As Drew University welcomes a new academic year, it also opens its doors to 640 first-year and transfer students. With a massive influx of new students who may not be familiar with all that Drew has to offer, we wanted to let everyone on campus know about the resources available to them.
Most of the returning students know that it is imperative to attend events and partake in clubs if they want to find something to fill their time with on campus. Of course, as a small liberal arts college, it might feel slightly daunting to figure out new spaces to join.
However, Drew’s Student Engagement team is attempting to reinvent their programming approach with what they are calling the Ranger Programming Board. This new organization (formerly Drew Night Life) aims to host nighttime events just like before, but now, they are also adding daytime events.
This change was announced in August, just before the start of the new school year, via the Drew U Student Activities Instagram page. With its new model, RPB will offer programs that take place weekly during the day. Previously, Drew Night Life events were only held at 8 p.m. on Friday nights, a time when commuter students would already be home for the weekend. The board still plans to hold late-night events, but will now do so monthly. Furthermore, traditional events such as Family Weekend, Winter Ball, Drewfest and more will still be held through the Office of Student Engagement.
“The Ranger Programming Board is a new programming model that was designed to increase on-campus engagement within student activities,” said Megan Fonseca, coordinator of student engagement. “We hope that students are excited for new events and opportunities that come from this change.”
From a student perspective, this restructuring will hopefully bring with it more improvements to the activities, food and prizes offered at events. Day-time events should also show improvement in commuter attendance, since nighttime programs were previously difficult for them to attend. Additional expectations include seeing more variation in event types beyond the typical carnival and dance programs that are usually held.
Students should also take note of the various academic resources available with their tuition at Drew. The Center for Academic Excellence and the University Writing Center, for instance, are two resources that everyone should utilize. Both provide students with access to student tutors who have taken the same classes, know the material well and are even recommended by professors to work there. These student employees have experienced courses firsthand and are equipped to help those currently enrolled in the course with any questions they may have, whether it be understanding course material or preparing for a test.
Aside from tutors, the CAE also has students, known as academic coaches, who can help anyone plan out their schedules to balance time for class, homework, extracurriculars and social commitments. Additionally, the UWC provides students with assistance in outlining, proofreading and any type of essay or other writing needs one may have. Those who find themselves struggling to understand a concept in class or need help writing an essay should take advantage of this Drew-specific resource.
Though we highlighted just a couple of the improvements that Drew has planned, as well as initiatives that the University already has in place, there are so many other means to making the most of one’s time here on campus. Upcoming RPB events include “Showgirl Era: Countdown to The Life of a Showgirl” on Oct. 2 and Pumpkin Painting on Oct. 14.
To stay up to date with other future events and announcements, be sure to follow @drewstuact on Instagram.
The Lead Editorial is a reflection of the collective opinion of the editorial board.
