The Appalachian
State University Staff Council, teamed with the Freshman Learning
Communities (FLC), has developed a nationally unique program called
“Adopt-a-Freshman” (AAF).
The program aims to connect incoming students with a nurturing and
knowledgeable staff partner.
“It’s a good program, especially for students who are
here for the first time. They’re nervous. They’re afraid.
They’re away from home,” Co-Facilitator of the AAF Peggy
P. Ellis said Friday. “It’s a way to make them feel welcome
in our community and to help them adjust.”
Proposed in December 2002 as a staff initiative, the AAF program
began at Appalachian this semester. It encourages participating
staff to exchange phone numbers, invite the student into their home,
to have lunch with them, and even help with laundry, Co-Facilitator
of the AAF Amy P. Carson said Thursday.
“The staff members want a bond with the students; each one
is hoping to form a relationship,” Carson said. “Even
though all students are given an information booklet upon arrival,
it’s still nice to be able to pick up the phone and say ‘where
do I need to go and do this?’”
The program started small this semester, with 13 students participating,
but Carson and her colleagues hope some relationships will last
for the entire time the students spend at Appalachian State.
“I would hope that for the next four years [my freshman] can
come to me anytime,” Ellis said.
“[This program] helps me a lot; I really enjoy it,” participating
freshman pharmacy major Desiree G. Dutton said Friday. “I think
it’s a good thing … it’s not only a friend, it’s
like having family.”
Dutton has had lunch with her staff partner, Jackie McInturff, and
has seen the many benefits of the program.
“She even offered her help if I get snowed in and need a ride
or something,” said Dutton.
The FLC helped Staff Council pair willing students to dedicated
staff members after weeding through preliminary registration forms,
Assistant Director of Freshman Learning Communities Nikki T. Crees
said Friday.
“We wanted to make sure that the students who didn’t choose
freshman seminar were getting an outside resource,” Crees said.
Crees sent letters to inform the 14 freshman selected, and only
one student opted out.
“I think it would be hard for a student who starts off at Appalachian
to have any real appreciation for the depth of involvement some
folks have for their well-being,” Director of Freshman Learning
Communities Joni W. Petschauer said Friday.
The level of dedication and love the Appalachian staff has shown
in coordinating this program overwhelms both Petschauer and Crees.
“I don’t know of any other school that has this,”
Petschauer said.
“They do what they do for the students,” Crees said. “They
express so much joy in what they do because of the students.”
Petschauer said the staff is amazing and sees this program as formalizing
the myriad of staff-student relationships that already exist for
a majority of staff members.
Senior communications major Elizabeth “Betsy” Lash said
Friday she believes the program may not be fair.
“I think that a lot of times the school focuses more on incoming
classes, rather than the people that are here now,” Lash said.
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