Courtesy of the Indiana Daily Student
Published August 18, 2017

The Office of First Year Experiences highlighted Wells Library as a social space Thursday night by providing free food, games and opportunities to meet new people at the Herman B House Party.

“The principal idea of this event is that we want to show students that the library is their space,” said Michael Courtney, outreach and engagement librarian and event organizer. “What we’re interested in is that the students are meeting and interacting with each other.” Read More

Courtesy of the Indiana Daily Student
Published May 31, 2017

First year students moving to campus early will be expected to participate in the Experience IU program through the Office of First Year Experience Programs.

The Experience IU program is run through an app, which allows students to view campus events and add them to a personalized schedule.

The overall goals are to help students who come to campus early become familiar with IU and meet other students. Read More

Courtesy of the Indiana Daily Student
Published October 27, 2016

Students can grab their trick-or-treat bags, throw on their costumes and get ready for a scare, because on Friday, IU Late Nite is hosting a Scream Fest.

Six different locations will be sponsoring different spooky activities Friday for students to attend — for free.

“We are very excited,” OASIS director Jackie Daniels said. “It’s nice to help students plan scary events that offer alternatives to traveling off campus or to parties.”

Daniels has been planning the Scream Fest for a few months with the IU Late Nite committee. Read More 

Courtesy of the Indiana Daily Student
Published August 17, 2016

With almost 100 Welcome Week events, the Office of First Year Experiences tried to make it a little easier for students to find programs that interest them.

To encourage students to attend different programs across campus, FYE created a new program titled Experience IU. The program begins during Welcome Week and will run throughout 
the year.

As part of the program, FYE created a new app to help students navigate their first year. The app, titled “Experience IU,” includes a schedule maker, a GPS and map, and a lineup of events. It also sends push notifications with changes to events and weather alerts. Read More

Courtesy of the Indiana Daily Student
Published January 26, 2016

"As Alie Wilson talked part-time jobs with a MoneySmarts team member, her young daughter Anya ran around exploring tables and snagging candy and pamphlets.

Wilson, an IU senior, balances her studies while taking care of her daughter. Although she said she has a solid grasp on her personal finances, events like the MoneySmarts WinterFest can provide good opportunities for her future.

“My daughter’s biological father lives so far away,” Wilson said. “It can get hard to make sure there’s enough for all the bills after paying for travel and other necessities.”

Wilson, who studies at the School of Public Health, heard about the WinterFest and decided to come to the resource fair Monday at the Indiana Memorial Union. She wanted to see what it had to offer including information on payment plan services to semester-based job opportunities.

She comes from a military family, and said she bounced around frequently in the past, but now she said she wants to settle down with her daughter and find a job in Colorado, preferably in hospitality, tourism and event management.

“In the process of finding a job, it’s always good to see what I can do to make paying off school easier,” Wilson said.

Wilson, along with other students of several disciplines and financial backgrounds, attended the 
WinterFest.

The program included a Resource Expo and a talk headed by financial planning expert Peter “Pete the Planner” Dunn.

Dunn was joined over Skype by Scott Wise, CEO of Scotty’s Brewhouse, a successful Indianapolis-based restaurant and sports bar chain.

Throughout the event, students had several opportunities to enter free giveaways and play games to win prizes, including several scholarships." Read More

Courtesy of the Indiana Daily Student
Published August 25, 2015

"The IU Guides program began 10 years ago. Sarah Nagy, senior associate director in the Office of First Year Experience Programs, said approximately 150 people, including faculty, staff, alumni and returning students, volunteer as guides each year.

“The IU Guides program helps students to see IU as a caring community, and since faculty, staff and students volunteer, it helps personalize this large institution,” she said. “It also reinforces the idea that students should ask for help if it is needed and someone will be there to assist.”

Rob Meyer, assistant director of Activities and Events at the Indiana Memorial Union, said he has participated in the IU Guides program for the past few years.

“My shift started 30 minutes ago, and I’ve already helped about 10 people,” he said. “It’s fun to help out the students on their first days of classes.”

Freshman business student Jason Biggs said without the IU Guides stationed beside Sample Gates, he would not have found his next class in the Kelley School of Business.

“I was on the complete opposite side of campus and had no idea where I was going,” he said. “I tried to write directions on my hand the night before, but talking to a person was much more helpful...” Read More

Courtesy of the Indiana Daily Student
Published August 19, 2015

"CultureFest, now in its 16th year, begins at 4:30 p.m. in the IU Auditoriumwith a performance from Native American drum group Strong Heart Singersand an appearance from diversity speaker Kevin Wanzer. It will then move to the Fine Arts Plaza at 5:30 p.m., Morin said.

Included in the outdoor part of the festival will be a variety of IU’s culture and support centers that will offer food and games in addition to information about their respected cultures. There will also be henna tattooing, balloon animals and caricature artists, Morin said.

Morin said CultureFest aims to give organizations opportunities to introduce students — especially first-year students — to different, unfamiliar ideas and cultures within the context of IU.

“They’re exposing students to something new in a safe, fun way,” he said. “It’s really their first exposure to all the opportunities here at IU.”

While CultureFest is geared toward first-year students who make up the majority of attendees, the event isn’t exclusive to first-year students, he said.

“We know students come back year after year because they love it so much,” he said.

CultureFest is so popular, they often have to turn students away at the Auditorium doors when the event fills up, Morin said..." Read More

Courtesy of the Indiana Daily Student
Published July 22, 2015

"Burr, a junior next year, just finished her first summer as an orientation leader, a job she took because she didn’t want other students to have the same experience she had two years ago.

“I wanted to make sure that students felt better about being here, and I was pretty nervous as well, so I wanted to make sure I connected with those students to get them excited about being here, to get them to relax and realize everything’s going to be fine,” Burr said.

The O-Team is a select group of students who stay on campus over the summer to lead incoming freshmen through New Student Orientation. Each individual’s skills and talents are given the opportunity to thrive in several leadership positions during NSO, which ended Tuesday. Members can start as orientation leaders or program assistants..." Read More

Courtesy of the Indiana Daily Student
Published July 5, 2015

“Welcome to College” will remain one of the highlights for IU student and cast member, Brianna Holt’s time as a college student.

“I think it’s really cool to see how everyone starts out a little hesitant about the only thing,” Holt said. “By the end I’ve only heard that this is students favorite part of orientation. It was my favorite part of orientation when I was a freshman...” Read More