SIUE Faculty and Staff Give Neighborly Welcome to New Residents

SIUE Faculty and Staff Give Neighborly Welcome to New Residents

On Tuesday, September 8, faculty and staff members from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville visited first year residents in Bluff, Prairie, Woodland Halls and Cougar Village Apartments during the annual House Calls event. House Calls is designed to engage first year students in conversation with faculty and staff early in their transition to campus. This program provides the opportunity for residents to meet with campus personnel, while also getting connected to potential resources and programs.

SIUE community members from multiple divisions and departments, went door to door checking in on residents with how they are adjusting to life on campus, classes and connecting residents to on-campus resources. The night was busy with fun conversations with the largest class of first-year residents in SIUE's history.

House Calls volunteer and Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Angie Royal, EdD, stated, "House Calls is so important, as it allows us to lay eyes on our new students to see how they're adjusting to life on campus. I think it is critical that first-year residents see the army of people here who want to see them succeed. And by coming over to their spaces, hopefully they feel less intimidated to ask questions and share feedback."

"During House Calls, a student answered the door, and I was certain I knew her. We quickly realized I had met her and her family at our admitted student event at Topgolf in Chicago this spring. She remembered me as the guy in the suit trying to hit a golf ball! There was this wonderful moment of recognition that we had gone from meeting in Chicago while she was considering SIUE to catching up at her residence hall door. That is why these events matter," said Interim Vice Chancelor of Enrollment Management, Kevin Wathen, EdD. "The relationships we build during recruitment should continue once students get here. House Calls gives us an opportunity to follow through on the personal attention and sense of community we talk about with students and their families."

Residents will continue to have a variety of programs and support available to them from University Housing and other campus partners as the semester goes on. Residents are encouraged to get involved with their housing communities and on-campus, engaging with the vibrant campus life that SIUE has to offer.

PHOTO: SIUE students assist during move-in week at residence halls