Passports get freshmen involved
The new Passport To Aggie Adventures gives USU students the opportunity to take advantage of upcoming social and campus events. Working together, the retention and first-year experience office have developed a new way to involve students with all the great things Utah State has to offer, said Noelle Call, retention and first year experience director.
Acting like a real passport, students are able to count each activity for a stamp, as if they were visiting another country. They may choose from four different categories of events: academic, cultural, community and social. Each stamp they receive will count towards great prizes ranging from $10 gift certificates, scholarships, a new computer donated by Best Buy or to dinner with the university’s president, Call said.
The events are targeted toward enhancing students’ experience past the classroom. Like studying abroad in another country, students are able to become more involved in culture and community events, Call said. These events are aimed at bringing new awareness and perspective, to encourage students to explore new horizons.
Jeffery Curtis, sophomore at Utah State, enjoys the program because of the new insights he has gained at each event.
“It really gives me a great opportunity to expand and engage in all the university has to offer,” he said.
At the most recent event, the USU anxiety screening, more than 100 passports were stamped. Averaging about two events a week, students can check out the upcoming events online or by dropping by the office, room 314 in the TSC. More than 3,000 passports were printed, with about 100 or so left to be given out.
Running until the end of November, students still have time to participate in some of the passport activities. First year students were introduced to the Aggie Passport during their connections course, English 1010 classes and Day on the Quad, Call said.
“We are hopeful this project can be extended beyond fall semester and to all students in the future,” Call said.
Pushing to expand on the program to more students for the upcoming year.
Char Wright, USU freshman, really likes the program and is looking forward to the great prizes. She said she became involved through her connections class.
“It’s a great way to get out of my comfort zone and see really what this university has to offer,” she said.
When asked if there was anything that she would add or change to the program, she said she thought the events should be better advertised on campus for the passports.
“It just seems like things travel so much faster by word of mouth,” she said.
If any students would like more information, just check out the Web site, www. usu.edu/passport or call the retention and first-year experience office.
-c.child@aggiemail.usu.edu