August 18, 2014
Campus ‘move-in’ days scheduled as summer fades
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg – Face it. Summer’s almost over.
You can sense it on college campuses, which are getting ready to welcome back students
for the start of another new academic year.
For the most part, freshmen will be the first to arrive on campus en masse during
“move-in” days, which are scheduled this week at all 14 Pennsylvania State System
of Higher Education universities. Classes start Aug. 25.
There will be plenty of faculty, staff and returning upper classman on hand to greet
the new students and their parents. And they’ll help with some of the heavy lifting
too.
It’s all part of a concerted effort to help make that sometimes difficult transition
to college life go just a little bit easier for the incoming class.
“More than 800 upper class students, faculty, staff and community leaders will join
us in welcoming some 1,000 new students and their parents to campus by helping them
move into our residence halls before the start of fall semester classes,” said John
Bonando, assistant vice president for student services and co-chair of the Weekend
of Welcome (WOW) program at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.
During move-in day at SRU, the helping hands actually will form a “bucket brigade”
to deliver suitcases, trunks and boxes of students’ belongings from their cars to
their rooms in the residence halls.
“It’s fun to watch,” Bonando said. “The welcoming nature of our current students is
infectious, and parents, many who are leaving their child for the first time, are
impressed.”
The scene will be repeated across the state, starting today and continuing through
the weekend.
Administrators will pitch in too – and not just from the universities themselves.
State System Chancellor Frank T. Brogan and a small team from the Office of the Chancellor
in Harrisburg will travel to Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Thursday morning
to help students there move in for the first time.
“This is a big day for students and their families—one that is usually equal parts
excitement and anxiety,” Mr. Brogan said. “So, we just want to do whatever we can
to help make it go a little easier for the new student, and for mom and dad.”
Helping students move in is just part of the transition process. Most of the universities
already have held orientation programs for both freshman and transfer students, beginning
back in the spring and continuing throughout the summer. Others will include several
days of special programming this week. Some of the special programming will run through
the entire academic year.
The goal of the programs is to help familiarize students with the campus and all college
life has to offer – both academically and socially – so they get off to a good start.
“We know that college students are successful when they have formed strong and supportive
connections, not only with their peers, but also with their faculty,” said Rhonda
H. Luckey, vice president for student affairs at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. “Building relationships and becoming actively engaged in campus life create a sense
of belonging.”
IUP hosts a variety of activities for first-year students during Welcome Weekend,
concluding Sunday afternoon with a campus-wide convocation featuring both student
and faculty speakers and a picnic in the Oak Grove.
“It’s an important beginning for our first-year students,” Luckey said. “Throughout
the weekend we offer opportunities for our students to become acquainted, to learn
how to navigate the campus, and to discover the rich resources IUP has available to
foster their success.”
All of the State System campuses have special activities planned for their new students.
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania will offer three days of programming between move-in day and the first day of classes,
covering topics including healthy decision making, conflict management, time management,
budgeting, dealing with homesickness and living in a new environment.
California University of Pennsylvania’s orientation program will offer a student-focused experience that will introduce freshmen
and transfer students to the services and programs available at the university. Students
trained as orientation leaders, as well as campus staff, will lead sessions designed
to foster interaction among students and smooth the transition to campus life. The
three-day orientation will conclude Sunday with a student convocation and core values
candlelight ceremony, followed by fireworks.
New Cheyney University of Pennsylvania students will participate in Wolf Orientation, three days of special activities that
will begin the day after move-in day, and include introductory sessions on the university’s
learning communities, student activities and campus involvement and will conclude
with a block party.
Clarion University of Pennsylvania’s Discovery Weekend will include a welcoming picnic for students and their families
and a variety of sessions on topics including responsibility and accountability; academic
and career essentials; violence prevention and personal safety; and diversity and
civility. The weekend will conclude with a convocation and reception Sunday evening.
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania’s Discovery Weekend will include the Stony Acres Adventure experience, 3½ days of physical,
emotional, social and experiential activities. The weekend will conclude with an academic
convocation and picnic on the Shawnee Quad for all students.
Welcome Weekend begins Thursday at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania with move-in, a picnic and an outdoor movie. Other events include Playfair activities
night, a class photo in Sox Harrison Stadium and “Club Rush,” which will be held Sunday
as a way to introduce new students to the many campus organizations they might wish
to join. Edinboro also will offer an extensive First-Year Experience program that
will include a variety of academic programming and support services throughout the
year. It will combine seminar courses, first-year advising opportunities and a Common
Hour to assist students in becoming oriented to the classroom, campus and Edinboro
community. The university this year is offering 22 FYE courses, a combination of special-topic
courses and general education courses with special content and focus.
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania’s Connections orientation program is a comprehensive overview of the university experience,
and includes special programming for both students and parents.
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania freshman will participate in a seminar in which they will read and discuss the Jon
Krakauer novel Into the Wild. A variety of themed activities will be held throughout
the year. The first-year-experience program at LHU also will include a required orientation
program as well as a common set of learning outcomes, appropriate class schedule,
and an early warning system to identify students who would benefit from additional
assistance.
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania will host a residence hall welcome and block party for students on move-in day. Students
also will attend academic department meetings and will have the opportunity to attend
a variety of entertainment events, ranging from a ventriloquist and comedian to outdoor
movies. A community service event, club and organization fair also will be held. The
university also offers a series of first-year seminars for new students.
Millersville University of Pennsylvania will hold its orientation program for freshmen and transfer students beginning Thursday.
The program will include a variety of informational meetings as well as entertainment
and social events, including a convocation and candle lighting ceremony around the
campus pond Saturday evening.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania will include among its welcoming events an opening convocation ceremony and Student
Involvement and Services Fair, which will allow students the opportunity to speak
with representatives from student groups on campus, as well as from community organizations.
It is an opportunity for students to learn about volunteering, club sports, leadership
opportunities and employment possibilities. An important part of the orientation process
is Academic Day and its related service-learning projects. Academic Day and other
Fall Welcome Week programs are designed to help students connect and stay connected
with the university and local community. Service learning projects have included clean-up
of a local stream, working with the annual Shippensburg Corn Festival and a lemonade
social at a local senior citizen center.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania’s orientation weekend will include a president’s welcome and picnic as well as a variety
of special programs on student involvement and discussions on alcohol and other drugs
and consent and sexual misconduct education. A series of programs, events, open houses,
educational information and BBQ’s will be held during the first week of classes to
help students become engaged in the campus community. Students also will have the
opportunity each month to attend a 30-minute session on topics such as how to schedule
for the spring semester, tips for writing a term paper, and how to take better notes
as part of the New Student Success Series.
For more information on special programs and services the universities provide for
new students, go to the links listed below:
Bloomsburghttp://www.bloomu.edu/registrar/freshmen
Californiahttp://www.calu.edu/current-students/new-student-resources/orientation-and-registration/orientation/index.htm
Cheyneyhttp://www.cheyney.edu/universitycollege/Wolf-Orientation.cfm
Clarionhttp://www.clarion.edu/1831/
East Stroudsburghttp://www.esu.edu/admissions/undergraduate/orientation/index.cfm
Edinborohttp://www.edinboro.edu/departments/provost/fye/
Indianahttp://www.iup.edu/welcomeweekend/default.aspx
Kutztownhttps://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/orientation.html
Lock Havenhttp://www.lhup.edu/students/student_resources/cei/fye/
Mansfieldhttp://www.mansfield.edu/fye/first-year-seminars.cfm
Millersvillehttp://www.millersville.edu/admissions/undergrad/newlyadmitted/
Shippensburghttp://www.ship.edu/Orientation/Students_Page/New_Students/
Slippery Rockhttp://www.sru.edu/studentlife/Pages/WeekendofWelcome.aspx
Californiahttp://www.calu.edu/current-students/new-student-resources/orientation-and-registration/orientation/index.htm
Cheyneyhttp://www.cheyney.edu/universitycollege/Wolf-Orientation.cfm
Clarionhttp://www.clarion.edu/1831/
East Stroudsburghttp://www.esu.edu/admissions/undergraduate/orientation/index.cfm
Edinborohttp://www.edinboro.edu/departments/provost/fye/
Indianahttp://www.iup.edu/welcomeweekend/default.aspx
Kutztownhttps://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/orientation.html
Lock Havenhttp://www.lhup.edu/students/student_resources/cei/fye/
Mansfieldhttp://www.mansfield.edu/fye/first-year-seminars.cfm
Millersvillehttp://www.millersville.edu/admissions/undergrad/newlyadmitted/
Shippensburghttp://www.ship.edu/Orientation/Students_Page/New_Students/
Slippery Rockhttp://www.sru.edu/studentlife/Pages/WeekendofWelcome.aspx
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