Creating a sense of community and belonging is a cornerstone of our efforts to promote a culture of student success at Millikin. The first six weeks are a critical time for new college students. During the first six weeks, students are adjusting to a new way of living, learning, studying, working, and taking care of themselves. A lot of decisions need to be made, and they sometimes need to be made quickly. The first six weeks are also about students engaging with and getting connected to campus life and culture: with other new students, with returning students, with faculty and academic advisors, with mentors and coaches, with student organizations, with resources and support services, with different campus offices, and even with the Decatur community. The connections made during the first six weeks can have a positive impact on student retention and success toward degree completion.
The new Great Start First Six Weeks initiative is a significant component of our Success at Millikin Strategy. A comprehensive series of activities and opportunities are designed to help new students start strong and finish strong.
We are grateful to the contributing departments, our student success partners, and the founding members of Millikin’s new Student Success Initiative for their contributions to this effort. The success tutorials are funded by the Title III grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
We encourage all members of the campus community to attend as many events as possible to interact and build connections with our students. Unless stated otherwise, events are open to all students.
Additional student experiences will be added as details are completed. Adjustments may be made to the schedule with or without notice. For corrections, additions, and more information, please contact studentaffairs@millikin.edu.
Kindest regards,
Wallace Southerland III, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Co-Lead, Great Start First Six Weeks Initiative
Matthew Olsen, Ph.D.
Instructional Services Coordinator, Research/Instruction Librarian
Associate Professor and Millikin Foundations Coordinator
Co-Lead, Great Start First Six Weeks Initiative