Student Convocations to kick off fall semester

Donning T-shirts emblazoned with the University of North Georgia (UNG), playing the fight song and alma mater, and snacking on free food are a few of the activities students can anticipate for Student Convocations on all five campuses as part of the Weeks of Welcome.

The annual event has returned to its in-person format; last year's events were virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Meredith Higgins, assistant director of retention in Enrollment Management, said it is the ideal activity for students to kick off the fall semester on their home campuses.

"New students can meet each other, returning students can reconnect and all of them will understand the meaning of being a UNG student," she said. "It will be a great time as UNG officially welcomes back its students in an engaging atmosphere."

Student convocations, all of which will be held outdoors, are scheduled for:

• Blue Ridge: noon Sept. 1.
• Cumming: noon Aug. 26, at the pavilion.
• Dahlonega: 5 p.m. Aug. 23, on the drill field.
• Gainesville: noon Aug. 23 on the quad.
• Oconee: noon Aug. 25 on the quad.

During each event, attendees will hear inspirational words from UNG cabinet members. They include UNG President Bonita Jacobs; Dr. Chaudron Gille, provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs; and Dr. James Conneely, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management; and representatives from each campus. Gille and Conneely will focus on academic and student engagement while Student Government Association representatives will share personal tales, Stacie Rowley, associate dean of students on the Gainesville Campus, said.

"We want all students to know that no one at the university wants to see them fail in anything academic, mental or social. We have countless resources available for you, and we are all here to help you succeed."

Scott Hefner

interim coordinator of Student Involvement

Sandy Ott, executive director of Blue Ridge Campus, said Xandrea Dantin will share her experiences with the new students and encourage them to engage as Nighthawks.

"This is especially significant since she began at UNG on the Blue Ridge Campus and will take courses on the Dahlonega and Blue Ridge campuses this fall," Ott said.

New students on all five campuses will receive incoming class pins, and all will get a free T-shirt.

These giveaways and activities are part of Weeks of Welcome (WoW), which include social and educational programs aimed at easing the transition to college-level work after the summer break. The Student Convocation is designed to launch the two weeks of WoW.

Scott Hefner, interim coordinator of Student Involvement who is based on the Oconee Campus, said all events are meant to help the new and returning students.

"We want all students to know that no one at the university wants to see them fail in anything academic, mental or social," he said. "We have countless resources available for you, and we are all here to help you succeed."

Higgins hopes the convocations will give students a renewed sense of purpose and belonging and energize them to take on the new academic year.

"We want students to know we are stronger together and want to celebrate the opportunity to be back together," she said. "I hope it's an inspiring and meaningful event."