Fall is officially back in Bloomington! Hodge Hall is busy again, campus is filled with familiar faces, and a new group of students is beginning their first semester at Kelley.

For me, the start of a new school year is always a reminder of how quickly things can change. I remember coming to Kelley for DA Day, walking around Hodge Hall and trying to picture what college would actually look like. At the time, Kelley felt like a place I was excited to be a part of someday. Now, I’m back on campus with my friends, taking classes, getting involved, and starting another year as a Kelley student. It’s a pretty cool feeling to look back and realize how much has changed since that first visit.

And this year, there’s a whole new group of students starting that same journey.

Welcome, Class of 2030.

For incoming freshmen, Kelley may look a little different than it did for previous classes. Kelley has introduced a new direct admission process, along with the Kelley Prospect Inventory (KPI), a 20-question questionnaire that gives students another opportunity to share more about themselves during the application process. For the Class of 2030, this is the first step in beginning their Kelley experience.

But admissions aren’t the only thing that’s new around Kelley this year.

As Kelley continues to grow and evolve, students can expect changes in the classroom, too. These changes are happening to prepare students to enter a constantly evolving workforce. Outside the classroom, a new school year also means a fresh start for student organizations, recruiting, events, and everything that makes Kelley feel like more than just a place to take classes. Hodge Hall is once again filled with students meeting for group projects, grabbing coffee between classes, preparing for recruiting events, and figuring out what they want their Kelley experience to look like.

That’s one of my favorite parts about coming back each fall: Kelley looks familiar, but there’s always something new happening.

For the Class of 2030, this is just the beginning. They’ll have their own first classes, favorite spots in Hodge Hall, student organizations, late-night study sessions and memories that will eventually make their first year feel like it went by way too quickly.

I know that feeling because I was in their shoes not too long ago. I remember looking around Kelley on DA Day and wondering what my own experience here would look like. Now, I get to experience another year of it alongside friends I’ve made along the way.

So, here’s to another year at Kelley. New classes, new opportunities, new faces and everything in between.

Welcome back, Kelley, and welcome to Bloomington, Class of 2030.