Above: Students role play a relationship scenario with instructors from JMU’s REACH program.
Making Connections Series Engages Students
Students from several Student Development (SDV) classes and learning communities recently learned about healthy relationships during a Making Connections Series workshop. Through skits, videos, and an audience participation “red flag” quiz presented by JMU’s REACH (Reality Educators Advocating Campus Health) program, students gained a better understanding of relationships and the effect that alcohol consumption can play.
Enhancing first-time students’ success is a major priority this year. A number of efforts, such as SPRINT Student Development (SDV), Welcome Week activities, and peer mentoring and tutoring programs, focus on personal engagement with students by faculty and staff to help them be more successful early on or to identify areas for assistance. An earlier presentation in the series had teambuilding exercises to help students get to know each other outside the classroom.
“Topics are chosen from input by faculty serving on the First Year Student Success Team,” said Rajan Shore, assistant coordinator of academic counseling. “Each session is evaluated by students attending to get feedback.”
Student responses were overwhelmingly positive. For example, 88 percent of students said they gained “a better understanding of BRCC’s plans for the future and campus culture” from workshop attendance. Eighty-two percent had “a better understanding of the importance that making connections with faculty and staff “ can have on student success.
Other workshops in the Making Connections Series, open to all students, are:
Oct. 4 - Classroom Survival Skills
12:30 p.m. Plecker 126A
Oct. 18 - Transfer Tips and What Can I Do with a Major in…?
12:30 p.m., Plecker 26A&B
Nov. 15 - Career Planning
12:30 p.m., Plecker 126A
Nov. 29 - Financial Literacy
12:30 p.m., Plecker 126A
