Instituting a day of service with new student orientation

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Abstract

For new students at Eastern Michigan University, a service component during orientation week highlights the campus' focus on civic engagement and places service within the larger community context. Scott Craven, AmeriCorps*VISTA leader with Michigan Campus Compact, submitted this effective practice in September 2005.

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Issue

Offering a service component during new student orientation quickly builds camaraderie and can highlight the university's focus on civic engagement.

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Action

New student orientation (known as Fusion at Eastern Michigan University) is a four-day event with a different theme each day: Family, Academic, Collegiate, and Community Fusion. During Community Fusion day, "Volunteers Incorporating Service Into Our Neighborhoods" is highlighted. Steps for creating and implementing this type of event are as follows:

Planning

  • Determine community sites at least three months in advance.
  • Send a letter to prospective community sites and use a form for them to confirm their participation.
  • Follow up with phone calls at least a month in advance and then again a week before to confirm and reconfirm.
  • Look for work that can be done within the time frame allotted and that is near the institution.
  • Reserve transportation according to the guidelines at your institution.
  • Make sure to have a gathering location and order food for your participants.
  • Work with new student orientation to send out sign up forms to new students.
  • Allow new students to sign up on-line.
  • Use upper class student site leaders for each community site.
  • Order t-shirts for participants in order to establish unity and provide an incentive.

The event

  • New students gather at a central location to meet, sign in, receive a t-shirt and eat.
  • Participants receive a welcome from the Vice President of Student Affairs as well as the Director of Campus Life and the VISION Student Coordinator.
  • The groups are sent off no later than 9:30 and return no later than 12:30.
  • Students are placed at sites based on their interests and are given a chance to meet the rest of their team and site leaders.
  • Work that is usually done in that time frame consists of smaller tasks that can be accomplished in two hours.
  • Some examples of past service includes: landscaping for a Habitat for Humanity house, landscaping for a child development center, work with a community garden, river or park clean up, prepping child centers for their upcoming session, mailings, painting murals, work with animal sanctuary or humane societies, and work at the area library.
  • When students' service is complete, they receive "Ypsi" bucks, which are accepted as cash at various vendors in the historic depot town, Ypsilanti, allowing students to further explore the community.

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Context

Eastern Michigan University has successfully included a service component within new student orientation since 1997.

FUSION provides a series of learning activities aimed at helping students make a smooth transition to life at the University. This orientation program introduces students to the University's expectation that community service is a critical component of their development as good citizens.

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Outcome

Offering a service component during new student orientation or welcome week

  • Helps students become engaged civically and gain a more global perspective
  • Allows students to make the connection between their new campus and community

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Posted On

October 4, 2005

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Source Documents

Related Practices

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Related sites

Fusion: New Student Orientation

AmeriCorps*VISTA

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