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The Student Affairs Division is excited to welcome all of our students back to campus for the spring semester and we are looking forward to the success of our upcoming programs! The Residence Education Office continues to educate students outside the classroom in a variety of ways. Our Residence Education staff use bulletin boards and a wide variety of programs to educate students about making good choices, safety awareness, civility, and numerous issues that college students face. We also continue to educate students through our judicial education system; our belief is that every interaction with a student holds some promise for learning. The staff are currently working to schedule housing sign-ups and to attract candidates for Community Advisor positions for the coming 2008-2009 academic year. Our newly-hired Coordinator of Student Leadership and Bonner Programs, Kate Hersey, comes to us from Ripon College, where she directed the Bonner Community Service Program for three years. Mrs. Hersey’s responsibilities at Ferrum include coordinating the student leadership program, helping students track their leadership progress in an ePortfolio, and coordinating our Bonner program. She is currently working with the College’s Service Learning Committee to plan and implement a Community Partners Gathering on February 13. This event is designed to bring together campus and community members engaged in volunteerism and service learning so everyone can work toward the same goal of service to others. In the Student Leadership and Engagement Office (SLEO), one of the highlights of the year has been the addition of intramural sports. SLEO collaborates with Residence Education to increase participation, get students to come together, and build a sense of community on campus. Some of the intramural programs include Co-Ed Softball, Flag Football, Basketball, Aerobics, Kick Ball, Frisbee Golf, Racquetball, and Tennis. SLEO is also coordinating Ferrum College’s fourth annual Relay for Life, which is planned for April 4. The Relay for Life is a joint effort between SLEO, other campus offices, student clubs, and community organizations. In addition to countless programs, one of the most unique offered this semester will be the “Biggest Loser” health and fitness program. Our Fitness Center has received some fabulous updates this year. We have replaced aging equipment with new Life Fitness Circuit Series equipment and added a new Life Fitness elliptical machine and plans are underway to expand the workout area. Additionally, we have incorporated the Ferrum Outdoors program into the Fitness Center so we can present a well-rounded approach to fitness. Career Services is a very busy place on campus during the spring semester as our seniors prepare for life after graduation. We kick off the semester with our annual Career Week, February 4-8, during which a series of programs allows students to have their résumés reviewed, participate in mock interviews, and learn about career options. Then our annual Career Premiere Internship and Employment Fair will be held at the Salem Civic Center on February 12 from 1:00-5:00 pm. This fair, a collaboration between eight local colleges and universities, provides students and employers the opportunity to interact directly with one another. Another major program, the Career Focus Dinners, begins on February 20 and occurs weekly throughout the spring semester. This program provides our students with the opportunity to get a more in-depth perspective on a wide variety local businesses. Finally, we will host our annual Professional Protocol Dinner for Seniors on April 3. The goal of this Dinner is to teach students appropriate etiquette for business meals and includes an etiquette program as well as information about how to dress for interviews. All of the assistance we provide for our students will hopefully result in either gainful employment or graduate school following their graduation from Ferrum. |
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