University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

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As part of the ROCK Camp ses¬ sion, freshmen take part in a rafting trip on the Illinois River. The rafting trip was one of the many activities designed to help students meet one an¬ other before move-in day in August. Courtesy Photo ROCK Camp provides chance for new students to meet others and adjust to college life Carolyn Finnie Being accepted to college was no easy task. And even more dif¬ ficult were the challenges facing incoming freshmen once they ar¬ rived: meeting new people, adjust¬ ing to the freedom and finding a balance between school and play. ROCK Camp, a division within the First Year Experience program, was designed to help incoming students become acclimated to the college lifestyle. ROCK Camp, which stands for Razorback Outreach for Commu¬ nity Knowledge, was founded in 2002 in response to the student re¬ tention problem between first- and second-year students. The UA’s goal of raising the retention per¬ centage was focused around FYE. FYE looked at model programs across the country and developed ROCK Camp as an opportunity to reach out to new students. As a result, the UA’s retention rate had increased 15 percent. Although the first ROCK Camp trip in 2002 drew only 67 students, approximately 500 students at¬ tended the camps that took place in two sessions prior to the begin¬ ning of the 2004 fall semester, on Aug. 10 and 11 and Aug. 20 and 21 in Welling, Okla. Most stu¬ dents were incoming freshmen; however, the program was open to transfer students, as well. “Over time, FYE would like to serve the whole freshman class.” said senior Kelsey Bunker, assis¬ tant director of ROCK Camp. At ROCK Camp, students learned tips for having a success¬ ful college experience through a series of lectures on stress, time management and career choices and presentations by motivational speakers. Their experiences during the two-day sessions also gave new students the opportunity to learn about the UA tradition. Students also participated in a rafting trip on the Illinois River. “Some students aren’t success¬ ful their first year in college, and Rock Camp provides an oppor¬ tunity to interact not only with other incoming students but also with faculty and upperclassmen to help and inform the students,” said Shailen Singh, associate director of FYE and ROCK Camp. The most challenging obstacles students learned to overcome at ROCK Camp were “the transi¬ tion of leaving your home and the shock of coming into interacting with others,” Bunker said. “Not only can students build friendships with other incom¬ ing students but also learn inside tricks to being successful,” Singh said. “Students can develop rela¬ tionships and learn traditions, in¬ stilling a sense of pride in being a Razorback.” Beyond the ROCK Camp ex¬ perience, FYE also offered classes as electives to freshmen. These classes were taught by professors throughout the campus’ colleges and departments. They were de¬ signed as a means of offering as¬ sistance throughout new students’ first year at the UA, building on the foundations that were laid at ROCK Camp. Core elements included time management and health. As the size of the incoming class grew each year, FYE helped to en¬ sure a successful transition for all. Boosting Success 25 boosting SUCCeSS

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24 Student Life AtLkY Vw YW

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UA students Whitney Haynes and Jeff Hobson grieve as they watch the final results of the 2004 presidential election on an overhead TV. Haynes and Hobson gathered with oth¬ er members of the Young Democrats organization for a watch party at Sodie’s Bar and Grill. Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Traveler