Patty LaMantia, RN, BC MNEd
Director, Health Center
pll@pitt.edu
 

Activities Fair

Getting involved in college can make or break your student’s experience.  Joining a student organization will not only help students meet others on campus with similar interests, but improve their ability to succeed academically and feel a connection to the campus community.  If a student is involved, he or she will spend more time on campus and have more opportunities to interact with faculty, staff, and students.  Consequently, students who do not get involved spend less time on campus and may not have regular contact with the campus community. 

On Wednesday, September 9, from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Student Services will sponsor the annual Activities Fair on the Chambers lawn.  The Activities Fair provides Pitt-Greensburg’s 50 student organizations a chance to display their groups and recruit new members.  Representatives from each student organization will be available to answer questions and tell students how to join.   This is a great opportunity for students to see which organization they are interested in joining. 

Additionally, many campus departments will be on hand at the Activities Fair to showcase the various services that are available for students at Pitt-Greensburg.  All students are encouraged to attend.  There will be food, games, and prizes!

Counseling Corner - Freshman Experience

 Starting college brings exciting changes, which can sometimes be stressful.  The following is helpful information for families and loved ones about common issues that freshmen often deal with during the first few weeks of college, with some suggestions for how to support your student: 

Homesickness   When everything around you is unfamiliar, it’s easy to feel homesick for what you’re used to – home, family, high school routine.  Encourage students by reminding them that homesickness almost always goes away in a few weeks. 

Living with Roommates   Most freshmen have never shared a bedroom before, and if they have, it’s been with a sibling.  Living with a stranger can be intimidating, and if roommates don’t become best friends it can be disappointing.  Encourage students to address conflicts before they become crises and to express themselves respectfully when problems arise.  Remind them that while their roommate may not be their best friend, there are other students who will become good friends in time. 

Anonymity   Incoming freshmen may feel invisible at first when no one knows them or their individual talents.  Remind your students of their unique qualities and encourage them to find a group or club on campus where they can express their identity. 

Time Management   Increased independence at college impacts choices about when and how long to study, getting to classes, and remembering due dates.  Encourage your students to use some sort of planner, and remind them that the study habits they form their first semester will be hard to break later on. 

Financial Concerns   Worries about money for school can be very stressful.  Help your students to make careful choices about spending and saving money, and remind them there are free events on campus. 

Building a Social Life   Freshmen want to make friends, fit in, and feel a sense of belonging to the campus community.  Joining campus clubs and attending Student Activities Board (SAB) and Village-sponsored events are good ways to make these important connections.  Pitt-Greensburg is a dry campus.  Attending parties off campus, while it may feel like a way to fit in, can be dangerous.  Nationally, the period from move-in day to fall break is a time when first-year students are at higher risk for sexual assault, often because of choices made in response to perceived pressure to fit in.  Ninety percent of the time the victim knows the perpetrator, and 90 percent of the time alcohol is involved in these situations.  Pitt-Greensburg is a very safe campus, but it is still a good idea to remind your students to make good choices and stay safe. 

For Commuter Freshmen   Fitting in can be more difficult when you don’t live on campus.  It can be tempting to go home for long breaks between classes and to not come back for evening events in the Villages or with SAB.  Please encourage your commuter students to stay during breaks and for occasional evening events.  The Fireside Lounge in Chambers Hall is designated for commuters.  The library, Bobcat Station, and other common areas are great places to meet other commuters as well.  Remind commuter students that they are by far the majority on this campus – whatever worries they have about fitting in on campus are certainly shared by many of their peers. 

Please feel free to contact the Counseling Center at 724-836-9870 or gaylep@pitt.edu with any questions or concerns about how your students are adjusting to college during this exciting time.

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