{"id":224737,"date":"2024-09-06T09:41:26","date_gmt":"2024-09-06T13:41:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=224737"},"modified":"2024-09-24T10:39:49","modified_gmt":"2024-09-24T14:39:49","slug":"how-montclairs-welcome-week-helps-new-students-belong-and-thrive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2024\/09\/06\/how-montclairs-welcome-week-helps-new-students-belong-and-thrive\/","title":{"rendered":"How Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ\u2019s Welcome Week Helps New Students Belong and Thrive"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Welcome Week invited the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2024\/09\/04\/class-of-2028-is-montclairs-biggest-and-most-diverse\/\">biggest and most diverse incoming class<\/a> at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ State College to fully immerse themselves in the college experience. Under clear skies, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ\u2019s signature red took over the campus as most of the 4,548 first-year students \u2013 as well as 800 new students at Bloomfield College of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ \u2013 enjoyed carnival rides, dancing, club introductions, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8220;Belonging\u201d has emerged as a key focus at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, where the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/office-of-student-belonging\/\">Office of Student Belonging<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/center-for-student-involvement\/\">Center for Student Involvement<\/a> orchestrated special programs aimed at fostering a supportive, inclusive campus where these new students feel valued and connected.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Video: Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Welcomes Largest and Most Diverse Incoming Class | Welcome Week 2024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9rOELDAafuw?feature=oembed\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen style=\"width: 500px; height: 281px; border: 0px solid #000;\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wherever students are coming from \u2013 whether freshmen or transfers \u2013 our goal is to give them a warm, welcoming experience and ensure they know how to find their place at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ,\u201d says Allen Macaraeg, a sophomore double major in Communication and Media Studies, and Public and Professional Writing.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The efforts of the aptly named <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/office-of-student-belonging\/\">Office of Student Belonging<\/a> \u2013 which supports Orientation programs, first-generation initiatives, international students and military veterans \u2013 go a long way in improving retention, academic achievement and overall student well-being, says Director Jonnine DeLoatch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cEverything we do is intentional in helping students affirm that Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ was the right choice, that they can be successful, and to also start to think about how they can develop their potential,\u201d DeLoatch says.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224721\" class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/09\/082324_13397_Orientation-1.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/09\/082324_13397_Orientation-1.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"A student wearing a red Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ jacket holds a bullhorn and smiles while directing new students during Welcome Week festivities.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">With help from Orientation leaders like Allen Macaraeg, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ\u2019s biggest and most diverse incoming class is ready to thrive. (Photo by University photographer Mike Peters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With a bullhorn in hand, Macaraeg was among the Student Ambassadors leading Orientation programming. He knew exactly how the new students felt, recalling his own uncertainty navigating campus life just a year ago. \u201cMy job is to make that leap from the past to the present a little less intimidating,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>What Does It Mean to Belong?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cThe philosophy is that we need to make sure that students feel grounded here,\u201d DeLoatch says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Recently, students were asked, \u201cWhat does belonging mean to you and how do you know that you belong?\u201d Some of the words they use:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I feel safe.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I feel like this is a home away from home.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I feel like I can connect to somebody.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I feel like somebody will look for me if I&#8217;m lost.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sadifa Anjum, a senior Chemistry major, shares that she finds Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ to be a welcoming community. \u201cI see a lot of Muslims walking around, and it makes me feel like I belong,\u201d she says. This sense of belonging has helped her embrace her culture and religion more fully. \u201cWhen you&#8217;re isolated, you want to fit in, but you realize you can&#8217;t because you&#8217;re a little different. At Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, once you see that not everyone&#8217;s the same, you feel it\u2019s okay not to fit in. You find your clique and your people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Belonging also extends to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomfield.edu\/\">Bloomfield College of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ<\/a>. The integration was easily seen at the carnival as students and mascots from both schools, Deacon the Bear and Rocky, shared the experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Personalized orientation experiences at both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/orientation\/\">Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomfield.edu\/2024\/09\/how-personalized-orientations-help-ensure-student-success\/\">Bloomfield<\/a> help set the foundation for student belonging.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224722\" class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/09\/090324_02745_Red_Hawk_Day-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/09\/090324_02745_Red_Hawk_Day-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"A group of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ students, dressed in red, celebrate together during Welcome Week.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ students show their Red Hawk pride, celebrating the new school year during Welcome Week festivities. (Photo by John J. LaRosa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Soaring on Red Hawk Day<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWhen I first came to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ two years ago, I was terrified of how I was going to adjust and make friends. But just from how welcoming the orientation leaders were to the fun events happening, I was able to branch out fast,\u201d recalls Matthew Mcdonald, a junior majoring in Public Relations and Social Media.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Red Hawk Day carnival is a signature event, with about 3,600 students on September 3 riding the Ferris wheel and flying into the semester on a giant slide.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Other highlights include a tropical bash attended by 1,400 students, an intro to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/greek-life\/\">Greek Life<\/a>, craft activities at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/campus-recreation\/\">Campus Recreation<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/student-government-association\/registered-student-organizations\/\">Student Involvement Fair<\/a> and quieter activities like cookies and coloring organized by<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/counseling-and-psychological-services\/\"> Counseling and Psychological Services<\/a> (CAPS).<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u2018Ask Me\u2019 Team Offers Help\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Where\u2019s University Hall? Where&#8217;s the ID card office? Where exactly can I park? Where\u2019s a refillable water station?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cSomeone even asked for a sewing machine,\u201d says Assistant Director of Student Involvement Casey Coleman. On the first day of class, 1,000 questions in all were asked of Coleman and his \u201cAsk Me&#8221; volunteers spread across campus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWe know that, in these first few days, our students are just looking for reassurance \u2014 a familiar face and a sense of connection,\u201d Coleman says. The Ask Me Booths have been a long-standing pillar of Welcome Week. \u201cSince 2005, we&#8217;ve answered 73,336 questions. It\u2019s a service that we\u2019ll continue to provide because we know that simply knowing there\u2019s someone there to answer you can make you feel like you belong.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>I\u2019m a ______, tell me more\u2026<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Prospective Student \/ Parent:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/admissions\/visit-us\/\">Plan a visit to our campus<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/admissions\/\">take the first step in applying to become a Red Hawk!<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Journalist:<\/strong> Contact the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/contact-media-relations\/\">Media Relations<\/a> team for assets or to schedule an interview about this topic.<\/p>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/\/ Output tags as a list for Google Analytics custom dimension\nwindow.MSU_TagList = [];\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome Week, marked by carnival rides, club introductions and special events, focuses on inclusivity and community to ensure every new student at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ feels valued and connected<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":434,"featured_media":224723,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[122,123,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-224737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-admissions","category-homepage-news","category-university"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224737","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/434"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=224737"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224737\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":224850,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224737\/revisions\/224850"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/224723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=224737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=224737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=224737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}