 2:35 - 3:25 p.m. |
| Period 8 | 3:30 - 4:20 p.m. |
| Athletics/Study Hall/Shop | 4:45 – 6:30 p.m. (Mon-Thurs) |
| Dinner (Mon-Wed) | 6:15 – 7:00 p.m. |
| Dinner (Thurs) | General: 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. Athletes: 6:30 – 7:00 p.m. |
| Evening Study Hall/Shop | 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. |
| Lights Out | 10:30 p.m. |
Morning Lineup
The day at Williamson begins with lineup at 7:15 a.m., Monday through Friday. Students stand in front of Rowan Hall for roll call and are inspected to ensure that they comply with the college’s dress code and grooming regulations. Lineup is held indoors in the event of inclement weather or darkness.
Chapel
As part of Williamson’s commitment to providing moral and character training, a nondenominational service is held each weekday at 7:30 a.m. in the Chapel in Rowan Hall. Because Chapel is a vital part of the college’s program, all students are required to attend. Chapel services emphasize moral and spiritual values presented from a Christian perspective, and include speakers from the staff, alumni, student body, and community.
First Year Experience and Freshman Orientation
Freshmen begin their journey as Williamson students by attending the college’s First Year Experience (FYE) program. During this four-day event held just prior to Freshman Orientation, students are introduced to Williamson’s core values, history, and leadership program through experiential activities. FYE is a mandatory event for all incoming freshmen.
Freshmen Orientation follows FYE and involves various administrative programs and in-processing requirements designed to acquaint new students with the college. Participation is mandatory for all freshmen.
Annual Events
A variety of annual events are held at Williamson for students and alumni:
- Convocation, when the Board of Trustees joins alumni and friends of the college to initiate the new school year
- Homecoming, an autumn Saturday of sports at the college for students, parents, and alumni
- Rowan Day, to honor Henry Rowan, Williamson’s most generous benefactor since Isaiah Williamson founded the school, as well as the rest of the Rowan family
- Founder’s Day, to honor I.V. Williamson, the school’s founder
- I.V. Club Induction Ceremony, when select seniors are inducted into the I.V. Club for demonstrating the quality of leadership in exemplifying Williamson’s core values
- Phi Theta Kappa Induction Ceremony, where select students are inducted into the International Academic Honor Society
- Student Achievement Awards Ceremony, to recognize outstanding academic achievement by the college’s juniors
- Scholarship Celebration Luncheon, to recognize the benefactors who have provided scholarships to Williamson students
- Athletics Celebration, when Williamson’s athletes are honored
- Commencement, to celebrate the seniors’ graduation