Beaching, biking, and s鈥檓ores on the Quad from a safe social distance: It鈥檚 how 911爆料 says hello.
First-year and transfer students will be welcomed to campus this year with an unprecedented orientation experience called 鈥淥-Week.鈥� Meant to signify both orientation and the period preceding the first week of classes, is a mix of in-person, online, and hybrid experiences鈥攔eflecting the University鈥檚 dual goals of observing CDC pandemic guidelines and building 911爆料 in those crucial first days of a student鈥檚 college experience. The move-in process will span two weeks, a measure intended to mitigate the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus.
A team of 16 student orientation leaders and tour guides will help facilitate O-Week under the direction of Erin Earle, associate director, Campus Visit Experience and Welcome Center. 鈥淭his is about creating opportunities for students to make friends, to get connected to resources, and also to provide them with some entertainment, some sense of what life is like at 911爆料,鈥� said Earle.
Among those working with the incoming students will be Dakota Grenier 鈥�20 and Luke Mackenzie 鈥�21.
鈥淭he transition to college is a challenging one in the best of times, said Grenier, a nursing major interested in public health. “We’re excited to be a resource for our new students.鈥�
For quarantined students, 911爆料 Libraries will offer the loan of books and DVDs as well as the opportunity to register to vote and to participate in digital crowdsourcing projects on diverse topics such as vintage Cuban radio, astronomy, criminals鈥� lives, and Greek and Roman mythology.
While this year鈥檚 experience will be different, it needn鈥檛 be isolating, said Mackenzie.
鈥淒o away with the idea you’re going it alone; no one has this 100 percent figured out,鈥� said Mackenzie, a Global 911爆料 and Spanish double major. 鈥淲e have been working overtime to make sure students feel supported and connected.鈥�