Erskine Gears Up For Class Of 2008 As Erskine College prepares to welcome 178 incoming freshmen Saturday, well before classes start Aug. 30, Dean of Students Dr. Robyn Agnew says she believes the extended orientation process planned for the Class of 2008 will help bring academics and student life together. "We've attempted to join two programs, the freshman seminar and orientation," Agnew said. During freshman orientation, Erskine faculty members will work closely with the Student Services team led by Agnew and Vice President for Student Services and Athletics Monty Wooley. "As director of the Erskine Seminar, I lobbied for the weeklong orientation primarily because it allows the seminar to meet on the Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule as it will the remainder of the semester," Erskine English professor Dr. Brad Christie said. The Erskine Seminar, listed as ES 101 in the college catalog and required of all freshmen, was inaugurated in 2000. "One idea behind the seminar in the first place was to give first semester freshmen something of a leg up on at least one of their first college classes, to give them a feel for college-level expectations and a college schedule," Christie explained. "No college class they ever take is likely to meet on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, as the Erskine Seminar met during orientation until this year, so I think the change will be good for the seminar and our freshman students taking it." Erskine faculty members and administrators will be introducing freshmen to the Erskine Seminar, participating in discussions and debates, and conducting special advising sessions in the dorms during orientation. Staff members and student volunteers will also assist with orientation. "About 90 upperclassmen, including SCA and SGA cabinet members, will be assisting us with activities during the week," Agnew said. "The longer schedule has also allowed for other events we have needed for some time," said Christie, citing a planned session on Erskine's honor code, a hands-on library orientation session, and enhanced team-building and class spirit activities. In academics as well as in recreation activities, the freshmen will be divided into focus groups. "We've added a competition element," Agnew said. "We wanted them to be up and moving during the week—we wanted physical as well as intellectual activity." Among the intellectual challenges planned for the week is a debate. "There are seven debate topics and fourteen focus groups, so that each two groups will have one topic," she said. Also on the academic side, a symposium for freshmen is set for the first Sunday evening they spend on campus. "This is going to be basically a discussion on the book they are all reading, 'The Alchemist,' by Paulo Coelho," Agnew said. Panelists for the freshman symposium will include Erskine President Dr. John Carson, Vice President and Dean of the College Dr. Don Weatherman, and at least one faculty member who is teaching a section of the Erskine Seminar. "One reason we wanted to do the symposium was to raise the bar a little bit, and make it very clear that high school and college are different," Agnew said. "We wanted to show that this is a learning community — that learning here transcends the classroom." "We think this kind of academic event will set the proper tone and perhaps stimulate further discussion of the common reading as the Erskine Seminar gets under way during orientation week," Christie said. Agnew said a real effort is being made to coordinate activities during freshman orientation, including the information sessions students must attend. "We are trying to tie everything together," she said. "Everything they do in orientation will be related to the debate topic assigned to their group. "When they go to their library orientation, for example, the research exercises they do will be related to their debate topic." Special advising sessions in the freshman dormitories will also link academics with residence life. "These are not going to be advising sessions for getting the freshmen registered—they are already registered," Agnew said. "We envision more of a philosophical discussion between faculty members and their advising groups." Competitive recreational activities for freshmen include a raft-building contest at Lake Russell, where students will also be treated to a barbecue. The competition being introduced this year is complemented by a focus on teamwork, cooperation and bonding, according to Agnew. "By the end of the week they will have competed with and gone to sessions with every member of the freshman class," she said. Joining the Student Services team are new and returning Residence Directors (RD's) and Student Life Assistants (SLA's) who arrived starting Friday. Agnew said veteran RD's Ruth Burton, Marlo McDonald and Kelly Gallamore bring a total of 14 years of experience to their work, and she is confident that Matt Parker, Sterling Dowling and Jeff Schrage, all new this year, will display the good judgment and teamwork necessary for successful supervision of residence life. Agnew said about half the 24 SLA's are new, with the others returning for another year of service. "The qualities we seek in Student Life Assistants are about the same as those we want in RD's," she said. "And in SLA's, we look for upperclassmen who are going to enforce the rules, but also build relationships and serve as confidantes." Both RD's and SLA's traveled with the Student Services team to Bonclarken Camp and Conference Center in Flat Rock, N.C., Tuesday morning for a three-day staff retreat. Having their own orientation before the students arrive helps prepare residence hall leaders for living and working with students and enables them to lend support to faculty and staff members during freshman orientation. Such support will be especially beneficial this year during the expanded schedule of events. This year's freshman orientation activities, carefully planned and conducted, should contribute to a positive "Erskine experience" for the Class of 2008. "All of these activities are directly related to goals outlined in Erskine's current strategic plan, so the changes in freshman orientation seem timely and mission-driven," Christie said.