HARTSVILLE, SC (WBTW) – Incoming freshmen at Coker College are getting a taste of college life ahead of move-in day in August.
Coker Connection is a three-day introduction to the school. Students will spend the next few days meeting their fellow classmates and roommates, exploring the campus, meeting their professors, eating at the dining hall, and spending the night in the dorms. Vice President of Student Success Brianna Douglas says it’s all about getting students acclimated and comfortable before the start of the semester.
“Research tells us that students who make meaningful connections early on in their college career have a better chance of persisting Through college and that’s very important to us. No matter what background you come from, at Coker college, you have an opportunity to succeed here and that’s really starts with Coker connection,” she said.
Students say Coker Connection helps alleviate some of the pressures of the first day of class.
“You won’t come in nervous and having to meet new people off the get-go of the school year. So I think this is a good experience,” said Nicholas Alstoe.
Student Chair of Coker Connection Austin McCutche says there are more team-building activities are planned for Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, students will head to the White Water center in Charlotte for a day of rafting, zip lining, and rock wall climbing. On Tuesday, students will get the chance to meet their professors and participate in their first college discussion.
“This year, we watched Black Panther. So we’ll be doing a discussion with professors about the movie that relates to society and how that movie had a cultural impact,” McCutche said.
The next Coker Connection will be held on July 23. Registration closes on July 18.
