STUDENT AFFAIRS 12 ANNUAL REPORT Beginning with move-in, incoming first year students were welcomed by student athletes and leaders who volunteered as part of an early arrival program (Key Result 105). “The Office of Residence Life and Dining Services was excited to partner with units and departments across campus to accommodate student volunteers and leaders who wish to move in prior to the official residence hall opening date in support of campus opening (Wolf Pack Welcome) and residence hall move-in,” said Marty Sabolo, Director of Residence Life and Dining Services. The nightly room charge was waived for students in approved student organizations, departments, and fall athletic teams whose returning students volunteer for a 2-hour move-in shift the morning of Aug. 20 to assist with unloading and welcoming new residents. Volunteer hours were offered between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Aug. 20. Directors and coaches were able to request specific times in mid-July. Those wishing to be considered as internal partners and be part of the Fall 2022 Early Arrival Program should contact the Office of Residence Life at 222 Avera Student Center or reslife@northern.edu. Working with partners, Residence Life and TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) hosted a Student Leadership Summit (Key Result 104) during the fall move-in that brought student leaders in Residence Life, Student Involvement and Leadership, and TRIO SSS together to learn about leadership development. The leadership development team from Paradigm Shift hosted the summit. Paradigm Shift, located in Muskogee, Okla., offers dynamic, customized educational content focused on leadership, team building, and personal development. Kyle Price, lead facilitator, has supported student leaders in the TRIO SSS program for the past six years and has continued to bring interactive and engaging workshops for students to learn and grow in their leadership skills. Kyle has loved coming to Northern and working with students on campus. His enthusiastic energy, experiential based technique, and motivational style empowers students each year. “We are hoping to continue this program and involve more student leaders in future years,” said Sean Blackburn, Dean of Students. Students experience improvements driven by Student Affairs Strategic Plan Students arriving on campus this past fall semester experienced improvements in the student environment thanks to the good work of Student Affairs Staff and the Strategic Plan. New tradition – New Student Convocation launched New students this past fall 2021 were welcomed as Wolves with a new campus-wide tradition. On Friday, Aug. 20, incoming first year and transfer students enjoyed the first student convocation in institutional memory. New Student Convocation is Key Result 103 of the Student Affairs Strategic Plan (2021-2025) “In partnership with Academic Affairs, offer a New Student Convocation during Wolf Pack Welcome 2021…” New Student Convocation provides students a more formal and yet exciting welcome to their undergraduate experience. New Student Convocation is the bookend to graduation – the start of their student journey and the first formal gathering of our new class of students. This new beginning will challenge students to rejoin members of their class in four years for commencement exercises as graduates of Northern State University. This event is an important part of a student’s transition from high school students or transfer students to Northern State University Wolves! The planning for New Student Convocation was done by Student Affairs with the support of the Move-in/Wolf Pack Welcome Coordination Committee. The stage party, faculty, and staff arrived by 3:40 p.m. and gathered in The Red Room (117), Johnson Fine Arts Center. Stage Party members led faculty and staff into Jewett Theater, were recognized on stage, and helped form a receiving line as students were led by President Schnoor and SGA President Jacob Swanson to the Wolf Pack Picnic at 5 p.m. on the Campus Green. Dr. Marmorstein, as our most senior faculty member, was asked to carry the mace in the procession. Faculty and staff wore their favorite maroon apparel that day as part of a “Maroon Out” sponsored by the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce and NSU Foundation. The less formal attire of faculty and staff helped the event feel more comfortable for new students.
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