Tartan team ready to make First 50 memorable for incoming students

New surroundings. New food. New friends. New professors. Heavier schedules. More responsibilities. The first two months can be overwhelming for a freshman college student, and how they handle all the "new" can go a long way in determining whether or not they'll be in it for the long haul.

When those new incoming students arrive on campus in 16 days, they'll have a team of Campbell students and staff at-the-ready to make their transition an easy and productive one.

Launched in 2021, Campbell's Tartan program was designed to not only help new Camels transition to college life, but also teach them about the University's history and traditions and the many resources available to them. Tartan has added a "Choose Your Own Adventure" option where students can pick which learning sessions interest them the most during their first week on campus.

Tartan plays a big role in Campbell's First 50 initiative, a series of student life, spiritual life and athletics events planned over the first 50 days of the fall semester to get students involved and engaged. Director of New Student Programs Katy Jones oversees Tartan, a program she says is "critical" to helping students adapt and improving retention between the first and second semester and freshman and sophomore years.

"National research shows that if we don't hook students in the first six weeks, we're going to lose them," says Jones, who took over the program in 2023. "That is why First 50 was formed - so there is something going on every day within those first six weeks. And through Tartan, we hear from so many students who say [their involvement] led to them meeting friends or led to them wanting to be involved on campus.

"Our goal is that by the end of this, they see themselves at home. While Tartan definitely has a lot of information that's important for new students, it's also focused on belonging, making connections and finding your place and your people."

FROM DAY 1

Students wearing "Tartan" shirts will be present at the new student check-in on Aug. 15 - the first move-in day for residential students, with programming for commuter students after new student check-in. But the first official Tartan event this year will be the Welcome Party at 3:30 p.m. that day in the Academic Circle. A Tartan "welcome" will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Hobson Performance Center in D. Rich, and the recent Ignite Your Journey tradition will begin with sparklers under the night sky at 8:30 p.m. in the Circle (followed by a dance party).

Day 2 is no less busy. A breakfast bash, new student worship ceremony, Camel 101 session and move party will be interspersed with three "Choose Your Own Adventure" sessions, which Jones says will include a little something for everyone.

"The Campus Activity Board always has a great activity to get people involved, and IT offers a Blackboard Boot Camp, since all students will need to learn how to use Blackboard [to access classes, grades and more]," she says. "Our library offers tours, and we have great sessions from the Honors Program and Student Government Association and many other departments."

Jones compares the new Choose Your Own Adventure sessions to professional conferences she's attended in the past - events that offer several sessions and allow attendees to pick and choose the session that serves them best.

"Tartan is a continuation of new student orientation and the new Camel journey," Jones says. "I hear a lot from students about how important getting involved is, and for a lot of our students, that starts with Tartan. They're being brave and coming to these events and even dragging their friends to them. They're meeting other groups and new people who are going to be meaningful to them while they're here."

IT STARTS WITH STUDENTS

Jones says Tartan's success is important, because it leads to more students wanting to become involved in Tartan. And that success isn't possible without students who are excited about Campbell and eager to get others involved.

It's a beautiful cycle.

"They are the best group of students ever," she says. "I take a lot of pride in my Tartan team. I train them rigorously. And I get asked constantly from other groups and programs on campus about volunteers from my team - they're just incredible."

Student leaders in the program do earn a small stipend for their work. Tartan leaders lead New Student Orientation and Tartan, and many stick around to help throughout the year.

Junior biochemistry major Rebecca Winslow says she first got involved as a freshman after seeing a flyer asking for "student leaders." She said she considered it for a while and remembered how meaningful and helpful it was during her first few weeks to have upperclassmen reach out and make a connection with her.

She wanted to do the same for future students.

"People are by far the biggest thing I've gotten out of Tartan," Winslow says. "I can walk around campus, and everywhere I go, I know at least two people. It's heartwarming in a way, to always have a friendly face nearby."

Returning Tartan leader Ana Montero-Reyes says she was not involved in much during her freshman year ("I was quiet and kept to myself"), and she eventually realized she didn't want her college experience to remain that way all four years.

"I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and become more involved," she says. "I am very happy that I did because joining Tartan was one of the best decisions I made."

Montero-Reyes says joining Tartan changed her experience at Campbell and made her more confident.

"Most of all, I met some of the most important people in my life through Tartan," she says. "Since joining, I have done things I never thought I could do, like public speaking. I am now much more involved on campus, and Tartan has helped me grow as a leader and student."

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