Student Union, Student Activities, Greek Life, Leadership and related

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Phyllis Jordan
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1 Award Title Loyola University Chicago 2010 Welcome Week Program Awards Categories Student Union, Student Activities, Greek Life, Leadership and related Executive Summary What can 5 days do for a new student? Purposeful programming can transform an individual student, and moreover, can change your entire community for the better. Loyola University Chicago s Welcome Week 2010 was designed to provide a menu of opportunity for new firstyear and transfer students to become familiar with Loyola, our Rogers Park neighborhood, and the greater Chicago community. As a Jesuit, Catholic institution, we are characterized by educating students that all people and societies are interrelated and interdependent; our university community is a microcosm of that truth, and Welcome Week is the first chance our students have to experience it. As an urban institution with an increasing percentage of residential students, Welcome Week 2010 had a specific aim to create a culture of activity happening on campus. However, the planning team pushed further than just filling time on the schedule, and strived to create events and activities that challenged and encouraged new students to engage. This year s schedule added 6 new and/or additional late night activities for supplemental social opportunities and alcohol-free alternatives, making 2010 the first year that every night of Welcome Week had programming after 9pm. In addition to meeting students demands for a late night schedule, Welcome Week 2010 covered a variety of other student wants and needs, namely: Teaching students how to navigate public transportation and campus buildings Providing opportunities to meet other new students and current Loyolans Allowing parents & family time to meet administrators and feel comfortable leaving their student Becoming familiar with Loyola s mission, traditions, and values Event Highlights: Rogers Park & Edgewater Neighborhood Walking Tour: A collaboration between Community Relations, Student Activities & Greek Affairs, and neighborhood restaurants, this tour was led by student leaders. This allowed students who took the tour to ask real questions in a less pressured environment about living in the neighborhood. Speed Greeting: In a format similar to speed dating, students learned names, faces, and fun facts about other students in attendance. In only its second year, attendance more than doubled to 150+ students.

2 Parent Lounge: Held in a central location on campus, Alumni Relations partnered with the planning committee to invite faculty and staff to meet with parents who needed a break from moving. Parents were able to learn about resources on campus, including the Parents Association. Convocation Walk & New Student Convocation: For the second year, all new students participated in a symbolic entrance to their academic life via procession to the New Student Convocation. Led by the VPSA and the Student Body President, the Class of 2014 walked together through a tunnel of cheering faculty and staff. Retention relies upon all new students becoming comfortable on campus and making connections with other students, staff, and faculty. It is our hope that NASPA will choose to recognize and award Loyola University Chicago s Welcome Week 2010 as a leading, forwardthinking program model for providing students with a successful transition to college. Award Description Program Outline & Description: Loyola University Chicago s Welcome Week is five days of intentionally varied and wideranging programs and events for all incoming students, designed to ease transition into the university and campus life. Beginning with the first day of move-in and ending the night before classes begin, Welcome Week provides a myriad of choices for students to interact with one another on campus and in Chicago. Relevance to institutional mission Welcome Week seeks to fulfill the Jesuit ideal of educating the whole person, or cura personalis, by providing a range of activities. Offerings from Campus Recreation, Sacramental Life, the Wellness Center, and others give a balanced outlet for students in transition. Demonstration of success in addressing student needs and/or critical campus issues Though Loyola is the nation s largest Jesuit, Catholic institution, it has one of the smallest campuses in the Association of Jesuit Colleges & Universities, and is mainly comprised of two separately located campuses: the urban and diverse Rogers Park neighborhood and the downtown Water Tower area near Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile ). This unique geography affords students many opportunities to entertain themselves off-campus, however, as an institution with an increasing residential population, it was important for Welcome Week to create and build upon a culture of activity happening on campus. Attendance at every event held during Welcome Week 2010 increased over previous years events or exceeded expectations for new events often by %. Further, every late night activity was filled to (or exceeded) capacity. Importance to one or more program areas included in this category Welcome Week served as an important introduction not only to our Student Activities & Greek Affairs programs, but also to our campus Student Union. In order to increase traffic in our student union, multiple late night events were scheduled throughout the building. The planning

3 committee worked with the Student Union Director to design layouts and building flows that encouraged students to find hidden spaces. Collaboration with Academic Affairs and other departments The program is principally planned by the Office of Student Activities & Greek Affairs, but relies heavily on collaboration across the Division of Student Development, as well as key partnerships in Academic Affairs, Community Relations, and Alumni Relations. Each partner was critical in providing a collective community welcome for our new students. Staff and faculty from across campus also attended events and volunteered their time as support staff, organizers, greeters, and speakers. Effective use of technology and other resources The planning committee had an internal goal of implementing a strong integrated marketing plan. Each freshman received a Welcome Week pocket-sized schedule upon move-in (or at the Information Table for commuters), as well as a packet of 4 buttons designed to advertise upcoming events. Additionally, the Welcome Week website ( was kept up to date, along with a Twitter account ( various Loyola facebook pages, large bulletins & signage, and plasma TV screens across campus. We feel that the cohesive design and look within the marketing mix helped increase attendance overall. Evidence of sustainability Two new green sustainability initiatives were woven into the Welcome Week 2010 program: 1. The Center for Urban Environmental Research & Policy coordinated with the planning committee to have recycling stations and recycling helpers at each of the major picnics and events to increase recycling and reduce waste. 2. The gardening club, Growers Guild built a sustainable garden on the roof of a residence hall with Welcome Week financial support. The club hosted 3 workshops during the week to teach new students how to grow room-sized plants, find edible plants on campus, and live more sustainably in the halls. In addition, Welcome Week has continued to receive ample financial support from the university, even in tough financial years, because of demonstrated success in providing new students with a smooth transition to academic and campus life. With or without extra funding, additional programs have been added each year, with continued interest from campus departments in serving on the planning committee. Positive impact on student learning, transitions, retention, and/or success Though the submission limitations do not allow for full details on each program within Welcome Week 2010, an outline is provided below. For a list of every event and description, visit: Day 1: Wednesday, August 25, Context: Out of State Freshmen Move-In Day

4 Annual Parent Move-In Reception (Alumni Relations) Zumba! fitness program (Campus Recreation) Hypnotist late night program Student Activities & Greek Affairs (SAGA) Ramblin Music Fest late night program (SAGA & Student Union) o The Student Union had a different musical act or food attraction in each room. Day 2: Thursday, August 26, Context: In-State Freshmen Move-In Day Reception for Jesuit High Schools Class of 2014 (Ministry & Sacramental Life) Discover Rogers Park and Edgewater: Walking Tour (Community Relations) o Tour of neighborhood with Welcome Week Leaders and lunch at a local eatery. Genesis Multicultural Student Welcome Reception (Student Diversity & Multicultural Affairs) Annual Parent Move-In Reception (Alumni Relations) Family Mass (Sacramental Life) Family Picnic (Division of Student Development) Loyola-Opoly! - late night program (Campus Recreation) o Loyola s real-life version of Monopoly; various physical & mental challenges. Late Night Speaker, 5 Secretes to Collegiate Success ( SAGA) First Taste of Chicago late night program (SAGA & Student Union) o Late-night trolley tour of the city; concluded at the Student Union, where varieties of Chicago-style pizza were in various rooms. Day 3: Friday, August 27, Context: All new students moved on campus, no upperclassmen moved in yet First Year Survey (Residence Life and the Department of Psychology) o Online questionnaire regarding new student transition (in its 2nd year of study). To learn more, visit LUC.edu/ firstyearsurvey. Morning Run around the neighborhood and lakefront (Running Club) Yoga Class (Campus Recreation) Growers Guild Workshops (gardening club) First-Year Residence Hall Floor Meeting, hosted by Residence Life Commuter Meeting (Off-Campus Student Life) Convocation Walk (Division of Student Development) New Student Convocation (Division of Academic Affairs & Division of Student Development) Rambler Rally (Athletics Department) Sex Signals late night speaker/theater program (SAGA) Speed Greeting, late night program (SAGA) First Trip to Target (1 of 2) late night program Late Night at Loyola with ((dop)) ( the student programming board: ((dop)) o Where do Ramblers go after dark? Various activities throughout the student union, samples of weekly late night programs.

5 Day 4: Saturday, August 28, Context: Out of state upperclassmen move-in day Saturday of Service (Ministry, Center for Community Service in Action, Community Relations, & SAGA) o Neighborhood service project led by Ministry student leaders. Discover Chicago (SAGA) o Student-led trips into the city, acclimating new students to public transit. Saturday Night of Comedy with Seth Meyers, late night program ( SAGA) CFSU Casino + Bingo w/ WLUW, late night program ( SAGA, Student Union, & Student Radio Station) Day 5: Sunday, August 29, Context: In-state upperclassmen move-in day Choral Rehearsal for Mass of the Holy Spirit (Sacramental Life) OMG. LUC? (SAGA) Welcome Week Leaders explain what a syllabus is (and how to read it), how to open your mailbox, find your classes, etc. Mass of the Holy Spirit (Ministry & Sacramental Life) Regardless of your faith tradition, this mass provides an opportunity for all members of the Loyola community to pray for God s blessing on us. Mass of the Holy Spirit Picnic (Sacramental Life & ARAMARK) Movie Night at the New 400 Theatre (SAGA) Welcome Week 2010 Assessment Data: The planning team for the 2010 Welcome Week Program designed an assessment plan to evaluate learning outcomes and satisfaction. The plan was executed in two parts. Part one was the design and implementation of a qualitative survey measuring both learning outcome achievement and student satisfaction with the program. The survey was sent via to all new students (first year and transfer students). Part two included the planning and facilitation of two student focus groups. The data collected through both methods yielded positive results. Learning outcomes guided the design and coordination of the 2010 Welcome Week Program. The learning outcomes were written keeping in mind the development of incoming and transfer students as well as the introduction of the institution s core values. The five learning outcomes and the data collection results for each outcome are listed below. As a result of attending the 2010 Welcome Week program: 1. The number of students reporting enhanced familiarity with the Loyola, Rogers Park, and Chicago communities will increase. o 96% of respondents reported feeling more familiar with Loyola

6 o 82% of respondents reported feeling more familiar with Rogers Park o 84% of respondents reported feeling more familiar with Chicago 2. Students will be able to identify Loyola's core values. o Just fewer than 50% of respondents were able to identify Loyola s core values. 3. Students will report feeling a part of the Loyola University Chicago community. o 95% of respondents reported welcome week giving them a sense of community o 95% of respondents reported welcome week made them feel part of the Loyola community o 99% of respondents reported feeling comfortable on campus 4. Participants will be able to identify at least one faculty, staff, or student leader that they met during Welcome Week. o Nearly 50% of respondents were able to identify at least one faculty, staff or student leader they met during welcome week o 95% of respondents reported feeling connected to peers o 66% of respondents reported feeling connected to faculty o 74% of respondents reported feeling connected to staff o 90% of respondents reported feeling connected to student leaders 5. The number of students reporting being satisfied with their decision to attend Loyola will increase. o 91% of respondents reported feeling satisfied with their decision to attend Loyola The data collected proved to be strong evidence for the positive impact the 2010 Welcome Week Program had on the new student community. Out of 34 different activity offerings, 32 received an overall rating of satisfied or higher from respondents. Through both the survey and focus groups we asked students to tell us what they liked about the 2010 program. A few of their answers are below: All the activities that were planned made move in less stressful, especially emotionally. All the events were fun. I had a blast and I met a ton of people and made lasting friendships. [Welcome Week] gave you time to relax and take your mind off of the difficult transition away from home and into Loyola. [I liked] getting to know the school and making it your own. I loved the aspect of community. It was a great way to get exposed to the sights and surroundings and the people and all Loyola has to offer. [I was] so nervous about coming to college, I would be a failure, lost and confused, but Welcome Week I wasn t even homesick during it or after, it really helped me out. I appreciate that. I was planning to transfer out second semester I m a Syracuse legacy I believed it was the better place for me, until the VP of the University shook my hand at one of the events. My view

7 has completely changed. I fell in love with the campus already, but now Loyola s the place for me. I m not transferring anymore. I never felt like a number, I still feel like a person here. I didn t have any doubts before, but it solidified that choice. YES, I turned down Purdue for this!! Awesome community, awesome city. We also asked students to articulate how the program could be improved. Even that question yielded positive responses; see examples below: Welcome Week should be able to accommodate all students for all activities. Welcome Week was great overall!! There were just a couple of areas that were a little iffy for me. Still, I'd rate it as an awesome experience. Welcome week was really fun. None of my other friends have something like this at their college. Thanks for a great welcome week! The planning committee designed the program to ensure all new students felt welcome, comfortable and engaged. The program incorporated a variety of activities to ensure students with varied interests felt part of the community. Welcome Week eased students transition to campus, increased students sense of connection with campus and its community members and ultimately made students feel welcomed. The assessment findings show learning outcomes were achieved and at a statistically significant rate students were very satisfied with the 2010 Welcome Week Program.

Time Event Description Location. Friday, August 17, 2018: *** Please have your packets with you at all times

Time Event Description Location 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Information Booth 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. IDs, T-Shirts, and More! 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Residence Hall Move-In 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sign Up for Advising! 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Campus