Buckhannon, WV—In lieu of the College’s decision to open on-line August 17, and re-evaluate on August 28, West Virginia Wesleyan’s Student Senate has taken up a leadership role to help ease the transition for incoming freshmen. Led by President Gavin Wilson, and Vice President Caitlin Cottrell, Student Senate has scheduled two open virtual discussion events between freshman and upperclassmen before classes begin on August 17.
‘Upperclassmen Q&A: How to Effortlessly Succeed at Wesleyan’ is set for Wednesday August 12 at 7 p.m. Freshmen are invited to submit questions as they sign up, and can also ask new and follow-up questions during the session. The topics will range from Greek Life, to studying abroad, to registering for classes.
‘Master Your Major’ is scheduled for Sunday August 16 at 7 p.m. This session will pair freshmen with Wesleyan upperclassmen who share the same major, in order to ask more directed questions and make connections.
In addition to ‘Upperclassmen Q&A: How to Effortlessly Succeed at Wesleyan’ and ‘Master Your Major’, Student Senate has also created a mentorship program to match interested freshmen with upperclassmen who share various commonalities. This program will create a one-on-one setting in which the mentor can be accessible for the freshman within the initial weeks of the semester, and throughout the rest of their first year. Mentors will help answer questions and guide freshmen through everything from academics, student group membership, campus life activities, and utilizing campus resources.
A desire to adapt the freshmen experience at Wesleyan to the current situation was a key factor for Student Senate, as VP Caitlin Cottrell stated “We recognize that nothing will ever truly replace the feelings and experiences that come with the start of your freshman year on campus. Our goal is for upperclassmen to use their experiences and stories to connect with freshmen and show them how special it is to be a student at WVWC.”
Student Senate President Gavin Wilson goes on to articulate the unique opportunity that comes along with a virtual opening, “Incoming freshmen are about to join an extensive support group comprised of caring staff members, ingenious faculty, and above all, close-knit students. Through virtual programming and a newly imagined mentorship program, Student Senate is excited to connect new Bobcats with the knowledge, experience, and wisdom of upperclassmen. Students will find their transition easier and their Wesleyan experience more enriching.”
To sign up for ‘Upperclassmen Q&A: How to Effortlessly Succeed at Wesleyan’ and ‘Master Your Major’ incoming freshmen are encouraged to go to https://form.jotform.com/201563482166051 and https://form.jotform.com/202194521608956, respectively. Students will be sent Google Meet links close to the time of the event. To join Student Senate’s mentorship program, please visit https://forms.gle/c46HPG72n7ZZC6e48.
