While many studies show that student apathy is a much greater challenge today than it ever was a generation ago, Wesley College administrators are taking a proactive approach with incoming students to reverse the trend at Wesley College. What better place to start than with the class of 2013, the largest freshman class that has ever set foot on Wesley’s campus. Earlier this year, the Office of Student Life enacted a program to encourage new students to “take a big bite out of their college experience” rather than just go through the motions of school. This took the form of a New Student Leadership Retreat at Camp Saginaw in Oxford, Pennsylvania. While it was an optional program, the idea was to create enough buzz early on to make this an experience the students would not want to miss.

Mary-Alice Ozechoski, dean of students, explained that the Office of Student Life wanted for students to gain an understanding of the opportunities available to them and learn how to get the most out of their college experience. She noted that the model used at this retreat was one she had used at other schools in the past. “I found it to be a very effective tool for increasing student participation in events, clubs and organizations,” she said. Another potential benefit, she pointed out, would be a gain in student retention and overall student satisfaction with the College.

This Retreat gave first-year students a chance to get away and learn new things about themselves as well as Wesley College. Designed to provide insight into the importance of being involved on campus, the Retreat also helped students realize their potential as leaders, emphasizing that leadership skills are not only applicable to teams and campus organizations, but will also benefit them in innumerable circumstances throughout life. Students learned “why leadership and involvement are so critical to employment and graduate school success,” Ozechoski explained.

In total, 110 freshmen and 30 upper-class student leaders, such as the orientation leaders, attended the Retreat. Ozechoski was pleased to see that student attendees found a way to “break out of their shell” and develop skills that she believes will help them negotiate a “complex world.” They gained valuable problem solving, creative thinking, teamwork and communication skills and acquired the stepping stones toward having a beneficial and productive Wesley experience overall. As an orientation leader who participated in the Retreat, Wesley student Noelle Jacob enjoyed being a part of the process that helped the new students “realize what they’re capable of being or doing on campus and in their future.” Jacob found that she strengthened her own individual leadership skills at the same time.

Ozechoski expressed her desires for all students at Wesley, especially the new class of freshmen, to continue to challenge themselves, try new things and become a part of the College by finding their voice and helping Wesley to move forward. “I hope students understand that a small college affords you every opportunity to become involved in or out of the classroom,” she said.

On Family Day on October 24, all students who attended the Retreat were honored at a ceremony and reception at the Wesley Chapel. This gave families an opportunity to celebrate their students’ involvement in the program, and it was another way for the College to reward the student participants for their hard work at the Retreat and leave an impression that they are important to the campus community. Ozechoski commented, “I hope they [the students] appreciate that their talents are unique and that we all benefit from those who are engaged in campus life and then in the larger world.”

For the 140 students who attended, the important skills they learned will serve them well throughout their Wesley College careers and well into their future lives. For some of the upperclassmen like Jacob, participating in the program reinforced the self-fulfillment of being in student leadership roles on campus and how that is perceived by other members of the campus community. “Attending the New Student Leadership Retreat benefited my future by showing individuals I care about being a leader and that I enjoy having a positive impact on others,” she said. For all the participants, the friendships they formed will be another lasting effect of the experience. The bonds and memories made at Camp Saginaw will always be part of their Wesley story.