Welcome Week! Encourage your new student to take part. You can find the complete schedule at this link. http://muw.edu/welcomeweek/
Beginning Saturday, August 8, a full slate of activities is planned specifically targeted for new students. The week is designed to introduce students to their new community, to give them a chance to meet and interact with new classmates, to explore opportunities for getting involved and to ease them through the stress of finding their place on-campus.
We will work hard to get students involved; some might even say we are a little pushy. But without that effort some of the more reserved tend to hold back. In return we ask that students just “give-it-a-shot”. Most find there is something worth exploring. Everyone needs to find something, somewhere, or someplace that’s right for them …a place where they feel meaningfully engaged.
The transition into the MUW campus community will prove important to their success in the long run – both inside and outside the classroom. And the transition into this community will require, to some degree, that they make a transition away from the communities in which they have been involved. Not to say that they should (or would) forget long-time friends and family, but they need to invest some time in building new relationships if there is to be the same support and enjoyment experienced in past circles.
It is so easy to stay connected with old pals, even when students are physically removed from their home communities, through Facebook, texting, e-mail or phone, it can be more comfortable for some students to spend all their free time chatting electronically with folk back home. Although it is certainly good to check-in once in a while, students need to get out and explore this new world.
It will be worth the effort.
