The last Issue of the CW Chu College Newsletter was published at the end of April, just as the second teaching term in the 2011–12 academic year was drawing to a close. Much has happened, as the University prepared for the double cohort, and as we at CW Chu College admitted our Founding Students. Thus, this Issue of the Newsletter will have much to report to our members and friends.

'Because of our youth and ... smallness, we are in a favourable position to develop ... along new lines, and so there should be great possibilities in store for our College.'
     

This statement sums up very nicely the opportunities open to the College as we begin to work with our first students to develop the College.

Building a New College: Our Vision and Plans
   
One afternoon this past summer a text message was transmitted to my mobile phone saying, 'Hi, I am here by the University Station!' In sharp contrast to my usual way of providing an orientation for new students, I welcomed my first student to CW Chu College without a speech or even a handshake. For a while afterwards I could not help but wonder whether my role and status as the Dean of Students were properly recognized and understood by students. A few days later, the same student sent another text message telling me that she had left something for me in the College office. It turned out to be a little fluffy hello kitty. We had still not met in person.

The College expresses its sincere appreciation to donors for their generous support.

International House appoints a number of Resident Tutors to help with some of the day-to-day management of the hostels. Of these, three are housed on the floors occupied by students of CW Chu College, and they are expected to play key roles in providing the first line of pastoral care and a link between the undergraduates and the College. CW Chu College is very pleased about these appointments and grateful for the enthusiasm of the Resident Tutors in engaging in the vision and activities of the College.

The Council has, at its meeting on 26 June 2012, approved the formation of the CW Chu College Committee of Overseers with effect from 1 August 2012, succeeding the Planning Committee for CW Chu College.

Piling work on the campus site in Campus Circuit North has started in mid-May and the anticipated completion date of the site formation and foundation works is Nov 2012.  CWC Students are now residing at the newly refurbished International House Block Three and will stay there until the completion of the College campus.

Until the completion of the College's own premises, all students of CW Chu College are housed at International House Block Three (IHB3), which is situated in the short Village Path right next to Mong Man Wai Building where the College Office is located. The location is probably the most convenient among all hostels in the University, in terms of easy access to some of the most important places on campus: the Mall, the University Library, and Benjamin Franklin Centre where communal dining is organized.

New Student Orientation Day

The Chinese University of Hong Kong organized the New Student Orientation Day for HKDSE students on 18 August 2012 (Saturday). A Consultation Area for CW Chu College was set up at Lady Shaw Building to welcome HKDSE entrants and their parents, and to answer their queries. The College Master, the Dean of Students, a number of College Fellows and Resident Tutors also took this opportunity to meet students and to give a detailed account of the major highlights of the College, including its full residence policy, scholarships available, and the concept of the Honour Code, to participants. Two introduction sessions hosted by the College Master were also held on the event day. 

An Orientation Camp (O'Camp) was organized between 3 and 7 September to welcome the first cohort of 75 students to CW Chu College (CWC). The Orientation Camp relied heavily on the most enthusiastic support and assistance from senior students of other colleges who formed the Organizing Committee (OC) and the Executive Committee (EC). These dedicated front-line volunteers organized the programme design, event planning, group dynamics and the delivery of campus knowledge in order to ensure that the new students would have a memorable week and a great introduction to life at CW Chu College and the University as a whole.

"… Stepped out of my comfort zone ... makes me more conscious about my own limitations, and fosters my development..."

The First High Table Dinner was held at Ron's Kitchen, Science Park on 4 Sept 2012, as part of the O'Camp for new students. College members, including Overseers and many friends of the College were all cordially invited to this orientation event, where our new students experienced their many firsts: the first formal event, the first high table dinner and the first time to wear a gown as the College's first students.  

In the academic year 2012–13, a total of 17 admission scholarships have been offered to the entering class. These scholarships are awarded in recognition of the recipients' outstanding academic performance as well as their achievements in non-academic areas.  A number of other scholarships will also be offered to encourage student participation in exchange programmes and to support College life.

As part of the College's effort to communicate with students, a Current Students page was launched just before the arrival of the new students:
  

http://www.cwchu.cuhk.edu.hk/index.php/en-gb/for-current-students

The University Convocation organized a walkathon Road to Scientific Excellence on 2 June 2012, to raise funds for the Institute of Chinese Medicine. The walk started from MTR University Station and ended at CUHK Area 39, and passed the College site along the way. Prof Kenneth Young attended the walkathon and took the opportunity to introduce the College site to University alumni and friends.

               
In future, students can take the same leisurely and eco-friendly walk from the College premises to the train station or the nearby teaching complex.

The next issue of the CW Chu College Newsletter will be published in December 2012. College members are welcome to provide news and contributions (in either Chinese or English) to the College Office via email (info.cwchu@cuhk.edu.hk) by 1 December, 2012.