DEARBORN, MI - Imagine you are a freshman in college or a transfer student about to start classes at a university. The expectations are new, the faces are new, the campus is new and you are filled with a mix of excitement and anxiety. “Just make it through the first week!” you tell yourself. The College of Education, Health, and Human Services (CEHHS) wants to ensure that students feel welcome and supported in their experience at UM-Dearborn every day, but especially during that unpredictable first week.
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| Jonathan Larson, Academic Advisor and Tahnee Prokopow, Director of Health Professions Advising |
This year the CEHHS Office of Student Success (OSS) comprised of advisors and academic support staff, decided to ramp up their welcome back activities and meet students where they are. The office set up a station for the first two days in the 2nd floor lobby of Fairlane Center South and offered students coffee, donuts, and pizza on their way to and from classes, as well as access to their Academic Advisors and a chance to play a “Spin to Win” game. Additionally in the OSS, students were offered snacks labeled with funny sayings about getting through the first week of classes.
Students visiting the office during the first week of classes had an opportunity to visit the CEHHS Selfie Station and take a picture with a white board stating what they hoped to learn or accomplish this semester.
To kick off the first Monday classes, Academic Advisors Jonathan Larson and Lindsey Tarrant, set up on the University Center Stage to play “Minute to Win it” games and answer advising questions with students.
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| Playing "Minute to Win It" at the University Center |
"The Welcome Week activities were a great way to connect and re-connect with students who attended UM-Dearborn last year, or who attended freshman or transfer orientation over the summer. It was refreshing to see so many CEHHS students as they started Fall 2016", said Jonathan Larson.
The Office of Student Success organized the series of “welcome back” activities to ensure students have the opportunity to meet the staff that is available to support them and remind them to have a little fun during their first week of classes.
“I think one of the most simple but helpful ways we were able to support students this week was showing them to their classrooms", said Lindsey Tarrant. "Fairlane Center South can be a maize to those not familiar with it and you could just see the stress on faces when students came up the stairwell.
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| Lindsey Tarrant, Academic Advisor receives students in the second floor lobby of Fairlane Center South |
In addition to the activities, the CEHHS Office of Student Success remained open an extra hour to be available to students needing to add or drop classes, set up advising appointments, and to help students find their way to their 6:00p classes.
The main goal of these activities was to give a warm reception to all students and make them feel at home. Though the Welcome Week is over, all CEHHS staff is still here to support students.
The College of Education, Health, and Human Services is pleased to welcome all UM-Dearborn students, new and returning, and wishes them success in this Fall 2016 semester!
Contact the CEHHS Office of Student Success:
Fairlane Center South, 262
313 - 593- 5090
Visit the Office of Student Success webpage.
For Academic Advising schedule your appointment online.
Fairlane Center South, 262
313 - 593- 5090
Visit the Office of Student Success webpage.
For Academic Advising schedule your appointment online.
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| CEHHS Office of Student Success Team (from left to right): Jonathan Larson, Carolyn Williams, Lindsey Tarrant, Elizabeth Morden, Judy Garfield and Joann Otlewski |
