Programming
Programming is offered in collaboration with the Office of Residence Life, the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Leadership as well as other key offices across campus. Key programs in the second year experience at Miami University include:
- Second Year Retreat
- Second Year and Transfer Connections
- Alternate Spring Break
- Mentoring Programs
- Second Year Advisory Council
- Career Chats
- Second Year Orientation
- EMPOWER
- EDL 100 Career Development and the College Student
- Job Shadowing Opportunities
- Student Created Upper Class Student Communities
- Faculty Round Tables
- Off-Campus Landlord Fair
Second Year Retreat
September 2009 will be the first Sophomore Retreat offered at Miami University. The retreat will be an overnight, off-campus event where students can attend programming geared at helping them avoid the “sophomore slump”, select a major, articulate some life goals, and become more connected with other second-year students. The Second Year Retreat will be September 18 and 19, 2009. Students must register for the camp. A limited number of students will be able to attend. Cost for students for attending the camp has been covered by funding from the Parent's Office. Students will leave campus on a Friday afternoon and return the next afternoon. Print the form on the left and return it to Mike O'Neal, Warfield Hall, Rm 217 to register for the retreat.
Second Year and Transfer Connections
A camping and whitewater trip to New River Gorge, West Virginia, will be coordinated prior to the start of classes each year. This will be an opportunity for 1) second year students to reconnect; and 2) a chance for transfer students to meet other students prior the start of classes.
Alternate Spring Break
An alternate spring break 2010 is being planned for second year students. Over spring break, students will be able to camp and hike at a location yet-to-be- determined for the majority of the break.
Mentoring Programs
Mentoring programs will be offered where second year students seeking entry into a major will be paired with a junior or senior student in that major. Mentors and mentees will meet on a regular basis and have guided discussions to help sophomore students successfully gain entry into the major. It is hoped that the mentors will be able to successfully communicate academic strategies and techniques that will allow the sophomore students to be successful in meeting their goal of entering a major as well as academic success during the junior and senior year.
Second Year Advisory Council
A Second Year Advisory Council is being created so that a small group of students can help the university program to second year needs. The council will consist of approximately 10 – 15 upper class students. These students will be engaged in several leadership dialogs at the start of their tenure, determine some programmatic needs of sophomore students, develop goals around those needs, then engage campus resources to meet those needs.
Second Year Orientation
Open house events are scheduled for the second week of school (August 31 to September 4) Fall 2009. Offices that will be participating in orientation by providing an Open Houses include the Career Services, Student Health Service, Rinella Learning Center, Study Abroad Office and Community Engagement and Service.
EMPOWER
Coordinated through the Office of Community Engagement and Service: EMPOWER is a nine-week program that combines service, education, and critical personal investigation to foster social awareness and build community. By meaningfully engaging students through first-hand service experiences and facilitating an examination of social issues, EMPOWER leads to a better understanding of social justice and creates positive change in our local communities. EMPOWER will be offered to residential students as well as to the fraternity community. EMPOWER may be taken for academic credit as an “Add 1”.
EDL 100 Career Development and the College Student
Coordinated through the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Leadership: This is a career development class designed to help students determine their interests, skills and abilities for the purpose of selecting a major and focusing on career options. Specific sections of this class are reserved for sophomore fraternity and sorority members as well as sections for the general sophomore student population.
Job Shadowing Opportunities
In collaboration with our academic partners, we are developing opportunities for students to job shadow Miami Alumni during the summer after their sophomore year. Often internships are only offered to students after their junior year. If a student decides during an internship that the major/career choice they have already made may not be a good fit for them, reconsidering that decision when they return for their senior year may be too late. A job shadowing opportunity directly after their sophomore year may give students appropriate information to commit to their major or rethink that previous decision.
Student Created Upper Class Student Communities
Coordinated through the Office of Residence Life: Students can initiate community housing options around a specific theme that bring students together to enhance their on campus living experience. These Student Created Communities will provide a unique opportunity for any upper class students who share a common interest to live together in order to enhance their learning and overall residential experience at Miami University. This is an excellent opportunity for residents to continue the themed housing from their freshman year into the sophomore year or for residents to address an important topic that has not been addressed in existing upper-class Living Learning Communities. Living themes could be based around healthy living choices (alcohol, drugs, tobacco), spirituality, intramural sports teams, student groups or any area of academic interest. Student interested in this option need to apply for housing. If approved, they are able to select their housing prior to general housing selection.
Faculty Round Tables
Second year students will have the opportunity to meet with faculty and junior and senior students within a major in a small group setting in order to discuss issue of interest. Faculty will be guided with “talking points” to engage conversation around what the students should expect during their junior/senior year in the program as well as the real world (day to day) functioning of people employed in the specific career path.
Off-Campus Landlord Fair
The Off-Campus Housing Fair, hosted by Associated Student Government (ASG) September 14, 2009 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.in the Heritage Room in Shriver Center, is an opportunity for students to see their options for off-campus living and for local landlords to showcase their properties. Representatives from the University’s Office of Off-Campus Affairs, the City of Oxford, Student-Community Relations Commission, and Oxford Tenants’ Organization will be there to serve as resources for questions attending students may have. The Off-Campus Housing Fair will serve as a valuable component of students’ search for off-campus housing.
Career Chats
Offered in collaboration with the Career Services Office: Have lunch with a recruiter who is visiting the campus and conducting interviews in Hoyt Hall. Recruiters from local and regional companies visit Miami and conduct interviews on a regular basis in Hoyt Hall. By participating in a Career Chat, a group of students will be able to meet and have lunch with a recruiter and engage in discussions about major selection and finding a career. This is an excellent opportunity for students to gain insights into the major selection process and connecting a major to career/employment goals. Career Chats will be held each Wednesday from September 28 through November 18, 2009. Lunches will be RSVP events and will be free to students. CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO REGISTER:
http://survey.muohio.edu/checkbox/careerchats.aspx
