The University of North Georgia Office of Student Involvement is hosting “Commuter Life Appreciation Week” from Sept. 23 to Sept. 27. This is a university-wide event with activities happening at the Dahlonega, Gainesville and Oconee campuses and online.
David Michener, director of Student Involvement said while he wanted to hold activities on all five campuses, resources at the two smaller campuses are limited. “I have a bigger plan of how to grow it a bit more,” he said. “This is year-one. I don’t have a big budget in year-one, so you kind of have to grow it as you go.”
The Office of Student Involvement is partnering with several other UNG organizations throughout the week to celebrate commuter students.
“We want people to be proud they are commuter students…. These students work their asses off to be going to class, working, being a mom at home, being a dad at home and then coming to school. That’s a lot.” David Michener, Director of Student Involvement
Below is an outline for each day’s activities:
Day 1: Monday, Sept. 23
Commuter Life Appreciation Week launches with “Coffee and Coasters,” where students are invited to enjoy free coffee as they meet and socialize with peers. It will be hosted in the Hoag Student Center Patio in Dahlonega; the Student Center Lobby in Gainesville and the Atrium at the Student Resource Center in Oconee from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additionally, there will be a “Custom License Plate” activity where students can create personalized license plates for their vehicles from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Student Center Commons (Food Court) in Gainesville. “Hawks on the (Virtual) Road” is an online event from 1-2 p.m. aimed to help students manage their time and give them strategies for effective studying.
Day 2: Tuesday, Sept. 24
The “Dance Fit (Zumba) & Meditation Session” consists of a free 30-minute class with Coordinator of Fitness, Wellness and Health Promotion Sara Freeman and a 15-minute meditation session with Staff Therapist Kevin Young. Following a short break, “Boost Your Bite” will provide a free lunch along with tips on healthy eating and stress management. Both events will take place from 10:30-11:15 a.m. in the Cleveland Ballroom of the Martha T. Nesbitt building in Gainesville. Alternatively, there will also be a “Custom License Plate” activity from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Atrium on the Oconee campus.
Day 3: Wednesday, Sept. 25
There will be additional sessions of “Hawks on the Road” with in-person presentations from 12-1 p.m. in room 530, Oconee and from 2-3 p.m. in Nesbitt 3201 in Gainesville.
Day 4: Thursday, Sept. 26
The “Career Development Workshop” will help students build their resumes, search for jobs, and network their professional identities. This workshop will be held from 10-11 a.m. at the Hoag Student Center ABC in Dahlonega, the Cleveland Ballroom in Gainesville and in Oconee from noon-1 p.m. in room 522.
Day 5: Friday, Sept. 27
For the last day of the event, there will be an online event from 10-11 a.m. “Feedback, Giveaways, and Wrap-Up” to give students the opportunity to enter an end-of-the-week drawing, where they can win a hand-held car vacuum and other car accessories.
