According to Elizabeth Brown, Teaching Fellows Vice President of Engagement at Coastal Carolina University, "Our goal as a program is to create teacher leaders. We try to instill important values into Fellows such as the importance of building relationships with one another. We hope to create a community in our program that is built upon respect, trust, honesty, and support. Events during "Welcome Week" allow our freshmen Fellows to feel welcomed into our program as well as allows current fellows to begin getting to know the freshmen. This helps build community."
COVID-19 restrictions impacted this year's "Welcome Week," but the Fellows still feel it was a success. The incoming Fellows were given an opportunity to interact with each of the individual cohorts on campus. Below is a summary of the week's events.
"Welcome Week" began with a Q&A session conducted via Zoom. This event gave the freshmen an opportunity to ask questions about Coastal, the Teaching Fellows program, or college in general. During the next event, hosted by the junior Teaching Fellows, the freshmen tie-dyed masks. The juniors reported that this was a great opportunity to meet more of the freshmen Fellows. A side benefit is that all who participated walked away with a stylish mask to wear around campus! The third event of the week was a "Mentor/Mentee Walk and Talk." The mentors, who are some of the sophomore Fellows, walked their freshmen mentees around campus to show them exactly where their in-person classes would be held. The mentors and mentees began building relationships during the tour. Senior Teaching Fellows were responsible for planning and facilitating Wednesday's picnic and game night. Elizabeth Brown stated, "Bonding and team building are very important to our program. Our goal is to create a family and support system through our Teaching Fellows Program." On Thursday, the freshmen Fellows met with the entire sophomore cohort for a "Mix and Mingle Movie Night." A relaxing movie, a variety of snacks, and new friends proved to be exactly what was needed! The transition committee at Coastal is comprised of Fellows from each cohort and this group was responsible for holding a BINGO night complete with prizes. "Welcome Week" concluded with a sundae social that brought all members of the Coastal Teaching Fellows family together.
COVID-19 restrictions impacted this year's "Welcome Week," but the Fellows still feel it was a success. The incoming Fellows were given an opportunity to interact with each of the individual cohorts on campus. Below is a summary of the week's events.
"Welcome Week" began with a Q&A session conducted via Zoom. This event gave the freshmen an opportunity to ask questions about Coastal, the Teaching Fellows program, or college in general. During the next event, hosted by the junior Teaching Fellows, the freshmen tie-dyed masks. The juniors reported that this was a great opportunity to meet more of the freshmen Fellows. A side benefit is that all who participated walked away with a stylish mask to wear around campus! The third event of the week was a "Mentor/Mentee Walk and Talk." The mentors, who are some of the sophomore Fellows, walked their freshmen mentees around campus to show them exactly where their in-person classes would be held. The mentors and mentees began building relationships during the tour. Senior Teaching Fellows were responsible for planning and facilitating Wednesday's picnic and game night. Elizabeth Brown stated, "Bonding and team building are very important to our program. Our goal is to create a family and support system through our Teaching Fellows Program." On Thursday, the freshmen Fellows met with the entire sophomore cohort for a "Mix and Mingle Movie Night." A relaxing movie, a variety of snacks, and new friends proved to be exactly what was needed! The transition committee at Coastal is comprised of Fellows from each cohort and this group was responsible for holding a BINGO night complete with prizes. "Welcome Week" concluded with a sundae social that brought all members of the Coastal Teaching Fellows family together.
