Fall Welcome program to help acclimate new students

By Paula Fader
Western Herald

First year students who are feeling a little lost when they arrive to Western Michigan University need not look any further than Fall Welcome. The program intends to acclimate new students to life in Kalamazoo over four days of programs.

“Our hope is that students will conclude the week feeling much more comfortable on campus and ready to begin a successful semester,” said Adrienne Fraaza, a coordinator of the program.

Not only are participants able to move into the residence halls a week early, but they also will be given a chance to meet other students and become better acquainted with both campus and the Kalamazoo community.

“We keep the students very busy during the week,” Fraaza said.

Every morning students will meet with their Ambassador to prepare for a day full of sessions and activities. During the What You Really Want to Know Breakout Sessions students will be able to personalize their experience by choosing up to three sessions to attend, among which are information on financial aid, campus involvement, and an academic advising panel. In addition, there are many social activities including Click Downtown, in which participants are given an interactive tour of downtown Kalamazoo. “The highlight of the week for many students,” Fraaza said.

Program coordinators believe that the best way students can use their time during Fall Welcome is to attend the sessions and activities.

The program is an easy way for incoming students to meet people and become comfortable on campus before classes start. If that isn’t incentive enough, prizes such as a 19-inch flat screen TV, a mountain bike, and partial tuition for a semester are raffled off at every presentation.

In previous years, Fall Welcome was optional for freshman. This year, however, all first year students are expected to attend. Many past participants have voiced the opinion that the program is an integral part of the WMU experience and should be required for all incoming students.

“Welcome week was a blast,” remembers WMU junior Anastasia Dumenjich. “I met so many friends during that time and would have been lost without it.”

Students who do not wish to participate are considered exemption on a case-by-case basis.

Transfer students who are not necessarily new to college are given the option of attending a separate branch of the program called Transfer Express.

Because their needs vary from those of first year students, “Transfer Experience” participants are given the option to attend transfer-specific programming in addition to the regular Fall Welcome activities.

Fall Welcome is in its tenth year and participation has increased from 500 students the first year to over 3,200 this fall.

“Every year our numbers increase and every year more students say what an invaluable experience the program was,” Fraaza said.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=7265

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Aug 30 2009. Filed under Campus, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com