New Student and Family Programs
New Student & Family Programs (NSFP) at the University of Arkansas is a collaborative effort developed to enhance the academic and social integration of incoming students through a variety of classroom and co-curricular activities. NSFP is comprised of four programmatic areas including Extended Orientation Programs, Parent & Family Programs, Leadership & Late Night Programs, and First Year Initiatives. During the 2011-2012 academic year, NSFP focused on ways to better serve its constituents through the creation of new programs and services and also focused on ways to enhance programs already in place.
Extended Orientation Programs: More than 500 students participated in the Extended Orientation Camp Programs including R.O.C.K. Camp and R.O.C.K. Camp Adventure. Two sessions of each program were held, and all were huge successes. Also, Hog W.I.L.D. Welcome Weeks was held in both the fall and spring semesters with more than 50 programs and events geared at assisting new students in navigating the campus and successfully transitioning as a student at the University of Arkansas.
Parent & Family Programs: Under a three-fold mission to encourage healthy and supportive family/student relationships, to serve as the link between the University of Arkansas and parents/families, and to provide parents and families with resources, events and communication to encourage their student’s growth and personal success; the Parent & Family Programs area provided key resources and events to family members. More than 3,200 guests attended Family Weekend and Spring Family Reunion, and the Parent Partnership Association had a record 600 members. Regional Parent Clubs also launched this year to assist parent and family members in being more connected to the university by networking with others in their areas. Regional Parent Clubs launched in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Little Rock, and Northwest Arkansas. Parent Partner Association, Arkansas Alumni Association, and the Student Alumni Association partnered to offer joint membership benefits to constituents under a new program dubbed Razorback Advantage to be piloted during June 2012 New Student Orientation.
Leadership & Late Night Programs: In its first year under the purview of NSFP, the Leadership & Late Night Programs area celebrated huge successes. Friday Night Live held 14 programs during the fall and spring semesters with more than 9,000 students in attendance. Twenty-seven co-sponsors assisted in providing exceptional programs for students on Friday nights throughout each semester. The Emerging Leaders program revised its curriculum to focus on learning areas including self-awareness, communication, diversity, teamwork, ethics and career opportunities. Also, with the institution restoring December graduation this year, Leadership & Late Night Programs initiated the first Fall Graduating Student Leader Reception as a way to honor those student leaders who graduated during fall commencement.
First Year Initiatives: Comprised of New Student Convocation, First Year Photo Project, AlcoholEdu, and First Year Honor Society, the First Year Initiatives area celebrated many successes this year. More than 3,000 students attended New Student Convocation and Burger Bash. We secured a charter for a chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta First Year Honor Society.