Student_Affairs_Annual_Report_2021

then given the challenge to create a safe on-campus experience only a month after offering a whole new virtual experience. Few, if any other institutions across the country were doing in-person orientation, so this required a great deal of attention to detail and innovation from the New Student Programs team. “The team’s hard work, adaptability, creativity and passion for students – along with best practices from NODA (Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education) – made it possible,” said Megan Frewaldt, Director of Student Involvement and Leadership. A strong commitment to supporting students during the transition to college led the group to offer students a safe arrival to campus for Move-in and Wolf Pack Welcome. “These critical programs help transition students from high school to college. These represented the first large-group student gatherings at Northern during a pandemic. A great deal of careful planning and dialogue were needed to safely welcome our new Wolves. This truly was a campus wide effort, but our Orientation Leaders deserve special recognition for their leadership in setting the atmosphere for their fellow students,” noted Frewaldt. Safe Student Activities The Campus Activities Board (CAB) was charged by former President Downs to offer students an array of safe but still engaging activities and opportunities. The challenge of connecting new members of the Northern community was made more interesting due to the pandemic. “The CAB student leaders did a wonderful job,” Frewaldt said. “They were creative and fearless when it came to trying new programs. Virtual events, more outdoor events and group virtual events were all offered at a greater pace than normal, which required experimentation and going back to the drawing board time after time. The CAB students continuously explored innovative ways to meet the social needs of Northern students.” The team in Counseling and Avera Student Health opened and safely operated a COVID-19 testing Students enjoying the Fall 2020 Involvement Fair. Wolf Pack Welcome imagery. Steele Hall, named for Dr. N. E. Steele, a lifelong South Dakota educator who served as Northern’s seventh president, from 1939 to 1951. STUDENT AFFAIRS 9 ANNUAL REPORT