A new feature of the freshman experience this year is the Well Connected Initiative, which is run by the Division of Student Life, a committee within the Office of Student Involvement.
According to Aliana Harrison, associate director of residence life for residential education and community development, who coordinates the initiative, its goal is to engage freshmen in positive interactions during their first six weeks at Elon University. The committee’s goal is to use these events to build connections and strengthen the sense of community in the Class of 2023 as students transitioning into college.
“Our hope is that the Well Connected Challenge will help students to meet other students and get to know Elon University and all it has to offer,” Harrison said.
The challenge invites students to use PhoenixConnect to find programs and events within the following three categories: community, late night and wellness. The events are designed to cater to different student interests, from Trivia Night to College Coffee.
The community category encourages students to connect with each other through social, cultural and residential neighborhood events. For example, many of the residential neighborhoods at Elon offer community-building events, intended to help students adjust to dorm life from making s’mores in East Neighborhood to Thursdays in the “T Room” at Colonnades.
Student Union Board is a student organization that plans and hosts activities in the late night category, such as trivia, bingo, movies and live entertainment. According to SUB’s website, these events are meant to foster a sense of community by providing the student body with a variety of entertaining programs and to promote interest at Elon by cooperating with all departments and organizations.
The wellness category offers programs that focus on student health, both physical and mental.
These activities may focus on exercise, sleep, nutrition, fulfillment and personal growth. Campus Recreation & Wellness is the hub for these events concerning physical and emotional wellbeing. Its affiliate programs such as Elon Outdoor trips, intramural sports and group exercise classes offer a healthy way for new students to spend their time.
Other resources on campus such as the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, the Center for Leadership, the Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education as well as the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement, hold events that they say are intended to help students discover their purpose and passions while at Elon, making them partners for the Well Connected Challenge.
According to Harrison, getting involved with the Well Connected Challenge is easy. At participating events students tap their Phoenix Cards, signifying their attendance. Each week, prizes are raffled off to those that attended.
Freshmen who attended four out of the five programs were invited to a dessert reception with President Connie Book to recognize their engagement with the challenge.
Each year, a working group consisting of staff members within the Division of Student Life brainstorm new ideas for student engagement at Elon. The committee is charged with promoting event submissions to PhoenixConnect and marketing the importance of involvement and making connections with new students.
Harrison hopes is the initiative allows freshmen to learn about resources on campus and encourages them to make healthy choices about how they spend their time particularly their social activities.
“It allows students to begin thinking critically about how to positively get engaged and connected at Elon, including exploring their passions and being more curious about new experiences and opportunities,” Harrison said.
Harrison said her favorite part of Well Connected was when the first weekly newsletter was sent out to the Class of 2023 and students started eagerly responding and asking questions about this opportunity for involvement.
The banquet, which will mark the end of this year’s initiative, is planned for the evening of Thursday, Oct. 31.