'Jump Start WWU' kicks off school year early for 200 students and their families

Student Outreach Services (SOS) staff celebrated Jump Start WWU with 200 students, their families, faculty and staff on Friday, September 20, and Saturday, September 21.  Jump Start is an early orientation program within SOS, an office intentional about serving first generation, non-traditional and multicultural-identified students at WWU, through a host of services including, but not limited to, peer mentoring, academic coaching, individualized tutoring services, EDUC 108 courses and a host of other culturally relevant student development programming.

Friday’s program included new transfer students.  The theme was Know, Feel, Do. Throughout the day students participated in workshops that included cross campus collaboration that fostered high-quality and diverse discussions about academic success, cultural pluralism, identity recognition and appreciation, and holistic wellness on campus and beyond. 

Students ultimately left:
KNOWing themselves and their uniqueness at WWU
FEELing empowered and enthused to take on the challenges of college life
DO- employing their agency to build holistic wellness and healthy relationships across campus

Friday evening, SOS hosted First-Year Jump Start students and their families.  On Saturday, these students attended workshops similar to the transfer workshops.  Jump Start enhances and supports students’ transition to Western by allowing them to build a community and support network with their peers, WWU faculty and staff and develop a strong understanding of how to navigate college. Students walked away knowing that SOS CARES: You Belong Here.

Student Outreach Services is located in Old Main 387, office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-in Advising Hours: 8 a.m. to noon, and 1-5 p.m.

This event was made possible by the combined efforts of many campus friends from the Counseling Center, Career Services, Veterans Center, Disability Access Center, Prevention and Wellness Services, the Student Business Office, Education Abroad, Western Library Learning Commons, Western Reads and First Year Engagement, the Dean of Students Unit and Associated Students of WWU, Financial Aid and Scholarship Offices, Transport Services, University Dining and Residences.
 

Students and their families in a procession through campus
in-class discussion during Jump Start
in-class discussion during Jump Start